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 so I don't wake up the baby.

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 move quietly and stealthily.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To tiptoe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To tiptoe requires balance and concentration.

  To tiptoe requires balance and concentration.

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

  She wants me to tiptoe into the room.

  She wants me to tiptoe into the room.

  • "Me *to tiptoe* into the room" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to tiptoe* into the room).
• 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 "soft slippers."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (soft slippers *to tiptoe* around the house).

Tiptoeing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Tiptoeing requires careful foot placement.

  Tiptoeing requires careful foot placement.

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

  I enjoy tiptoeing around the house late at night.

  I enjoy tiptoeing around the house late at night.

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

  She has a fear of tiptoeing on squeaky floors.

  She has a fear of tiptoeing on squeaky floors.

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

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

• hope
• plan
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

They hope to tiptoe past the sleeping dog.

We plan to tiptoe into the room to surprise her.

He wants to tiptoe silently through the hallway.

She decided to tiptoe out of the room without making a sound.

They agreed to tiptoe together to avoid waking anyone up.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• imagine
• mind

Example

He avoids tiptoeing in high heels.

They recommend tiptoeing to avoid making noise in the library.

I'm considering tiptoeing into the room to surprise her.

Can you imagine yourself tiptoeing across a tightrope?

Do you mind tiptoeing around the sleeping cat?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to tiptoe around the house when everyone is asleep. She likes tiptoeing around the house when everyone is asleep.

We started to tiptoe in order to avoid waking the neighbors. We started tiptoeing in order to avoid waking the neighbors.

He began to tiptoe whenever he entered a quiet room. He began tiptoeing whenever he entered a quiet room.