To Refrain vs Refraining 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 refrain (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to refrain from eating junk food.

Refraining (Gerund)

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

Example

Refraining from gossiping can improve relationships.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To refrain (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To refrain is a difficult task for some people.

  To refrain is a difficult task for some people.

  • "*To refrain*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a difficult task for some people).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to refrain from smoking.

  She wants me to refrain from smoking.

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

  I need willpower to refrain from eating sweets.

  I need willpower to refrain from eating sweets.

  • "*To refrain* from eating sweets" modifies the noun "willpower."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (willpower *to refrain* from eating sweets).

Refraining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Refraining from eating late at night is good for your health.

  Refraining from eating late at night is good for your health.

  • "*Refraining* from eating late at night" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (good for your health).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy refraining from negative thoughts.

  I enjoy refraining from negative thoughts.

  • "*Refraining* from negative thoughts" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*refraining* from negative thoughts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a habit of refraining from using social media.

  He has a habit of refraining from using social media.

  • "Of *refraining* from using social media" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *refraining* from using social media).

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

• hope
• attempt
• wish
• decide
• manage

Example

They hope to refrain from arguing during the meeting.

He attempted to refrain from laughing at the joke.

I wish to refrain from making the same mistake again.

We decided to refrain from drinking alcohol tonight.

She managed to refrain from crying in front of everyone.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• delay
• imagine

Example

She avoids refraining from taking risks.

They considered refraining from participating in the competition.

I recommend refraining from making hasty decisions.

He delayed refraining from speaking his mind.

Can you imagine refraining from using your phone for a day?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• stop

Example

I like to refrain from getting involved in gossip. I like refraining from getting involved in gossip.

They began to refrain from eating processed foods. They began refraining from eating processed foods.

He stopped to refrain from expressing his opinion. He stopped refraining from expressing his opinion.