Risk Doing vs. Risk To Do
As a verb, risk takes an -ing complement for an action that may lead to a bad result. Cambridge gives examples such as “risked losing,” so the reviewed direct pattern is “risk doing,” not “risk to do.”
Use “risk doing” when the action itself is exposed to a possible bad result: “risk losing,” not direct “risk to lose.”
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| expose yourself or something to a possible bad result by taking an action | risk + -ing | Use the -ing form for the action that carries the risk. |
| put a thing, amount, or outcome in danger | risk + noun | A noun phrase can be the direct object. |
| use direct “risk to do” as the parallel action complement | not the ordinary documented pattern | Do not replace the -ing complement with a direct to-infinitive. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Are you naming the action that could lead to an unwanted result?
If yes: Use “risk doing.”
If no: If you are naming a thing put in danger, use “risk” plus that noun; direct “risk to do” is not the ordinary parallel action complement.
Examples
You risk losing the unsaved changes.
The -ing clause names the action/outcome exposed to risk.
We risk delaying the launch if testing starts late.
The -ing form names the possible unwanted consequence.
Do not risk your only copy.
A noun can be the object when the thing itself is put in danger.
Further guidance
Boundary
Risk can also take a noun object, but that does not license a direct to-infinitive as a parallel complement.
Construction
Cambridge documents risk + -ing verb for doing something despite the possibility of a bad result.
Decision
Choose “risk doing” for the direct verbal complement.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- risk — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Risk + -ing verb for an action carrying a possible bad result
- Verb patterns: verb + infinitive or verb + -ing? (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Verb-complement patterns, including verbs taking -ing, to-infinitive, or both with meaning differences