Gerunds and infinitives are a part of English grammar that many English learners find challenging. In this post, I will help you understand when to use a gerund or infinitive to describe the purpose of someone or something.
In English, both gerunds and infinitives can be used to talk about the reason why we use or do something.
Let’s begin with an example. This is a hair dryer:
There are two ways you can talk about the purpose of the hair dryer. Compare these two sentences …
A hair dryer is for drying hair.
I use a hair dryer to dry my hair.
Can you see the difference between the two sentences above?
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Gerunds
A gerund is a verb that acts like a noun. To form a gerund, add –ing to the end of the verb.
To describe the purpose of something, use for + gerund:
What is a hair dryer for?
A hair dryer is for drying hair.What is this program for?
This computer program is for editing videos.
*Notice that in the above sentences, the thing being described is the subject of the sentence.
More example sentences:
My lips are for kissing!
Be quiet! A library is for studying, not for socializing!
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Infinitives
An infinitive is the to + verb form. To describe the purpose of someone, use an infinitive.
What do you use a hair dryer for?
I use a hair dryer to dry my hair.Why did you go to the store?
I went to the store to buy some milk.Why are you going to Toronto?
I‘m going to Toronto to learn English
More example sentences:
I use my lips to kiss!
Be quiet! I come to the library to study, not to socialize!
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Here’s where it gets confusing:
You can still use for + noun to talk about the purpose of someone, but the noun CANNOT be a gerund:
Why did you buy a box of chocolates?
I bought a box of chocolates for my husband.
I bought a box of chocolates to give my husband.
NOT: I bought a box of chocolates for give my husband.
NOT: I bought a box of chocolates for giving my husband.
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I hope this helped you to better understand when to use a gerund or infinitive to talk about purpose!
Melanie is a TESL-certified English teacher. She lives near Toronto, Canada. Through her blog, videos, podcasts, and social media, she helps thousands of people around the world improve their English. She makes English a little less confusing and a little more fun! She also helps people understand Canadian and American culture. She believes that natural interaction with a native speaker helps people practice what they have learned and builds their confidence with English!
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
thank you very much.
Thank very much for teaching me…. But I hope u can make some practice to make sure that it is easy for us…. thank!
Thank you so much!
thanks a lot
Dear Melanie, thank you for this helpful explanation, but I’d like to ask you to give me more details about the complicated part… The problem is that I am a university student and I have to know the linguistical reason behind these structures… Could you help me? It would be life saving! :)
For example here are these sentences: I use my lips to kiss or I use my lips for kissing. I assume both are correct and have the same meaning. Then what’s the point? :/
B.
Hi, Bernadett!
Unfortunately I can’t help you with the ‘linguistic reason’ behind these structures. I have not studied linguistics, so I can’t answer ‘why?’ I can only tell you ‘what.’
All the best to you with your studies,
Melanie
Never mind! Thank you! :))