To Warm vs Warming 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 warm (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to warm myself by the fire.

Warming (Gerund)

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

Example

Warming up before exercise helps prevent injuries.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To warm (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To warm up before exercise is important.

  To warm up before exercise is important.

  • "*To warm* up before exercise" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to warm her hands.

  She wants me to warm her hands.

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

  I need a blanket to warm myself.

  I need a blanket to warm myself.

  • "*To warm* myself" modifies the noun "blanket."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a blanket *to warm* myself).

Warming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Warming up is essential for a successful workout.

  Warming up is essential for a successful workout.

  • "*Warming* up" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (essential for a successful workout).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy warming myself by the fireplace.

  I enjoy warming myself by the fireplace.

  • "*Warming* myself by the fireplace" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*warming* myself by the fireplace).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for warming up before performances.

  She has a passion for warming up before performances.

  • "For *warming* up before performances" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *warming* up before performances).

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

• hope
• plan
• want
• decide
• choose

Example

They hope to warm themselves by the fireplace tonight.

We plan to warm up before the game starts.

He wants to warm his food in the microwave.

I decided to warm my feet by the heater.

She chose to warm her hands under hot water.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind

Example

They enjoy warming themselves in the sun on a cold day.

Experts recommend warming up before any physical activity.

I avoid warming up too quickly to prevent muscle strain.

We are considering warming our house with a fireplace.

Do you mind warming up the car before we leave?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to warm herself by the heater. She likes warming herself by the heater.

We started to warm up before every workout. We started warming up before every workout.

He began to warm his hands by rubbing them together. He began warming his hands by rubbing them together.