To Reassign vs Reassigning 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 reassign (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to reassign the tasks to different team members.

Reassigning (Gerund)

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

Example

Reassigning tasks can lead to improved efficiency.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To reassign (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To reassign is a common practice in project management.

  To reassign is a common practice in project management.

  • "*To reassign*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in project management).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to reassign the responsibilities to someone else.

  She wants me to reassign the responsibilities to someone else.

  • "Me *to reassign* the responsibilities to someone else" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to reassign* the responsibilities to someone else).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We are looking for a candidate to reassign the position.

  We are looking for a candidate to reassign the position.

  • "*To reassign* the position" modifies the noun "candidate."
  • Noun phrase (We) + verb (are looking) + noun phrase (a candidate *to reassign* the position).

Reassigning (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Reassigning tasks requires careful consideration.

  Reassigning tasks requires careful consideration.

  • "*Reassigning* tasks" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful consideration).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy reassigning responsibilities to optimize team performance.

  I enjoy reassigning responsibilities to optimize team performance.

  • "*Reassigning* responsibilities to optimize team performance" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*reassigning* responsibilities to optimize team performance).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for reassigning resources effectively.

  She has a talent for reassigning resources effectively.

  • "For *reassigning* resources effectively" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *reassigning* resources effectively).

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 reassign the workload next week.

I hope to reassign the project to a more experienced team member.

He wants to reassign the tasks to a different department.

We decided to reassign the roles and responsibilities.

They agreed to reassign the project to another team.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys reassigning tasks to achieve better results.

They recommend reassigning employees based on their skills and strengths.

I dislike the idea of reassigning team members frequently.

She avoids reassigning tasks during critical project phases.

Can you imagine yourself reassigning roles and responsibilities in a large organization?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to reassign the project to someone with more expertise. I would like reassigning the tasks to optimize efficiency.

We started to reassign the workload to balance the team's workload. We started reassigning responsibilities to streamline the process.

He began to reassign the tasks after assessing the team's strengths and weaknesses. He began reassigning roles to improve collaboration.