To Supervise vs Supervising 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 supervise (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to supervise the project to ensure its success.

Supervising (Gerund)

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

Example

Supervising requires good communication skills.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To supervise (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To supervise is a challenging responsibility.

  To supervise is a challenging responsibility.

  • "*To supervise*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a challenging responsibility).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to supervise the team.

  She wants me to supervise the team.

  • "Me *to supervise* the team" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to supervise* the team).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need an experienced manager to supervise the construction site.

  We need an experienced manager to supervise the construction site.

  • "*To supervise* the construction site" modifies the noun "manager."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (an experienced manager *to supervise* the construction site).

Supervising (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Supervising is a crucial part of effective management.

  Supervising is a crucial part of effective management.

  • "*Supervising*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a crucial part of effective management).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy supervising the team.

  I enjoy supervising the team.

  • "*Supervising* the team" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*supervising* the team).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for supervising complex projects.

  She has a talent for supervising complex projects.

  • "For *supervising* complex projects" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *supervising* complex projects).

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
• decide
• refuse
• want
• choose

Example

They plan to supervise the event logistics.

He decided to supervise the production process.

She refused to supervise the team's work.

We want you to supervise the project.

I chose to supervise the volunteers.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

They enjoy supervising the production process.

I recommend supervising closely for quality control.

He avoids supervising tedious tasks.

Can you imagine yourself supervising a large team?

We are considering supervising the construction project.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to supervise the team. She likes supervising the team.

We started to supervise the operations. We started supervising the operations.

He began to supervise the employees. He began supervising the employees.