To Reply vs Replying 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 reply (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to reply to your email as soon as possible.

Replying (Gerund)

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

Example

Replying to emails can be time-consuming.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To reply (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To reply promptly is essential in customer service.

  To reply promptly is essential in customer service.

  • "*To reply* promptly" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to reply to her message.

  She wants me to reply to her message.

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

  I need a computer to reply to these emails.

  I need a computer to reply to these emails.

  • "*To reply* to these emails" modifies the noun "computer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a computer *to reply* to these emails).

Replying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Replying promptly is important in professional communication.

  Replying promptly is important in professional communication.

  • "*Replying* promptly" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (important).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy replying to comments on social media.

  I enjoy replying to comments on social media.

  • "*Replying* to comments on social media" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*replying* to comments on social media).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of replying to emails immediately.

  She has a habit of replying to emails immediately.

  • "Of *replying* to emails immediately" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *replying* to emails immediately).

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

• decide
• offer
• refuse
• attempt
• want

Example

We decided to reply to their request immediately.

They offered to reply to any questions we had.

He refused to reply to their demands.

She attempted to reply to all the messages at once.

We want to reply to the invitation with our availability.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• imagine
• mind

Example

He avoids replying to unnecessary messages.

They consider replying to customer feedback a priority.

I recommend replying to emails within 24 hours.

Can you imagine replying to hundreds of emails every day?

She doesn't mind replying to inquiries from potential clients.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to reply to emails promptly. I like replying to emails promptly.

They started to reply to customer complaints more efficiently. They started replying to customer complaints more efficiently.

He began to reply to messages with personalized responses. He began replying to messages with personalized responses.