To Visualize vs Visualizing 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 visualize (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to visualize my goals to help me achieve them.

Visualizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Visualizing can enhance your problem-solving skills.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To visualize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To visualize is an important skill for creative thinking.

  To visualize is an important skill for creative thinking.

  • "*To visualize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important skill for creative thinking).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to visualize the final outcome.

  She wants me to visualize the final outcome.

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

  I need a clear image to visualize the concept.

  I need a clear image to visualize the concept.

  • "*To visualize* the concept" modifies the noun "image."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a clear image *to visualize* the concept).

Visualizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Visualizing is a technique used in meditation.

  Visualizing is a technique used in meditation.

  • "*Visualizing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a technique used in meditation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy visualizing my future success.

  I enjoy visualizing my future success.

  • "*Visualizing* my future success" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*visualizing* my future success).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for visualizing complex ideas.

  She has a talent for visualizing complex ideas.

  • "For *visualizing* complex ideas" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *visualizing* complex ideas).

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

He plans to visualize his success every day.

They hope to visualize their dream vacation.

She wants to visualize her future career path.

We decided to visualize our team's strategy.

They agreed to visualize the project timeline together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys visualizing his dream house.

They recommend regular visualizing for better focus.

I dislike the idea of visualizing negative scenarios.

She avoids visualizing worst-case scenarios.

Can you imagine yourself visualizing your ideal future?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to visualize her goals every morning. She likes visualizing her goals every morning.

We started to visualize our dream vacation. We started visualizing our dream vacation.

He began to visualize his success story. He began visualizing his success story.