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 to advance in my career.

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 skills is beneficial for personal development.

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 new clients for the company.

  She wants me to acquire new clients for the company.

  • "Me *to acquire* new clients for the company" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to acquire* new clients for the company).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a mentor to acquire the necessary skills.

  He needs a mentor to acquire the necessary skills.

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

Acquiring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Acquiring experience takes time and effort.

  Acquiring experience takes time and effort.

  • "*Acquiring* experience" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (takes) + noun phrase (time and effort).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys acquiring knowledge through reading.

  She enjoys acquiring knowledge through reading.

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

  He has a passion for acquiring new skills.

  He has a passion for acquiring new skills.

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

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 house next year.

I hope to acquire fluency in a foreign language.

We want to acquire more knowledge in our field.

He decided to acquire a new car.

They agreed to acquire additional funding for the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy acquiring rare collectibles.

I recommend acquiring practical skills for the job market.

She dislikes the idea of acquiring unnecessary things.

He avoids acquiring debt by saving money.

Can you imagine yourself acquiring new languages fluently?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to acquire new experiences. He likes acquiring new experiences.

She started to acquire advanced knowledge in her field. She started acquiring advanced knowledge in her field.

They began to acquire valuable assets. They began acquiring valuable assets.