To Respond vs Responding 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 respond (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to respond to the email as soon as possible.

Responding (Gerund)

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

Example

Responding promptly shows professionalism.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To respond (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To respond promptly is important in customer service.

  To respond promptly is important in customer service.

  • "*To respond* promptly" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important in customer service).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to respond to her message.

  She wants me to respond to her message.

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

  I need a computer to respond quickly.

  I need a computer to respond quickly.

  • "*To respond* quickly" modifies the noun "computer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a computer *to respond* quickly).

Responding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Responding to customer inquiries is a top priority.

  Responding to customer inquiries is a top priority.

  • "*Responding* to customer inquiries" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a top priority).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy responding to emails from clients.

  I enjoy responding to emails from clients.

  • "*Responding* to emails from clients" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*responding* to emails from clients).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for responding to difficult situations.

  She has a talent for responding to difficult situations.

  • "For *responding* to difficult situations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *responding* to difficult situations).

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 respond to the email tomorrow.

They hope to respond to the request in a timely manner.

He wants to respond to the invitation as soon as possible.

We decided to respond to the survey.

They agreed to respond to the complaint together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys responding to customer feedback.

They recommend responding promptly to customer complaints.

I dislike responding to repetitive inquiries.

He avoids responding to negative comments.

Can you imagine yourself responding to angry customers?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to respond to emails within an hour. She likes responding to emails within an hour.

We started to respond to customer reviews online. We started responding to customer reviews online.

He began to respond to the job offer. He began responding to the job offer.