To Remain vs Remaining 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 remain (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to remain calm during the presentation.

Remaining (Gerund)

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

Example

Remaining calm is crucial in stressful situations.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To remain (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To remain quiet is important during a movie.

  To remain quiet is important during a movie.

  • "*To remain* quiet" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important during a movie).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to remain in the room.

  She wants me to remain in the room.

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

  We need a strong foundation to remain stable.

  We need a strong foundation to remain stable.

  • "*To remain* stable" modifies the noun "foundation."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong foundation *to remain* stable).

Remaining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Remaining optimistic can help improve your outlook on life.

  Remaining optimistic can help improve your outlook on life.

  • "*Remaining* optimistic" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can help) + noun phrase (your outlook on life).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy remaining in nature for hours.

  I enjoy remaining in nature for hours.

  • "*Remaining* in nature for hours" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*remaining* in nature for hours).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a fear of remaining alone.

  They have a fear of remaining alone.

  • "Of *remaining* alone" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a fear of *remaining* alone).

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
• want
• decide
• attempt
• struggle

Example

He hopes to remain focused throughout the exam.

They want to remain anonymous in their charitable work.

I decided to remain silent during the argument.

She attempted to remain positive despite the setbacks.

We struggled to remain awake during the boring lecture.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys remaining active and engaged in her hobbies.

Experts recommend remaining hydrated during exercise.

We are considering remaining in the city for another year.

He avoids remaining in stressful environments.

Can you imagine remaining friends with your ex?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to remain at the party until the end. I would like remaining at the party until the end.

They started to remain focused on their goals. They started remaining focused on their goals.

He began to remain calm in stressful situations. He began remaining calm in stressful situations.