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 need to reply to that 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 promptly is essential in customer service.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To reply (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To reply is the responsible thing to do.

  To reply is the responsible thing to do.

  • "*To reply*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (the responsible thing to do).
• 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

  He needs a computer to reply to emails.

  He needs a computer to reply to emails.

  • "*To reply* to emails" modifies the noun "computer."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a computer *to reply* to emails).

Replying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Replying quickly is important in business.

  Replying quickly is important in business.

  • "*Replying* quickly" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important in business).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy replying to messages from my friends.

  I enjoy replying to messages from my friends.

  • "*Replying* to messages from my friends" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*replying* to messages from my friends).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for replying to emails efficiently.

  She has a talent for replying to emails efficiently.

  • "For *replying* to emails efficiently" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *replying* to emails efficiently).

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
• want
• hope
• decide
• agree

Example

I plan to reply to all the comments on my blog.

They want to reply to the customer's inquiry.

She hopes to reply to the job offer soon.

We decided to reply to the invitation with our availability.

They agreed to reply to the survey questions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin
• continue
• prefer

Example

I like replying to comments on social media.

He started replying to the customer complaints professionally.

We began replying to the inquiries promptly.

They continue replying to the feedback from customers.

She prefers replying to emails rather than making phone calls.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• stop

Example

I recommend to reply to the email as soon as possible. I recommend replying to the email as soon as possible.

They avoid to reply to negative comments on social media. They avoid replying to negative comments on social media.

He considered to reply to the job offer. He considered replying to the job offer.

She doesn't mind to reply to customer inquiries. She doesn't mind replying to customer inquiries.

We can't stop to reply to the messages. We can't stop replying to the messages.