To Survey vs Surveying 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 survey (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to survey the area to gather data for my research.

Surveying (Gerund)

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

Example

Surveying is a crucial part of the construction process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To survey (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To survey is an important step in conducting a study.

  To survey is an important step in conducting a study.

  • "*To survey*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in conducting a study).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to survey the participants.

  She wants me to survey the participants.

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

  We need a team to survey the entire area.

  We need a team to survey the entire area.

  • "*To survey* the entire area" modifies the noun "team."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a team *to survey* the entire area).

Surveying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Surveying requires precision and accuracy.

  Surveying requires precision and accuracy.

  • "*Surveying*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (precision and accuracy).
• 2. Object

  He enjoys surveying different landscapes.

  He enjoys surveying different landscapes.

  • "*Surveying* different landscapes" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*surveying* different landscapes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  We are considering surveying the site for potential hazards.

  We are considering surveying the site for potential hazards.

  • "*Surveying* the site for potential hazards" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (We) + verb (are considering) + noun phrase (*surveying* the site for potential hazards).

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 survey the customers' satisfaction next week.

He hopes to survey the employees' opinions on the new policy.

We want to survey the market before launching our product.

She decided to survey the students' interests in extracurricular activities.

The committee agreed to survey the residents' preferences for community events.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys surveying historical buildings.

Experts recommend surveying the land before construction.

I dislike the idea of surveying underwater structures.

They avoid surveying during unfavorable weather conditions.

Can you imagine yourself surveying ancient ruins?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to survey new neighborhoods. He likes surveying new neighborhoods.

We started to survey the participants. We started surveying the participants.

She began to survey the market trends. She began surveying the market trends.