To Progress vs Progressing 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 progress (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to progress in my career by taking on new challenges.

Progressing (Gerund)

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

Example

Progressing in your studies requires dedication and hard work.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To progress (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To progress is important for personal growth.

  To progress is important for personal growth.

  • "*To progress*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for personal growth).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to progress in my studies.

  She wants me to progress in my studies.

  • "Me *to progress* in my studies" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to progress* in my studies).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a mentor to progress in my career.

  I need a mentor to progress in my career.

  • "*To progress* in my career" modifies the noun "mentor."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mentor *to progress* in my career).

Progressing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Progressing is a sign of improvement.

  Progressing is a sign of improvement.

  • "*Progressing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a sign of improvement).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy progressing in my career.

  I enjoy progressing in my career.

  • "*Progressing* in my career" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*progressing* in my career).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for progressing in her art.

  She has a passion for progressing in her art.

  • "For *progressing*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *progressing* in her art).

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 progress in her project by completing all the tasks.

They hope to progress in their language skills before they travel.

He wants to progress in his fitness journey by setting new goals.

We decided to progress in our research by conducting more experiments.

They agreed to progress in their relationship by attending couples therapy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys progressing in her hobby of painting.

They recommend regular progressing in your skills for professional development.

I dislike the idea of progressing in my career without any guidance.

He avoids progressing in activities that do not align with his goals.

Can you imagine yourself progressing in your music abilities?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to progress in her writing skills. She likes progressing in her writing skills.

We started to progress in our project management techniques. We started progressing in our project management techniques.

He began to progress in his language learning journey. He began progressing in his language learning journey.