To Plant vs Planting Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To plant (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to plant" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I want to plant a garden in my backyard.

Planting (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "planting" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Planting is a therapeutic activity for many people.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To plant (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To plant requires patience and care.

  To plant requires patience and care.

  • "*To plant*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and care).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to plant flowers in her garden.

  She wants me to plant flowers in her garden.

  • "Me *to plant* flowers in her garden" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to plant* flowers in her garden).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need good soil to plant my seeds.

  I need good soil to plant my seeds.

  • "*To plant* my seeds" modifies the noun "soil."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (good soil *to plant* my seeds).

Planting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Planting trees helps to combat climate change.

  Planting trees helps to combat climate change.

  • "*Planting* trees" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (to combat climate change).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy planting flowers in my garden.

  I enjoy planting flowers in my garden.

  • "*Planting* flowers in my garden" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*planting* flowers in my garden).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for planting succulents.

  She has a passion for planting succulents.

  • "For *planting* succulents" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *planting* succulents).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to plant a tree in the backyard tomorrow.

They hope to plant vegetables in their garden this summer.

He wants to plant a flower bed in the front yard.

We decided to plant a herb garden on the balcony.

They agreed to plant a row of bushes along the fence.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys planting vegetables in her backyard every summer.

They recommend regular planting for a greener environment.

I dislike the idea of planting in sandy soil.

He avoids planting in areas with poor drainage.

Can you imagine yourself planting a fruit tree in your yard?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to plant flowers in her window boxes. She likes planting flowers in her window boxes.

We started to plant our own vegetable garden. We started planting our own vegetable garden.

He began to plant his favorite herbs in pots. He began planting his favorite herbs in pots.