To Summarize vs Summarizing 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 summarize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to summarize the key points of the presentation.

Summarizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Summarizing helps to condense information into key points.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To summarize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To summarize is an important skill for effective communication.

  To summarize is an important skill for effective communication.

  • "*To summarize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill for effective communication).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to summarize the report for the meeting.

  She wants me to summarize the report for the meeting.

  • "Me *to summarize* the report for the meeting" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to summarize* the report for the meeting).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a concise way to summarize the findings.

  I need a concise way to summarize the findings.

  • "*To summarize* the findings" modifies the noun "way."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a concise way *to summarize* the findings).

Summarizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Summarizing requires careful reading and understanding.

  Summarizing requires careful reading and understanding.

  • "*Summarizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful reading and understanding).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy summarizing complex topics for easier comprehension.

  I enjoy summarizing complex topics for easier comprehension.

  • "*Summarizing* complex topics" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*summarizing* complex topics).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for summarizing long novels.

  She has a talent for summarizing long novels.

  • "For *summarizing* long novels" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *summarizing* long novels).

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

She plans to summarize the article in her own words.

They hope to summarize the main points during the presentation.

He wants to summarize the research findings in a clear manner.

We decided to summarize the book in a few paragraphs.

They agreed to summarize the discussion points together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys summarizing articles for quick reference.

They recommend regular summarizing for better retention of information.

I dislike the task of summarizing lengthy reports.

He avoids summarizing complex data without proper understanding.

Can you imagine yourself summarizing an entire book in just a few sentences?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to summarize important documents. She likes summarizing important documents.

We started to summarize the meeting minutes. We started summarizing the meeting minutes.

He began to summarize the research findings. He began summarizing the research findings.