To Rejoin vs Rejoining 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 rejoin (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to rejoin the team to continue playing.

Rejoining (Gerund)

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

Example

Rejoining the group will bring back fond memories.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To rejoin (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To rejoin is his ultimate goal.

  To rejoin is his ultimate goal.

  • "*To rejoin*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his ultimate goal).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to rejoin the project.

  She wants me to rejoin the project.

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

  He needs a team to rejoin.

  He needs a team to rejoin.

  • "*To rejoin*" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a team *to rejoin*).

Rejoining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Rejoining is a step towards reconciliation.

  Rejoining is a step towards reconciliation.

  • "*Rejoining*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a step towards reconciliation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy rejoining my friends for social events.

  I enjoy rejoining my friends for social events.

  • "*Rejoining* my friends for social events" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*rejoining* my friends for social events).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has no intention of rejoining the committee.

  She has no intention of rejoining the committee.

  • "Of *rejoining* the committee" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (no intention of *rejoining* the committee).

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
• decide
• plan
• refuse
• attempt

Example

They hope to rejoin the company after their sabbatical.

We decided to rejoin the organization for better career prospects.

He plans to rejoin the workforce after retirement.

She refused to rejoin the team due to personal reasons.

They attempted to rejoin the club but failed.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• imagine
• mind

Example

He avoids rejoining the group due to past conflicts.

They are considering rejoining the team for the upcoming season.

I recommend rejoining the club for networking opportunities.

Can you imagine yourself rejoining the band and performing on stage?

She doesn't mind rejoining the project if needed.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to rejoin the team after recovering from his injury. He likes rejoining the team after recovering from his injury.

We started to rejoin the organization after a long break. We started rejoining the organization after a long break.

She began to rejoin the company after her maternity leave. She began rejoining the company after her maternity leave.