To Recirculate vs Recirculating 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 recirculate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to recirculate the air in the room to improve ventilation.

Recirculating (Gerund)

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

Example

Recirculating the air improves indoor air quality.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To recirculate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To recirculate the water is necessary for the fish tank.

  To recirculate the water is necessary for the fish tank.

  • "*To recirculate* the water" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary for the fish tank).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to recirculate the documents.

  She wants me to recirculate the documents.

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

  We need a fan to recirculate the air in the room.

  We need a fan to recirculate the air in the room.

  • "*To recirculate* the air in the room" modifies the noun "fan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a fan *to recirculate* the air in the room).

Recirculating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Recirculating water reduces waste.

  Recirculating water reduces waste.

  • "*Recirculating* water" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (reduces) + noun (waste).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy recirculating the coolant in my car.

  I enjoy recirculating the coolant in my car.

  • "*Recirculating* the coolant in my car" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*recirculating* the coolant in my car).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for recirculating air in her greenhouse.

  She has a passion for recirculating air in her greenhouse.

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

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 recirculate the water in the pool tomorrow.

I hope to recirculate the air in my office soon.

He wants to recirculate the information to all employees.

We decided to recirculate the flyers in the neighborhood.

They agreed to recirculate the memo for further review.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys recirculating the water in the fountain.

Experts recommend recirculating the air in closed spaces.

I dislike the idea of recirculating used water.

She avoids recirculating contaminated air.

Can you imagine yourself recirculating air for better ventilation?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to recirculate the air in their home. They like recirculating the air in their home.

We started to recirculate the water in the pond. We started recirculating the water in the pond.

He began to recirculate the air in the building. He began recirculating the air in the building.