To Render vs Rendering 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 render (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to render my services to those in need.

Rendering (Gerund)

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

Example

Rendering services requires attention to detail.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To render (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To render assistance is a noble act.

  To render assistance is a noble act.

  • "*To render* assistance" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (assistance).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to render my expertise in the project.

  She wants me to render my expertise in the project.

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

  I need a professional tool to render high-quality images.

  I need a professional tool to render high-quality images.

  • "*To render* high-quality images" modifies the noun "tool."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a professional tool *to render* high-quality images).

Rendering (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Rendering assistance is a selfless act.

  Rendering assistance is a selfless act.

  • "*Rendering* assistance" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a selfless act).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy rendering help to those in need.

  I enjoy rendering help to those in need.

  • "*Rendering* help to those in need" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*rendering* help to those in need).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for rendering creative designs.

  She has a passion for rendering creative designs.

  • "For *rendering* creative designs" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *rendering* creative designs).

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

She plans to render her services to the community tomorrow.

They hope to render their support to the less fortunate during the holiday season.

He wants to render his assistance in the disaster relief efforts.

We decided to render our services to the local charity this weekend.

They agreed to render their expertise in the collaborative project together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys rendering her artistic skills in her paintings.

They recommend regular rendering of professional services for better customer satisfaction.

I dislike the idea of rendering subpar quality work.

He avoids rendering services without proper training.

Can you imagine yourself rendering assistance in a humanitarian crisis?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to render her services to the community. She likes rendering her services to the community.

We started to render our expertise in the field. We started rendering our expertise in the field.

He began to render his assistance to those in need. He began rendering his assistance to those in need.