To Preview vs Previewing 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 preview (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to preview the movie before deciding whether to watch it or not.

Previewing (Gerund)

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

Example

Previewing the document is necessary to catch any mistakes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To preview (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To preview is an important step in the editing process.

  To preview is an important step in the editing process.

  • "*To preview*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the editing process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to preview the document for any errors.

  She wants me to preview the document for any errors.

  • "Me *to preview* the document for any errors" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to preview* the document for any errors).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a computer to preview the images.

  I need a computer to preview the images.

  • "*To preview* the images" modifies the noun "computer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a computer *to preview* the images).

Previewing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Previewing is an essential part of the editing process.

  Previewing is an essential part of the editing process.

  • "*Previewing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an essential part of the editing process).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy previewing movies before watching them.

  I enjoy previewing movies before watching them.

  • "*Previewing* movies before watching them" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*previewing* movies before watching them).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for previewing fashion trends.

  She has a talent for previewing fashion trends.

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

She plans to preview the presentation before the meeting.

They hope to preview the movie trailer soon.

He wants to preview the new product prototype.

We decided to preview the artwork before selecting the final piece.

They agreed to preview the new website design together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys previewing art exhibitions before they open.

They recommend previewing the document for any errors.

I dislike the idea of previewing movies alone.

He avoids previewing articles with biased opinions.

Can you imagine yourself previewing a new car model?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to preview books before buying them. She likes previewing books before buying them.

We started to preview the film production. We started previewing the film production.

He began to preview the photos for the exhibition. He began previewing the photos for the exhibition.