To Trade vs Trading 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 trade (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to trade my old car for a new one.

Trading (Gerund)

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

Example

Trading can be a lucrative business.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To trade (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To trade requires knowledge of the market.

  To trade requires knowledge of the market.

  • "*To trade*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (knowledge of the market).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to trade her collectible cards.

  She wants me to trade her collectible cards.

  • "Me *to trade* her collectible cards" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to trade* her collectible cards).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a platform to trade stocks.

  I need a platform to trade stocks.

  • "*To trade* stocks" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to trade* stocks).

Trading (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Trading requires patience and discipline.

  Trading requires patience and discipline.

  • "*Trading*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (patience and discipline).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy trading stocks in the stock market.

  I enjoy trading stocks in the stock market.

  • "*Trading* stocks in the stock market" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*trading* stocks in the stock market).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They are experts in the field of trading.

  They are experts in the field of trading.

  • "In the field of *trading*" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (are) + noun phrase (experts in the field of *trading*).

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
• plan
• hope
• refuse
• attempt

Example

They decided to trade their house for a smaller one.

He plans to trade his old phone for a newer model.

We hope to trade our tickets for better seats.

She refused to trade her valuable painting.

They attempted to trade their services for goods.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind
• resist

Example

He recommends trading cryptocurrencies for potential profit.

She avoids trading during volatile market conditions.

I am considering trading my old books for new ones.

Do you mind trading your seat with someone else?

They resisted trading their privacy for convenience.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to trade stocks on the stock market. She likes trading stocks on the stock market.

We started to trade currencies in the foreign exchange market. We started trading currencies in the foreign exchange market.

He began to trade options on the trading platform. He began trading options on the trading platform.