To Skip vs Skipping 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 skip (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to skip the meeting because I have other commitments.

Skipping (Gerund)

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

Example

Skipping is a fun activity that improves cardiovascular fitness.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To skip (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To skip is not a good idea if you want to succeed.

  To skip is not a good idea if you want to succeed.

  • "*To skip*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a good idea if you want to succeed).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to skip the party.

  She wants me to skip the party.

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

  I need a break to skip some of the tasks.

  I need a break to skip some of the tasks.

  • "*To skip* some of the tasks" modifies the noun "break."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a break *to skip* some of the tasks).

Skipping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Skipping helps burn calories and build stamina.

  Skipping helps burn calories and build stamina.

  • "*Skipping*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (burn calories and build stamina).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy skipping rope in the park.

  I enjoy skipping rope in the park.

  • "*Skipping* rope in the park" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*skipping* rope in the park).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for skipping quickly.

  She has a talent for skipping quickly.

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

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 skip the lecture and study on her own.

They hope to skip the traffic by taking a different route.

He wants to skip the queue and go straight to the front.

We decided to skip the movie and watch something else.

They agreed to skip dessert and have coffee instead.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys skipping to the beat of the music.

They recommend regular skipping for cardiovascular health.

I dislike the idea of skipping meals for weight loss.

He avoids skipping rope in narrow spaces.

Can you imagine yourself skipping with a jump rope?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to skip rope in the playground. She likes skipping rope in the playground.

We started to skip together as part of our exercise routine. We started skipping together as part of our exercise routine.

He began to skip regularly to improve his coordination. He began skipping regularly to improve his coordination.