To Provide vs Providing 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 provide (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to provide you with all the necessary information.

Providing (Gerund)

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

Example

Providing excellent customer service is essential for business success.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To provide (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To provide excellent customer service is our top priority.

  To provide excellent customer service is our top priority.

  • "*To provide* excellent customer service" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (our top priority).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to provide her with the latest updates.

  She wants me to provide her with the latest updates.

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

  We need a reliable source to provide us with accurate data.

  We need a reliable source to provide us with accurate data.

  • "*To provide* us with accurate data" modifies the noun "source."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reliable source *to provide* us with accurate data).

Providing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Providing accurate information is crucial in this field.

  Providing accurate information is crucial in this field.

  • "*Providing* accurate information" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial in this field).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy providing assistance to customers.

  I enjoy providing assistance to customers.

  • "*Providing* assistance to customers" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*providing* assistance to customers).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are responsible for providing the necessary resources.

  They are responsible for providing the necessary resources.

  • "For *providing* the necessary resources" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (responsible for *providing* the necessary resources).

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

• agree
• plan
• want
• decide
• attempt

Example

They agreed to provide financial support for the project.

We plan to provide free training sessions for our employees.

He wants to provide a safe environment for his children.

She decided to provide additional resources for the team.

I attempted to provide a solution to the problem.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine
• mind

Example

We recommend providing regular training for employees.

She avoids providing inaccurate information to clients.

They are considering providing additional benefits to employees.

Can you imagine providing assistance to people in need?

I don't mind providing support during weekends.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to provide personalized solutions for each customer. She likes providing personalized solutions for each customer.

We started to provide online services for convenience. We started providing online services for convenience.

He began to provide training sessions for new employees. He began providing training sessions for new employees.