To Skim vs Skimming 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 skim (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to skim through the book to find the relevant information.

Skimming (Gerund)

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

Example

Skimming is a helpful technique for quick reading.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To skim (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To skim is a useful reading technique.

  To skim is a useful reading technique.

  • "*To skim*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a useful reading technique).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to skim the report for any errors.

  She wants me to skim the report for any errors.

  • "Me *to skim* the report for any errors" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to skim* the report for any errors).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a quick method to skim through articles.

  I need a quick method to skim through articles.

  • "*To skim* through articles" modifies the noun "method."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a quick method *to skim* through articles).

Skimming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Skimming helps in finding important information efficiently.

  Skimming helps in finding important information efficiently.

  • "*Skimming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (in finding important information efficiently).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy skimming through magazines for interesting articles.

  I enjoy skimming through magazines for interesting articles.

  • "*Skimming* through magazines for interesting articles" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*skimming* through magazines for interesting articles).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for skimming through long texts.

  She has a talent for skimming through long texts.

  • "For *skimming* through long texts" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *skimming* through long texts).

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

She plans to skim the book before the discussion.

They hope to skim through the documents quickly.

He wants to skim the newspaper for headlines.

We decided to skim the article for key points.

They agreed to skim the manual together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys skimming the newspaper every morning.

They recommend regular skimming for better comprehension.

I dislike the idea of skimming through textbooks.

He avoids skimming through irrelevant information.

Can you imagine yourself skimming through a novel in a few minutes?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to skim through articles for key points. She likes skimming through articles for key points.

We started to skim the book to gather information. We started skimming the book to gather information.

He began to skim through the document for relevant details. He began skimming through the document for relevant details.