To Spawn vs Spawning 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 spawn (Infinitive)

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

Example

The salmon swim upstream to spawn.

Spawning (Gerund)

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

Example

Spawning is a critical phase in the life cycle of many aquatic organisms.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To spawn (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To spawn is a natural instinct for many fish species.

  To spawn is a natural instinct for many fish species.

  • "*To spawn*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a natural instinct for many fish species).
• 2. Object

  The turtles need a sandy beach to spawn their eggs.

  The turtles need a sandy beach to spawn their eggs.

  • "A sandy beach *to spawn* their eggs" is the object of the verb "need."
  • Noun (The turtles) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a sandy beach *to spawn* their eggs).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We found a quiet pond to spawn our fish.

  We found a quiet pond to spawn our fish.

  • "*To spawn* our fish" modifies the noun "pond."
  • Noun (We) + verb (found) + noun phrase (a quiet pond *to spawn* our fish).

Spawning (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Spawning requires specific environmental conditions.

  Spawning requires specific environmental conditions.

  • "*Spawning*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (specific environmental conditions).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy observing the process of spawning in the coral reef.

  I enjoy observing the process of spawning in the coral reef.

  • "The process of *spawning* in the coral reef" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (the process of *spawning* in the coral reef).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  Many fish migrate for the purpose of spawning.

  Many fish migrate for the purpose of spawning.

  • "The purpose of *spawning*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (Many fish) + verb (migrate) + noun phrase (the purpose of *spawning*).

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

They plan to spawn in the river next month.

I hope to spawn a successful business.

She wants to spawn new ideas for the project.

He decided to spawn a new career path.

We agreed to spawn a collaborative effort.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy spawning fish in their backyard pond.

Experts recommend protecting the habitats for spawning activities.

I dislike the disruption caused by spawning events.

The fishermen avoid areas with heavy spawning activity.

Can you imagine witnessing the mass spawning of marine creatures?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to spawn her artwork in various galleries. She likes spawning new ideas for her artwork.

We started to spawn our own vegetable garden. We started spawning our own vegetables in the garden.

He began to spawn a movement for social change. He began spawning a movement for social change.