To Renegotiate vs Renegotiating 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 renegotiate (Infinitive)

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

Example

We need to renegotiate the terms of the contract.

Renegotiating (Gerund)

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

Example

Renegotiating can be a lengthy process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To renegotiate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To renegotiate is a common practice in business negotiations.

  To renegotiate is a common practice in business negotiations.

  • "*To renegotiate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in business negotiations).
• 2. Object

  They asked us to renegotiate the agreement.

  They asked us to renegotiate the agreement.

  • "Us *to renegotiate* the agreement" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (They) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (us *to renegotiate* the agreement).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I am looking for a lawyer to renegotiate the contract.

  I am looking for a lawyer to renegotiate the contract.

  • "*To renegotiate* the contract" modifies the noun "lawyer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (am looking) + noun phrase (a lawyer *to renegotiate* the contract).

Renegotiating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Renegotiating is necessary when circumstances change.

  Renegotiating is necessary when circumstances change.

  • "*Renegotiating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary when circumstances change).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys renegotiating contracts.

  He enjoys renegotiating contracts.

  • "*Renegotiating* contracts" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*renegotiating* contracts).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are in favor of renegotiating the terms.

  They are in favor of renegotiating the terms.

  • "*Renegotiating* the terms" is the object of the preposition "in favor of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + preposition (in favor of) + gerund (*renegotiating* the terms).

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 renegotiate the terms before signing the deal.

I hope to renegotiate a better price for the house.

She wants to renegotiate the terms of the agreement.

We decided to renegotiate the contract for better conditions.

They agreed to renegotiate the terms of the partnership.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• imagine

Example

I recommend renegotiating the contract for better terms.

They avoid renegotiating agreements under pressure.

We are considering renegotiating the terms of the deal.

Do you mind renegotiating the deadline for this project?

Can you imagine renegotiating with such stubborn people?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They would like to renegotiate the terms of the agreement. They would like renegotiating the terms of the agreement.

We started to renegotiate the contract last week. We started renegotiating the contract last week.

He began to renegotiate the terms of the deal. He began renegotiating the terms of the deal.