To Up vs Upping 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 up (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to up my game to improve my skills.

Upping (Gerund)

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

Example

Upping your game is essential for improvement.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To up (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To up is a challenging task.

  To up is a challenging task.

  • "*To up*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a challenging task).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to up my performance.

  She wants me to up my performance.

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

  I need a strategy to up my chances of success.

  I need a strategy to up my chances of success.

  • "*To up* my chances of success" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to up* my chances of success).

Upping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Upping your game requires dedication and practice.

  Upping your game requires dedication and practice.

  • "*Upping* your game" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (dedication and practice).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy upping my skills in every opportunity.

  I enjoy upping my skills in every opportunity.

  • "*Upping* my skills" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*upping* my skills).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for upping her performance.

  She has a passion for upping her performance.

  • "For *upping* her performance" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *upping* her performance).

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 up her game for the next tournament.

They hope to up their skills in the upcoming workshop.

He wants to up his performance in the final exam.

We decided to up our training for the marathon.

They agreed to up their effort for the team project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys upping her game in competitive matches.

They recommend regular upping of skills for professional growth.

I dislike the idea of upping my workload.

He avoids upping his responsibilities at work.

Can you imagine yourself upping your performance to reach new heights?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to up her game before important matches. She likes upping her game before important matches.

We started to up our skills in the training program. We started upping our skills in the training program.

He began to up his productivity with effective time management. He began upping his productivity with effective time management.