To Retrace vs Retracing 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 retrace (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to retrace my steps to find my lost keys.

Retracing (Gerund)

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

Example

Retracing your steps can help you remember where you dropped your phone.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To retrace (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To retrace your steps is a good way to remember where you left something.

  To retrace your steps is a good way to remember where you left something.

  • "*To retrace* your steps" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a good way to remember where you left something).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to retrace the route on the map.

  She wants me to retrace the route on the map.

  • "Me *to retrace* the route on the map" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to retrace* the route on the map).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a magnifying glass to retrace the fine details.

  I need a magnifying glass to retrace the fine details.

  • "*To retrace* the fine details" modifies the noun "magnifying glass."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a magnifying glass *to retrace* the fine details).

Retracing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Retracing your steps is a common technique to find lost items.

  Retracing your steps is a common technique to find lost items.

  • "*Retracing* your steps" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common technique to find lost items).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy retracing my route on a map.

  I enjoy retracing my route on a map.

  • "*Retracing* my route on a map" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*retracing* my route on a map).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for retracing historical events.

  She has a passion for retracing historical events.

  • "For *retracing* historical events" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *retracing* historical events).

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 retrace her steps to find the lost treasure.

They hope to retrace their journey and relive the memories.

He wants to retrace his ancestors' footsteps and learn about his heritage.

We decided to retrace our route to avoid getting lost again.

They agreed to retrace their steps to solve the mystery.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys retracing her steps to relive the memories.

They recommend retracing your route if you get lost while hiking.

I dislike the idea of retracing my steps in the rain.

He avoids retracing his steps when he's in a rush.

Can you imagine yourself retracing the steps of famous explorers?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to retrace her steps to solve puzzles. She likes retracing her steps to solve puzzles.

We started to retrace our path to find the lost dog. We started retracing our path to find the lost dog.

He began to retrace his journey to rediscover himself. He began retracing his journey to rediscover himself.