To Produce vs Producing 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 produce (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to produce a documentary about climate change.

Producing (Gerund)

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

Example

Producing music requires passion and dedication.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To produce (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To produce a film requires creativity and organization.

  To produce a film requires creativity and organization.

  • "*To produce* a film" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (creativity and organization).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to produce her music album.

  She wants me to produce her music album.

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

  I need a professional camera to produce high-quality videos.

  I need a professional camera to produce high-quality videos.

  • "*To produce* high-quality videos" modifies the noun "camera."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a professional camera *to produce* high-quality videos).

Producing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Producing movies is a challenging but rewarding job.

  Producing movies is a challenging but rewarding job.

  • "*Producing* movies" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging but rewarding job).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy producing my own artwork.

  I enjoy producing my own artwork.

  • "*Producing* my own artwork" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*producing* my own artwork).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for producing creative content.

  She has a talent for producing creative content.

  • "For *producing* creative content" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *producing* creative content).

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 produce a play for the community theater.

He hopes to produce a hit song someday.

We want to produce a new line of sustainable products.

She decided to produce a documentary about endangered species.

The team agreed to produce a series of educational videos.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

They enjoy producing their own short films.

Experts recommend producing organic food for a healthier lifestyle.

He avoids producing waste by recycling and reusing materials.

Can you imagine yourself producing a bestselling novel?

We are considering producing a limited edition collection.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to produce her own music. She likes producing her own music.

We started to produce our own podcast. We started producing our own podcast.

He began to produce his own clothing line. He began producing his own clothing line.