To Acquire vs Acquiring 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 acquire (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to acquire new skills for my job.

Acquiring (Gerund)

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

Example

Acquiring new knowledge is a lifelong process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To acquire (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To acquire knowledge is essential for personal growth.

  To acquire knowledge is essential for personal growth.

  • "*To acquire* knowledge" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for personal growth).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to acquire more experience in the field.

  She wants me to acquire more experience in the field.

  • "Me *to acquire* more experience in the field" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to acquire* more experience in the field).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a mentor to acquire new skills.

  He needs a mentor to acquire new skills.

  • "*To acquire* new skills" modifies the noun "mentor."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a mentor *to acquire* new skills).

Acquiring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Acquiring new skills is important for career development.

  Acquiring new skills is important for career development.

  • "*Acquiring* new skills" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important for career development).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy acquiring knowledge through reading.

  I enjoy acquiring knowledge through reading.

  • "*Acquiring* knowledge through reading" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*acquiring* knowledge through reading).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for acquiring new experiences.

  She has a passion for acquiring new experiences.

  • "For *acquiring* new experiences" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *acquiring* new experiences).

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 acquire a new company next year.

I hope to acquire fluency in a foreign language.

We want to acquire more customers for our business.

He decided to acquire a degree in engineering.

They agreed to acquire the necessary resources for the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys acquiring new skills through online courses.

They recommend acquiring practical skills for the job market.

She dislikes the idea of acquiring unnecessary things.

We should avoid acquiring bad habits.

Can you imagine yourself acquiring wealth and success?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to acquire more knowledge in this field. I would like acquiring more knowledge in this field.

They started to acquire new skills for their career advancement. They started acquiring new skills for their career advancement.

He began to acquire valuable assets for his business. He began acquiring valuable assets for his business.