To Put Off vs Putting off 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 put off (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to put off the meeting until next week.

Putting off (Gerund)

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

Example

Putting off tasks only leads to more stress.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To put off (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To put off the meeting would be a mistake.

  To put off the meeting would be a mistake.

  • "*To put off* the meeting" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (would be) + noun phrase (a mistake).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to put off the deadline.

  She wants me to put off the deadline.

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

  I need more time to put off the decision.

  I need more time to put off the decision.

  • "*To put off* the decision" modifies the noun "time."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (more time *to put off* the decision).

Putting off (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Putting off tasks is a bad habit.

  Putting off tasks is a bad habit.

  • "*Putting off* tasks" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a bad habit).
• 2. Object

  I dislike putting off important decisions.

  I dislike putting off important decisions.

  • "*Putting off* important decisions" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*putting off* important decisions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a habit of putting off deadlines.

  He has a habit of putting off deadlines.

  • "Of *putting off* deadlines" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *putting off* deadlines).

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

• decide
• attempt
• plan
• refuse
• pretend

Example

They decided to put off the project until next month.

He attempted to put off the event, but it was not possible.

We are planning to put off the trip due to bad weather.

She refused to put off the meeting despite the request.

They pretended to put off the appointment, but they were actually busy.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• delay

Example

She avoids putting off tasks by setting strict deadlines.

They recommend avoiding putting off important decisions.

I don't mind putting off the meeting until tomorrow.

He is considering putting off the project for a few days.

We delayed putting off the deadline as much as possible.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to put off the meeting until next week. I would like putting off the meeting until next week.

She started to put off her responsibilities. She started putting off her responsibilities.

He began to put off making a decision. He began putting off making a decision.