To Subscribe vs Subscribing 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 subscribe (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to subscribe to the magazine for a year.

Subscribing (Gerund)

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

Example

Subscribing to podcasts is a popular trend among young people.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To subscribe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To subscribe is a great way to support your favorite creators.

  To subscribe is a great way to support your favorite creators.

  • "*To subscribe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a great way to support your favorite creators).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to subscribe to her YouTube channel.

  She wants me to subscribe to her YouTube channel.

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

  I need a valid email address to subscribe to the newsletter.

  I need a valid email address to subscribe to the newsletter.

  • "*To subscribe* to the newsletter" modifies the noun "email address."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a valid email address *to subscribe* to the newsletter).

Subscribing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Subscribing to newsletters helps you stay informed.

  Subscribing to newsletters helps you stay informed.

  • "*Subscribing* to newsletters" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (you stay informed).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy subscribing to cooking channels on YouTube.

  I enjoy subscribing to cooking channels on YouTube.

  • "*Subscribing* to cooking channels on YouTube" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*subscribing* to cooking channels on YouTube).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a habit of subscribing to various magazines.

  He has a habit of subscribing to various magazines.

  • "Of *subscribing* to various magazines" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *subscribing* to various magazines).

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

• want
• choose
• plan
• hope
• decide

Example

He wants to subscribe to the premium version of the app.

They chose to subscribe to the monthly plan.

We plan to subscribe to the streaming service next month.

She hopes to subscribe to the online course soon.

I decided to subscribe to the newspaper for daily updates.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• imagine

Example

She enjoys subscribing to online courses for personal development.

They recommend regular subscribing to industry newsletters for career growth.

I avoid subscribing to websites that require payment for access.

He is considering subscribing to the fitness center for regular workouts.

Can you imagine yourself subscribing to a monthly book club?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to subscribe to fashion magazines. She likes subscribing to fashion magazines.

We started to subscribe to the newspaper. We started subscribing to the newspaper.

He began to subscribe to the podcast series. He began subscribing to the podcast series.