To Rush vs Rushing 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 rush (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to rush through the crowd to catch my train.

Rushing (Gerund)

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

Example

Rushing can lead to mistakes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To rush (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To rush is not a good idea in this situation.

  To rush is not a good idea in this situation.

  • "*To rush*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a good idea in this situation).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to rush to the store before it closes.

  She wants me to rush to the store before it closes.

  • "Me *to rush* to the store before it closes" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to rush* to the store before it closes).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a faster car to rush to my appointments.

  I need a faster car to rush to my appointments.

  • "*To rush* to my appointments" modifies the noun "car."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a faster car *to rush* to my appointments).

Rushing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Rushing is a common problem in today's fast-paced world.

  Rushing is a common problem in today's fast-paced world.

  • "*Rushing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common problem in today's fast-paced world).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy rushing down the ski slopes.

  I enjoy rushing down the ski slopes.

  • "*Rushing* down the ski slopes" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*rushing* down the ski slopes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of rushing into relationships.

  She has a fear of rushing into relationships.

  • "Of *rushing* into relationships" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *rushing* into relationships).

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

• decide
• hope
• plan
• refuse
• wish

Example

We decided to rush to the airport to catch our flight.

They hope to rush through the paperwork to meet the deadline.

She plans to rush home after work to attend the meeting.

He refuses to rush the project without proper preparation.

I wish to rush to the concert to get good seats.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• postpone
• mind

Example

He avoids rushing into decisions without careful consideration.

They recommend taking breaks to avoid rushing and reduce stress.

I am considering rushing the project to meet the deadline.

Let's postpone rushing into this until we have more information.

Do you mind rushing to the store for me?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to rush through her morning routine. She likes rushing through her morning routine.

We started to rush when we realized we were late. We started rushing when we realized we were late.

He began to rush after receiving an urgent call. He began rushing after receiving an urgent call.