To Pose vs Posing 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 pose (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to pose for pictures because I'm camera shy.

Posing (Gerund)

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

Example

Posing for photos can be a fun experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To pose (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To pose requires confidence and poise.

  To pose requires confidence and poise.

  • "*To pose*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (confidence and poise).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to pose with her in the photo.

  She wants me to pose with her in the photo.

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

  I need a model to pose for my painting.

  I need a model to pose for my painting.

  • "*To pose* for my painting" modifies the noun "model."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a model *to pose* for my painting).

Posing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Posing requires confidence and a good posture.

  Posing requires confidence and a good posture.

  • "*Posing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (confidence and a good posture).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy posing with my friends in group pictures.

  I enjoy posing with my friends in group pictures.

  • "*Posing* with my friends in group pictures" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*posing* with my friends in group pictures).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for posing in front of the camera.

  She has a talent for posing in front of the camera.

  • "For *posing* in front of the camera" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *posing* in front of the camera).

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

• want
• refuse
• attempt
• pretend
• choose

Example

He wants to pose as a fashion model.

They refuse to pose for selfies.

She attempted to pose for a magazine cover.

I pretended to pose as a celebrity for fun.

We chose to pose in front of the monument.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• suggest
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys posing for artistic photographs.

They suggest posing in different poses for variety.

I am considering posing as a model for extra income.

She avoids posing in uncomfortable positions.

Can you imagine yourself posing for a famous photographer?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to pose in front of the mirror. She likes posing in front of the mirror.

We started to pose professionally. We started posing professionally.

He began to pose for art classes. He began posing for art classes.