To Satisfy vs Satisfying 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 satisfy (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to satisfy my customers by providing excellent service.

Satisfying (Gerund)

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

Example

Satisfying customers is essential for business success.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To satisfy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To satisfy is his main goal in business.

  To satisfy is his main goal in business.

  • "*To satisfy*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his main goal in business).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to satisfy her needs.

  She wants me to satisfy her needs.

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

  We need a solution to satisfy our customers.

  We need a solution to satisfy our customers.

  • "*To satisfy* our customers" modifies the noun "solution."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a solution *to satisfy* our customers).

Satisfying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Satisfying customers should be our top priority.

  Satisfying customers should be our top priority.

  • "*Satisfying* customers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (should be) + noun phrase (our top priority).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy satisfying my clients' needs.

  I enjoy satisfying my clients' needs.

  • "*Satisfying* my clients' needs" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*satisfying* my clients' needs).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for satisfying customer expectations.

  She has a talent for satisfying customer expectations.

  • "For *satisfying* customer expectations" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *satisfying* customer expectations).

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 satisfy all customer requests within 24 hours.

They hope to satisfy their clients with their new product.

She wants to satisfy her boss's expectations.

We decided to satisfy our customers' demands.

They agreed to satisfy the customer's special request.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys satisfying customers with exceptional service.

They recommend satisfying your customers' needs promptly.

I dislike the idea of satisfying unreasonable demands.

She avoids satisfying difficult clients.

Can you imagine the feeling of satisfying all your customers?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to satisfy their customers' desires. They like satisfying their customers' desires.

We started to satisfy our clients' needs. We started satisfying our clients' needs.

He began to satisfy every customer's request. He began satisfying every customer's request.