To Suspend vs Suspending 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 suspend (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to suspend the project temporarily.

Suspending (Gerund)

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

Example

Suspending the program was necessary for maintenance.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To suspend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To suspend the operation was a difficult decision.

  To suspend the operation was a difficult decision.

  • "*To suspend* the operation" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (a difficult decision).
• 2. Object

  They want me to suspend the meeting.

  They want me to suspend the meeting.

  • "Me *to suspend* the meeting" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (me *to suspend* the meeting).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a reason to suspend the contract.

  He needs a reason to suspend the contract.

  • "*To suspend* the contract" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to suspend* the contract).

Suspending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Suspending the project was a difficult decision.

  Suspending the project was a difficult decision.

  • "*Suspending* the project" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (was) + noun phrase (a difficult decision).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy suspending the rules sometimes.

  I enjoy suspending the rules sometimes.

  • "*Suspending* the rules" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*suspending* the rules).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for suspending disbelief in movies.

  She has a passion for suspending disbelief in movies.

  • "For *suspending* disbelief in movies" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *suspending* disbelief in movies).

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

• decide
• attempt
• refuse
• determine
• demand

Example

We decided to suspend the construction work temporarily.

She attempted to suspend the payment until further notice.

He refused to suspend the negotiations despite the pressure.

They determined to suspend the project until they received more funding.

The employees demanded to suspend the new policy implementation.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• postpone
• imagine

Example

He avoids suspending the operations during peak hours.

They recommend suspending unnecessary expenses to save money.

I am considering suspending my gym membership for a while.

Let's postpone suspending the project until next week.

Can you imagine suspending your disbelief and enjoying the movie?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to suspend judgment until all the facts are known. She likes suspending judgment until all the facts are known.

We started to suspend the services temporarily. We started suspending the services temporarily.

He began to suspend the weekly meetings. He began suspending the weekly meetings.