To Tiptoe vs Tiptoeing 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 tiptoe (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to tiptoe quietly so I don't wake anyone up.

Tiptoeing (Gerund)

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

Example

Tiptoeing is a way to avoid making noise.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To tiptoe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To tiptoe requires balance and control.

  To tiptoe requires balance and control.

  • "*To tiptoe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (balance and control).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to tiptoe in the hallway.

  She wants me to tiptoe in the hallway.

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

  I need soft slippers to tiptoe around the house.

  I need soft slippers to tiptoe around the house.

  • "*To tiptoe* around the house" modifies the noun "slippers."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (soft slippers *to tiptoe* around the house).

Tiptoeing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Tiptoeing requires concentration and careful steps.

  Tiptoeing requires concentration and careful steps.

  • "*Tiptoeing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (concentration and careful steps).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy tiptoeing around the house late at night.

  I enjoy tiptoeing around the house late at night.

  • "*Tiptoeing* around the house late at night" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*tiptoeing* around the house late at night).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a fear of tiptoeing in the dark.

  She has a fear of tiptoeing in the dark.

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

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 tiptoe into the room without making a sound.

They hope to tiptoe past the sleeping dog.

He wants to tiptoe silently down the stairs.

We decided to tiptoe through the dark room.

They agreed to tiptoe out of the house quietly.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys tiptoeing through the forest during the night.

They recommend tiptoeing when entering a quiet room.

I dislike the feeling of tiptoeing on hard surfaces.

He avoids tiptoeing on squeaky floors.

Can you imagine yourself tiptoeing across a tightrope?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to tiptoe around the house. She likes tiptoeing around the house.

We started to tiptoe when we heard a noise. We started tiptoeing when we heard a noise.

He began to tiptoe towards the exit. He began tiptoeing towards the exit.