To Predict vs Predicting 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 predict (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to predict the outcome of the game.

Predicting (Gerund)

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

Example

Predicting the future is not always accurate.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To predict (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To predict is a challenging task.

  To predict is a challenging task.

  • "*To predict*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging task).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to predict the weather for tomorrow.

  She wants me to predict the weather for tomorrow.

  • "Me *to predict* the weather for tomorrow" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to predict* the weather for tomorrow).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a crystal ball to predict the future.

  I need a crystal ball to predict the future.

  • "*To predict* the future" modifies the noun "crystal ball."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a crystal ball *to predict* the future).

Predicting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Predicting the weather can be challenging.

  Predicting the weather can be challenging.

  • "*Predicting* the weather" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can be) + adjective (challenging).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy predicting the outcome of sports events.

  I enjoy predicting the outcome of sports events.

  • "*Predicting* the outcome of sports events" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*predicting* the outcome of sports events).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for predicting future trends.

  She has a talent for predicting future trends.

  • "For *predicting* future trends" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *predicting* future trends).

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 predict the stock market trends.

He hopes to predict the winner of the competition.

We want to predict the outcome accurately.

She decided to predict the sales figures for next month.

They agreed to predict the impact of the new policy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys predicting the stock market fluctuations.

I recommend predicting the potential risks before making a decision.

They avoid predicting the outcomes based on emotions.

Can you imagine yourself predicting the future accurately?

She is considering predicting the demand for the new product.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to predict the outcome of games. I like predicting the outcome of games.

He started to predict the stock market trends. He started predicting the stock market trends.

We began to predict the effects of climate change. We began predicting the effects of climate change.