To Remind vs Reminding 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 remind (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to remind you about the meeting tomorrow.

Reminding (Gerund)

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

Example

Reminding others of their commitments is part of my job.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To remind (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To remind is my responsibility as a team leader.

  To remind is my responsibility as a team leader.

  • "*To remind*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my responsibility as a team leader).
• 2. Object

  She asked me to remind her about the deadline.

  She asked me to remind her about the deadline.

  • "Me *to remind* her about the deadline" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to remind* her about the deadline).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a sticky note to remind him of important tasks.

  He needs a sticky note to remind him of important tasks.

  • "*To remind* him of important tasks" modifies the noun "sticky note."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a sticky note *to remind* him of important tasks).

Reminding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Reminding others is essential in a teamwork environment.

  Reminding others is essential in a teamwork environment.

  • "*Reminding* others" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential in a teamwork environment).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy reminding my friends about their birthdays.

  I enjoy reminding my friends about their birthdays.

  • "*Reminding* my friends about their birthdays" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*reminding* my friends about their birthdays).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for reminding people of their appointments.

  She has a talent for reminding people of their appointments.

  • "For *reminding* people of their appointments" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *reminding* people of their appointments).

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 remind everyone about the new policy.

We hope to remind the team about the upcoming event.

She wants to remind him of their anniversary.

He decided to remind the employees about the safety procedures.

They agreed to remind each other of their goals.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin
• remember
• help

Example

They like reminding others of their achievements.

I started reminding myself to practice mindfulness.

He began reminding his colleagues of the project deadline.

She always remembers reminding her students about upcoming exams.

They helped by reminding me of important dates.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to remind herself of her goals. She likes reminding herself of her goals.

We started to remind ourselves to be grateful. We started reminding ourselves to be grateful.

He began to remind his team of the project requirements. He began reminding his team of the project requirements.