To Play vs Playing 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 play (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to play soccer with my friends.

Playing (Gerund)

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

Example

Playing video games is his favorite pastime.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To play (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To play is important for children's development.

  To play is important for children's development.

  • "*To play*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for children's development).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to play the piano at her party.

  She wants me to play the piano at her party.

  • "Me *to play* the piano at her party" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to play* the piano at her party).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a guitar to play in his band.

  He needs a guitar to play in his band.

  • "*To play* in his band" modifies the noun "guitar."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a guitar *to play* in his band).

Playing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Playing basketball requires skill and teamwork.

  Playing basketball requires skill and teamwork.

  • "*Playing* basketball" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (skill and teamwork).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys playing the piano in her free time.

  She enjoys playing the piano in her free time.

  • "*Playing* the piano in her free time" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*playing* the piano in her free time).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for playing chess.

  He has a talent for playing chess.

  • "For *playing* chess" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *playing* chess).

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

They plan to play basketball next weekend.

I hope to play in the championship game.

She wants to play the guitar at the concert.

We decided to play board games tonight.

They agreed to play tennis on Saturday.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy playing soccer on the weekends.

I recommend regular playing of musical instruments for cognitive development.

She dislikes the idea of playing team sports.

He avoids playing violent video games.

Can you imagine yourself playing in a professional orchestra?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to play tennis with my friends. I like playing tennis with my friends.

They started to play the guitar last year. They started playing the guitar last year.

He began to play the piano at a young age. He began playing the piano at a young age.