To Sleep vs Sleeping 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 sleep (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to sleep peacefully tonight.

Sleeping (Gerund)

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

Example

Sleeping in a cozy blanket feels so comforting.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To sleep (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To sleep is essential for our overall health and well-being.

  To sleep is essential for our overall health and well-being.

  • "*To sleep*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for our overall health and well-being).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to sleep early tonight.

  She wants me to sleep early tonight.

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

  I need a comfortable bed to sleep in.

  I need a comfortable bed to sleep in.

  • "*To sleep* in" modifies the noun "bed."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a comfortable bed *to sleep* in).

Sleeping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Sleeping is a natural process that our bodies require.

  Sleeping is a natural process that our bodies require.

  • "*Sleeping*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural process that our bodies require).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy sleeping in complete silence.

  I enjoy sleeping in complete silence.

  • "*Sleeping* in complete silence" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*sleeping* in complete silence).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of sleeping on her side.

  She has a habit of sleeping on her side.

  • "Of *sleeping* on her side" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *sleeping* on her side).

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

• hope
• want
• refuse
• decide
• agree

Example

They hope to sleep through the night without any disturbances.

He wants to sleep for at least 8 hours every night.

She refused to sleep on the uncomfortable couch.

We decided to sleep in separate rooms.

They agreed to sleep early to wake up refreshed.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• mind
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys sleeping in a comfortable bed.

They recommend avoiding caffeine before sleeping.

I don't mind sleeping with a little bit of background noise.

He avoids sleeping in bright rooms.

Can you imagine yourself sleeping under the stars?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to sleep early at night. She likes sleeping in a dark room.

We started to sleep with a white noise machine. We started sleeping on a memory foam mattress.

He began to sleep for longer hours. He began sleeping with a weighted blanket.