To Procrastinate vs Procrastinating 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 procrastinate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to procrastinate less and be more productive.

Procrastinating (Gerund)

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

Example

Procrastinating only delays the completion of important tasks.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To procrastinate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To procrastinate is a bad habit that hinders progress.

  To procrastinate is a bad habit that hinders progress.

  • "*To procrastinate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a bad habit that hinders progress).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to procrastinate less.

  She wants me to procrastinate less.

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

  I need a plan to procrastinate less.

  I need a plan to procrastinate less.

  • "*To procrastinate* less" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to procrastinate* less).

Procrastinating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Procrastinating leads to unnecessary stress.

  Procrastinating leads to unnecessary stress.

  • "*Procrastinating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (leads) + noun phrase (unnecessary stress).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy procrastinating when I have free time.

  I enjoy procrastinating when I have free time.

  • "*Procrastinating* when I have free time" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*procrastinating* when I have free time).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of procrastinating.

  She has a habit of procrastinating.

  • "Of *procrastinating*" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *procrastinating*).

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 procrastinate less in the future.

They hope to procrastinate less and meet their deadlines.

He wants to procrastinate less and finish his work on time.

We decided to procrastinate less and take immediate action.

They agreed to procrastinate less and prioritize their tasks.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys procrastinating and doing things at her own pace.

They recommend avoiding procrastinating to achieve success.

I dislike the feeling of guilt after procrastinating.

He avoids procrastinating by setting strict deadlines.

Can you imagine the consequences of constantly procrastinating?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to procrastinate when she feels overwhelmed. She likes procrastinating when she has no urgent tasks.

We started to procrastinate less and prioritize our responsibilities. We started procrastinating less and focusing on important tasks.

He began to procrastinate less and became more efficient. He began procrastinating less and achieving his goals.