To Skate vs Skating 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 skate (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to skate in the ice rink for fun.

Skating (Gerund)

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

Example

Skating is a popular winter activity.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To skate (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To skate requires balance and coordination.

  To skate requires balance and coordination.

  • "*To skate*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (balance and coordination).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to skate with her in the competition.

  She wants me to skate with her in the competition.

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

  I need a pair of ice skates to skate on the frozen lake.

  I need a pair of ice skates to skate on the frozen lake.

  • "*To skate* on the frozen lake" modifies the noun "pair of ice skates."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a pair of ice skates *to skate* on the frozen lake).

Skating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Skating improves balance and strengthens leg muscles.

  Skating improves balance and strengthens leg muscles.

  • "*Skating*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (improves) + noun phrase (balance and strengthens leg muscles).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy skating with my friends at the local rink.

  I enjoy skating with my friends at the local rink.

  • "*Skating* with my friends at the local rink" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*skating* with my friends at the local rink).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for skating gracefully.

  He has a talent for skating gracefully.

  • "For *skating* gracefully" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *skating* gracefully).

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 skate in the figure skating competition next month.

They hope to skate on the outdoor rink this winter.

She wants to skate in the hockey game tomorrow.

We decided to skate in the synchronized skating event.

They agreed to skate together in the pairs competition.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys skating in the ice show every year.

They recommend regular skating for improving balance and coordination.

I dislike the idea of skating on thin ice.

He avoids skating alone at night.

Can you imagine yourself skating in the Winter Olympics?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to skate on the frozen pond. She likes skating on the frozen pond.

We started to skate competitively. We started skating competitively.

He began to skate at a young age. He began skating at a young age.