1.5 Gerunds, Infinitives & Subject-Verb Agreement

1.5 Gerunds, Infinitives & Subject-Verb Agreement

Choosing an -ing form or to-infinitive depends on the preceding verb or preposition. Subject–verb agreement depends on the subject, which may be separated from its verb by several other words; use the examples to find the relevant pattern.

1. Verb Complementation: The Gerund vs. Infinitive Divide

Verbs in English dictate whether an ensuing verbal complement must take the form of a gerund (functioning nominally as an ongoing or conceptual activity) or a to-infinitive (functioning as a goal, future objective, or targeted outcome).

Verbs Commonly Followed by -ing Complements

In corporate administration, a defined group of verbs denoting postponement, avoidance, risk, cognitive deliberation, and procedural completion obligatorily takes a gerund:

• The executive committee decided to postpone launching the direct-to-consumer platform until Q3.
• To preserve liquidity, management must avoid taking on high-yield mezzanine debt.
• The board is currently considering expanding operations into Scandinavian territories.
• Any unauthorized data transfer risks violating international privacy regulations.

Verbs Commonly Followed by To-Infinitives

Many verbs of planning, refusal, and intention take a to-infinitive when followed directly by another verb. Some listed verbs also allow other constructions or meanings:

• The board decided to restructure the international sales division.
• The supplier refused to renegotiate unit pricing despite the volume increase.
• Our development squad attempted to deploy the hotfix without causing downtime.
• Despite supply bottlenecks, the freight carrier managed to deliver the cargo on schedule.

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2. Dual-Complementation Verbs: Semantic Divergence

Some verbs accept either an -ing form or an infinitive, with an important change in meaning. Learn each pair through a complete example:

Semantic Polarity Matrix

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3. Prepositions and the "To" Particle Trap

In the ordinary verb-complement patterns below, a verb used directly after a preposition takes an -ing form. Errors arise when the word to functions as a preposition rather than as an infinitive marker.

Deconstructing the "To" Trap

In English, to possesses two distinct grammatical identities:

1. The Infinitive Marker: Precedes the base verb (We want to expand; She hopes to achieve).
2. The Preposition: Expresses direction, orientation, or attachment to an object (Welcome to our office; In addition to the terms).

When to is a preposition, any subsequent verb must take the gerund -ing suffix.

Diagnostic Test: Can you replace the verb slot with a simple noun phrase?
Example: "We look forward to [the annual meeting]." -> Valid!
Conclusion: "To" is a preposition.
Therefore: "We look forward to [meeting] you." (NEVER "look forward to meet").

High-Frequency Corporate Prepositional Idioms

• Look forward to + -ing: Our executive team looks forward to partnering with your logistics firm.
• Be committed to + -ing: The board of directors is firmly committed to upholding ESG benchmarks.
• Object to + -ing: Minority shareholders objected to restructuring the voting shares.
• Be accustomed / used to + -ing: Our compliance officers are accustomed to operating under strict regulatory oversight.
• With a view to + -ing: The capital raise was executed with a view to funding foreign market expansion.
• In addition to + -ing: In addition to reducing production costs, the initiative streamlined internal reporting.

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4. Subject-Verb Agreement in Complex Syntactic Environments

Subject-verb agreement (grammatical concord) dictates that a finite verb must match its subject in person and number. While elementary agreement (The manager approves vs. The managers approve) is straightforward, complex business environments introduce intervening structures that test syntactic discernment.

1. Corporate Collective Nouns

Nouns such as board, committee, council, panel, staff, management, crew, and jury represent unified organizational bodies:

• A collective acting as one unit: Collective nouns acting as a singular corporate unit take singular verbs.
  • The executive committee has ratified the revised dividend policy.
  • The board meets once per quarter to evaluate strategic acquisitions.
• British Variation: When emphasizing the distinct, autonomous actions of individual members, plural verbs may occur (The staff are divided in their opinions). Read whether the group is presented as one unit or as individual members; do not assume the exam favors a national variety.

2. Distributive and Indefinite Pronouns

Each, everyone, everybody, nobody, and someone normally take singular verbs. Every is a determiner (every employee). With either of and neither of, singular agreement is usual in formal writing, while plural agreement is common in speech:

• Each of the regional distribution warehouses is inspected semi-annually. (Not are inspected).
• Neither of the audit reports contains conclusive evidence of malfeasance. (Not contain).
• Everyone in the marketing and communications departments understands the embargo date.

3. Correlative Conjunctions and the Principle of Proximity

When subjects are joined by either... or, neither... nor, or not only... but also, grammatical agreement is governed by the Principle of Proximity—the verb must agree in number with the subject noun phrase closest to it:

4. Parenthetical Interrupters

Prepositional and parenthetical modifiers—such as as well as, together with, in addition to, along with, accompanied by, and including—do not alter the grammatical number of the primary subject:

• The chief executive officer, along with her senior advisory council, is visiting the European branch. (The subject is strictly The chief executive officer).
• The financial statements, in addition to the auditor's supplementary report, were published on the corporate portal.

5. Quantifiers and Fractional Concord

Expressions of proportion (a percentage of, the majority of, two-thirds of, all of) often agree according to what is being counted or measured. None of the information is missing is singular; None of the files is/are missing allows either form:

• A significant percentage of the budget was allocated to research and development. (Singular mass noun).
• A significant percentage of the stakeholders were in favor of the divestiture. (Plural count noun).