To Revitalize vs Revitalizing 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 revitalize (Infinitive)

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

Example

The government plans to revitalize the economy through various initiatives.

Revitalizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Revitalizing the economy is crucial for long-term growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To revitalize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To revitalize the neighborhood is our main goal.

  To revitalize the neighborhood is our main goal.

  • "*To revitalize* the neighborhood" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (our main goal).
• 2. Object

  They want us to revitalize the community center.

  They want us to revitalize the community center.

  • "Us *to revitalize* the community center" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to revitalize* the community center).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a plan to revitalize the company.

  We need a plan to revitalize the company.

  • "*To revitalize* the company" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a plan *to revitalize* the company).

Revitalizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Revitalizing the city's infrastructure is a priority.

  Revitalizing the city's infrastructure is a priority.

  • "*Revitalizing* the city's infrastructure" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a priority).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy revitalizing old buildings and giving them a new purpose.

  I enjoy revitalizing old buildings and giving them a new purpose.

  • "*Revitalizing* old buildings and giving them a new purpose" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*revitalizing* old buildings and giving them a new purpose).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are committed to the task of revitalizing the economy.

  They are committed to the task of revitalizing the economy.

  • "The task of *revitalizing* the economy" is the object of the preposition "to."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are committed to) + noun phrase (the task of *revitalizing* the economy).

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

The organization plans to revitalize the park with new facilities.

She hopes to revitalize the downtown area with small businesses.

He wants to revitalize the education system for better outcomes.

They decided to revitalize the old building into a museum.

We agreed to revitalize the local economy by supporting local businesses.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider
• mind

Example

Experts recommend revitalizing the tourism industry for economic growth.

She avoids revitalizing the neighborhood without consulting the residents.

Can you imagine the impact of revitalizing the downtown area?

We are considering revitalizing the park as a community project.

He doesn't mind revitalizing the company's branding strategy.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to revitalize old buildings and bring them back to life. She likes revitalizing old buildings and bringing them back to life.

They started to revitalize the economy after the recession. They started revitalizing the economy after the recession.

He began to revitalize the community by organizing clean-up campaigns. He began revitalizing the community by organizing clean-up campaigns.