To Suffice vs Sufficing 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 suffice (Infinitive)

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

Example

A single slice of cake may not suffice for the party.

Sufficing (Gerund)

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

Example

Sufficing with just one piece of information is not enough.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To suffice (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To suffice is my goal for this project.

  To suffice is my goal for this project.

  • "*To suffice*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my goal for this project).
• 2. Object

  She wants the whole team to suffice for the task.

  She wants the whole team to suffice for the task.

  • "The whole team *to suffice* for the task" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (the whole team *to suffice* for the task).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need more ingredients to suffice for the recipe.

  I need more ingredients to suffice for the recipe.

  • "*To suffice* for the recipe" modifies the noun "ingredients."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (more ingredients *to suffice* for the recipe).

Sufficing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Sufficing is not an option in this case.

  Sufficing is not an option in this case.

  • "*Sufficing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not an option in this case).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy sufficing with the available resources.

  I enjoy sufficing with the available resources.

  • "*Sufficing* with the available resources" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*sufficing* with the available resources).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for sufficing with minimal instructions.

  She has a knack for sufficing with minimal instructions.

  • "For *sufficing* with minimal instructions" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *sufficing* with minimal instructions).

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 suffice for the entire event with their resources.

I hope to suffice for the requirements of the project.

He wants to suffice for the needs of his family.

We decided to suffice for the available options.

They agreed to suffice for the demands of the customers.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys sufficing with limited resources.

They recommend sufficing with what is available.

I dislike the idea of sufficing with incomplete information.

She avoids sufficing with half-hearted efforts.

Can you imagine yourself sufficing with only one tool?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to suffice with the existing budget. I would like sufficing with the existing budget.

They started to suffice for the project requirements. They started sufficing for the project requirements.

He began to suffice with the available options. He began sufficing with the available options.