To Throw vs Throwing 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 throw (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to throw the ball to my teammate.

Throwing (Gerund)

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

Example

Throwing is an essential skill in baseball.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To throw (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To throw accurately requires practice.

  To throw accurately requires practice.

  • "*To throw* accurately" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun (practice).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to throw the ball.

  She wants me to throw the ball.

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

  I need a strong arm to throw long distances.

  I need a strong arm to throw long distances.

  • "*To throw* long distances" modifies the noun "arm."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strong arm *to throw* long distances).

Throwing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Throwing requires coordination and accuracy.

  Throwing requires coordination and accuracy.

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

  I enjoy throwing a frisbee with my friends.

  I enjoy throwing a frisbee with my friends.

  • "*Throwing* a frisbee with my friends" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*throwing* a frisbee with my friends).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for throwing accurately.

  He has a talent for throwing accurately.

  • "For *throwing* accurately" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *throwing* accurately).

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

He plans to throw a surprise party for his friend.

They hope to throw a successful event next month.

She wants to throw the first pitch at the baseball game.

We decided to throw a farewell party for our colleague.

They agreed to throw a fundraising event for charity.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys throwing darts at the target.

They recommend practicing throwing daily for improvement.

I dislike the idea of throwing parties with a large crowd.

He avoids throwing objects in the house.

Can you imagine yourself throwing a perfect spiral in football?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to throw a frisbee in the park. I like throwing a frisbee in the park.

They started to throw the javelin in high school. They started throwing the javelin in high school.

He began to throw punches during the fight. He began throwing punches during the fight.