To Retry vs Retrying 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 retry (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to retry the experiment to see if I get different results.

Retrying (Gerund)

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

Example

Retrying the process may lead to a successful outcome.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To retry (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To retry is a common practice in software development.

  To retry is a common practice in software development.

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

  She wants me to retry the recipe.

  She wants me to retry the recipe.

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

  We need a new strategy to retry the project.

  We need a new strategy to retry the project.

  • "*To retry* the project" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a new strategy *to retry* the project).

Retrying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Retrying is essential in problem-solving.

  Retrying is essential in problem-solving.

  • "*Retrying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential in problem-solving).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy retrying difficult puzzles.

  I enjoy retrying difficult puzzles.

  • "*Retrying* difficult puzzles" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*retrying* difficult puzzles).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a knack for retrying challenging tasks.

  He has a knack for retrying challenging tasks.

  • "For *retrying* challenging tasks" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *retrying* challenging tasks).

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

He plans to retry the experiment tomorrow.

They hope to retry the test with a different approach.

She wants to retry the challenge for personal growth.

We decided to retry the task using a different method.

They agreed to retry the experiment together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys retrying old movies to find hidden details.

They recommend retrying the exercise routine for better results.

I dislike the idea of retrying the same activity over and over.

He avoids retrying failed experiments and focuses on new ones.

Can you imagine yourself retrying the same level in a video game for hours?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to retry challenging tasks. He likes retrying challenging tasks.

We started to retry the experiment from scratch. We started retrying the experiment from scratch.

She began to retry the puzzle with a different approach. She began retrying the puzzle with a different approach.