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 early 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 is important for our overall well-being.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To sleep (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To sleep is essential for good health.

  To sleep is essential for good health.

  • "*To sleep*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for good health).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to sleep in her room.

  She wants me to sleep in her room.

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

  I need a comfortable bed to sleep peacefully.

  I need a comfortable bed to sleep peacefully.

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

Sleeping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Sleeping helps to restore energy levels.

  Sleeping helps to restore energy levels.

  • "*Sleeping*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (to restore energy levels).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy sleeping in a comfortable bed.

  I enjoy sleeping in a comfortable bed.

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

  She has a passion for sleeping in late.

  She has a passion for sleeping in late.

  • "For *sleeping* in late" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *sleeping* in late).

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 sleep early tonight.

They hope to sleep soundly during their vacation.

She wants to sleep in a cozy cabin.

We decided to sleep in separate rooms.

They agreed to sleep on the couch together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys sleeping in a quiet environment.

They recommend regular sleeping habits for better health.

I dislike the idea of sleeping with the lights on.

She avoids sleeping in uncomfortable positions.

Can you imagine yourself sleeping under the stars?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to sleep for eight hours every night. She likes sleeping for eight hours every night.

We started to sleep early for better productivity. We started sleeping early for better productivity.

He began to sleep on a new mattress. He began sleeping on a new mattress.