To Waive vs Waiving 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 waive (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to waive the late fee for the customer.

Waiving (Gerund)

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

Example

Waiving the fee is a good incentive for customers.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To waive (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To waive the requirement would be unfair to other students.

  To waive the requirement would be unfair to other students.

  • "*To waive* the requirement" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (would be) + adjective phrase (unfair to other students).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to waive the penalty.

  She wants me to waive the penalty.

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

  We need a valid reason to waive the application fee.

  We need a valid reason to waive the application fee.

  • "*To waive* the application fee" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a valid reason *to waive* the application fee).

Waiving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Waiving the requirement would be beneficial for many students.

  Waiving the requirement would be beneficial for many students.

  • "*Waiving* the requirement" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (would be) + adjective phrase (beneficial for many students).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy waiving the fee for loyal customers.

  I enjoy waiving the fee for loyal customers.

  • "*Waiving* the fee for loyal customers" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*waiving* the fee for loyal customers).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for waiving unnecessary charges.

  She has a passion for waiving unnecessary charges.

  • "For *waiving* unnecessary charges" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *waiving* unnecessary charges).

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

They plan to waive the requirement next year.

I hope to waive the cancellation fee for you.

He wants to waive the condition for the project.

We decided to waive the late submission penalty.

They agreed to waive the membership fee for new members.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy waiving the shipping fee for online orders.

I recommend waiving the late fee for first-time offenders.

He dislikes the idea of waiving the minimum balance requirement.

She avoids waiving the terms and conditions of the contract.

Can you imagine waiving all the parking fees for a day?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to waive the admission fee for students. I like waiving the admission fee for students.

We started to waive the annual fee. We started waiving the annual fee.

He began to waive the service charge. He began waiving the service charge.