To Prioritize vs Prioritizing 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 prioritize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to prioritize my tasks for the day.

Prioritizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Prioritizing is key to achieving your goals.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To prioritize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To prioritize is essential for time management.

  To prioritize is essential for time management.

  • "*To prioritize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for time management).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to prioritize her project.

  She wants me to prioritize her project.

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

  We need a system to prioritize our tasks.

  We need a system to prioritize our tasks.

  • "*To prioritize* our tasks" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a system *to prioritize* our tasks).

Prioritizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Prioritizing helps you stay organized.

  Prioritizing helps you stay organized.

  • "*Prioritizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + pronoun (you) + adjective (organized).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy prioritizing my tasks for the day.

  I enjoy prioritizing my tasks for the day.

  • "*Prioritizing* my tasks for the day" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*prioritizing* my tasks for the day).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for prioritizing multiple projects.

  She has a talent for prioritizing multiple projects.

  • "For *prioritizing* multiple projects" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *prioritizing* multiple projects).

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

He plans to prioritize his work schedule for the week.

They hope to prioritize their goals for the year.

She wants to prioritize her health and well-being.

We decided to prioritize customer satisfaction.

They agreed to prioritize teamwork in the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys prioritizing his daily activities.

They recommend prioritizing tasks based on urgency.

I dislike the idea of prioritizing work over personal life.

She avoids prioritizing tasks at the last minute.

Can you imagine yourself prioritizing your goals effectively?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to prioritize their to-do lists every morning. They like prioritizing their to-do lists every morning.

He started to prioritize his workload for better productivity. He started prioritizing his workload for better productivity.

We began to prioritize our tasks based on importance. We began prioritizing our tasks based on importance.