To Verify vs Verifying 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 verify (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to verify the information before making a decision.

Verifying (Gerund)

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

Example

Verifying the information is crucial for making informed decisions.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To verify (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To verify is an important step in the process.

  To verify is an important step in the process.

  • "*To verify*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important step in the process).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to verify the documents.

  She wants me to verify the documents.

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

  He needs a reliable source to verify the facts.

  He needs a reliable source to verify the facts.

  • "*To verify* the facts" modifies the noun "source."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reliable source *to verify* the facts).

Verifying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Verifying the documents takes time and attention to detail.

  Verifying the documents takes time and attention to detail.

  • "*Verifying* the documents" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (takes) + noun phrase (time and attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy verifying the accuracy of the data.

  I enjoy verifying the accuracy of the data.

  • "*Verifying* the accuracy of the data" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*verifying* the accuracy of the data).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a habit of verifying every detail.

  They have a habit of verifying every detail.

  • "Of *verifying* every detail" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a habit of *verifying* every detail).

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
• attempt
• refuse
• learn
• demand

Example

We decided to verify the accuracy of the data.

They attempted to verify the experiment results.

He refused to verify the authenticity of the product.

She learned to verify the information through multiple sources.

They demanded to verify the contract terms.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• postpone
• resist

Example

She recommends verifying the information with multiple sources.

They avoid verifying the documents at the last minute.

I am considering verifying the facts before sharing them.

He postponed verifying the results until further investigation.

She resisted verifying the details due to lack of time.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to verify the accuracy of the data. I would like verifying the documents.

We started to verify the information provided. We started verifying the details.

He began to verify the authenticity of the source. He began verifying the facts.