To Power vs Powering 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 power (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to power my house with solar energy.

Powering (Gerund)

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

Example

Powering your devices with renewable energy is eco-friendly.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To power (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To power the city, we need a reliable energy source.

  To power the city, we need a reliable energy source.

  • "*To power* the city" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable energy source).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to power her car using renewable energy.

  She wants me to power her car using renewable energy.

  • "Me *to power* her car using renewable energy" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to power* her car using renewable energy).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a generator to power our construction site.

  We need a generator to power our construction site.

  • "*To power* our construction site" modifies the noun "generator."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a generator *to power* our construction site).

Powering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Powering the house with solar energy saves money.

  Powering the house with solar energy saves money.

  • "*Powering* the house with solar energy" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (saves) + noun phrase (money).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy powering my gadgets using wind power.

  I enjoy powering my gadgets using wind power.

  • "*Powering* my gadgets using wind power" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*powering* my gadgets using wind power).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for powering homes with clean energy.

  She has a passion for powering homes with clean energy.

  • "For *powering* homes with clean energy" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *powering* homes with clean energy).

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 power their home with wind turbines.

He hopes to power his car with electricity.

We want to power our office building using geothermal energy.

She decided to power her business with solar panels.

They agreed to power the event with clean energy sources.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys powering his electric car with renewable energy.

They recommend powering your appliances with solar power.

I avoid powering my devices with fossil fuels.

Can you imagine powering your entire neighborhood with wind energy?

She is considering powering her farm with hydroelectricity.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to power my home with green energy. I like powering my home with green energy.

We started to power our office building with solar panels. We started powering our office building with solar panels.

He began to power his car using biofuel. He began powering his car using biofuel.