To Traipse vs Traipsing 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 traipse (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to traipse through the forest to explore nature.

Traipsing (Gerund)

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

Example

Traipsing around the city is a fun way to discover new places.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To traipse (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To traipse in the rain is not very enjoyable.

  To traipse in the rain is not very enjoyable.

  • "*To traipse*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not very enjoyable).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to traipse with her in the city.

  She wants me to traipse with her in the city.

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

  I need comfortable shoes to traipse around the museum.

  I need comfortable shoes to traipse around the museum.

  • "*To traipse* around the museum" modifies the noun "shoes."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (comfortable shoes *to traipse* around the museum).

Traipsing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Traipsing through the park is a popular activity.

  Traipsing through the park is a popular activity.

  • "*Traipsing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a popular activity).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy traipsing in the countryside.

  I enjoy traipsing in the countryside.

  • "*Traipsing* in the countryside" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*traipsing* in the countryside).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for traipsing through markets.

  She has a passion for traipsing through markets.

  • "For *traipsing* through markets" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *traipsing* through markets).

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 traipse through the mountains next weekend.

They hope to traipse in the snow during their winter vacation.

He wants to traipse in the desert.

We decided to traipse along the beach this summer.

They agreed to traipse through the jungle together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys traipsing in the mall every weekend.

They recommend regular traipsing for better fitness.

I dislike the idea of traipsing in crowded places.

He avoids traipsing in unfamiliar neighborhoods.

Can you imagine yourself traipsing through ancient ruins?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to traipse in the woods. She likes traipsing in the woods.

We started to traipse around the city. We started traipsing around the city.

He began to traipse through the park every morning. He began traipsing through the park every morning.