To Achieve vs Achieving 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 achieve (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to achieve my goals and dreams.

Achieving (Gerund)

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

Example

Achieving your dreams is a fulfilling experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To achieve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To achieve success requires hard work and dedication.

  To achieve success requires hard work and dedication.

  • "*To achieve* success" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (hard work and dedication).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to achieve my full potential.

  She wants me to achieve my full potential.

  • "Me *to achieve* my full potential" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to achieve* my full potential).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a clear plan to achieve my goals.

  I need a clear plan to achieve my goals.

  • "*To achieve* my goals" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a clear plan *to achieve* my goals).

Achieving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Achieving greatness requires perseverance and determination.

  Achieving greatness requires perseverance and determination.

  • "*Achieving* greatness" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (perseverance and determination).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy achieving personal growth and development.

  I enjoy achieving personal growth and development.

  • "*Achieving* personal growth and development" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*achieving* personal growth and development).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for achieving her goals.

  She has a passion for achieving her goals.

  • "For *achieving* her goals" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *achieving* her goals).

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

She plans to achieve her career goals within five years.

They hope to achieve financial independence in their lifetime.

He wants to achieve academic excellence in his studies.

We decided to achieve a healthy work-life balance.

They agreed to achieve their team goals together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys achieving success in her career.

They recommend setting realistic goals and achieving them step by step.

I dislike the feeling of not achieving my desired outcomes.

He avoids achieving negative results by careful planning.

Can you imagine yourself achieving all your aspirations?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to achieve her personal milestones. She likes achieving her personal milestones.

We started to achieve our fitness goals. We started achieving our fitness goals.

He began to achieve his academic objectives. He began achieving his academic objectives.