To Surround vs Surrounding 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 surround (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to surround my garden with a fence to keep out animals.

Surrounding (Gerund)

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

Example

Surrounding the house with trees creates a peaceful atmosphere.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To surround (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To surround the house with flowers is her dream.

  To surround the house with flowers is her dream.

  • "*To surround* the house with flowers" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (her dream).
• 2. Object

  He asked me to surround the tree with stones.

  He asked me to surround the tree with stones.

  • "Me *to surround* the tree with stones" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (me *to surround* the tree with stones).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a wall to surround their property.

  They need a wall to surround their property.

  • "*To surround* their property" modifies the noun "wall."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a wall *to surround* their property).

Surrounding (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Surrounding the garden with flowers adds color to the landscape.

  Surrounding the garden with flowers adds color to the landscape.

  • "*Surrounding* the garden with flowers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (adds) + noun phrase (color to the landscape).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy surrounding myself with nature.

  I enjoy surrounding myself with nature.

  • "*Surrounding* myself with nature" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*surrounding* myself with nature).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of surrounding crowds.

  She has a fear of surrounding crowds.

  • "Of *surrounding* crowds" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a fear of *surrounding* crowds).

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 surround the garden with flowers next spring.

They hope to surround their house with a beautiful garden.

He wants to surround the swimming pool with a safety fence.

We decided to surround the patio with a privacy screen.

They agreed to surround the backyard with trees and shrubs.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys surrounding her home with plants and flowers.

They recommend surrounding the pool area with a safety fence.

I dislike the idea of surrounding myself with negative people.

He avoids surrounding himself with toxic environments.

Can you imagine surrounding your backyard with a lush garden?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to surround herself with positive energy. She likes surrounding herself with positive energy.

We started to surround the property with a security fence. We started surrounding the property with a security fence.

He began to surround his garden with decorative rocks. He began surrounding his garden with decorative rocks.