To Worship vs Worshipping 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 worship (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to worship at the temple every week.

Worshipping (Gerund)

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

Example

Worshipping brings a sense of peace and fulfillment.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To worship (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To worship is a deeply personal experience.

  To worship is a deeply personal experience.

  • "*To worship*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (a deeply personal experience).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to worship with her.

  She wants me to worship with her.

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

  I need a peaceful place to worship.

  I need a peaceful place to worship.

  • "*To worship*" modifies the noun "place."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a peaceful place *to worship*).

Worshipping (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Worshipping is an important part of many religious traditions.

  Worshipping is an important part of many religious traditions.

  • "*Worshipping*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of many religious traditions).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy worshipping in the church.

  I enjoy worshipping in the church.

  • "*Worshipping* in the church" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*worshipping* in the church).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a deep devotion to worshipping.

  She has a deep devotion to worshipping.

  • "To *worshipping*" is the object of the preposition "to."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a deep devotion to *worshipping*).

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 worship at the church tomorrow.

He hopes to worship at the mosque during his trip.

She wants to worship at the sacred site.

We decided to worship together on Sundays.

They agreed to worship at the temple as a family.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys worshipping with a community of believers.

They recommend regular worshipping for spiritual growth.

I dislike the idea of worshipping idols.

She avoids worshipping false gods.

Can you imagine yourself worshipping in a sacred place?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to worship in the temple. She likes worshipping in the temple.

They started to worship regularly. They started worshipping regularly.

He began to worship at a young age. He began worshipping at a young age.