To Acquisite vs Acquisiting 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 acquisite (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to acquisite new skills to advance in my career.

Acquisiting (Gerund)

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

Example

Acquisiting new skills is crucial for professional development.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To acquisite (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To acquisite knowledge is essential for personal growth.

  To acquisite knowledge is essential for personal growth.

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

  She wants me to acquisite valuable experience in this field.

  She wants me to acquisite valuable experience in this field.

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

  I need a mentor to acquisite practical skills.

  I need a mentor to acquisite practical skills.

  • "*To acquisite* practical skills" modifies the noun "mentor."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mentor *to acquisite* practical skills).

Acquisiting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Acquisiting knowledge enhances your abilities.

  Acquisiting knowledge enhances your abilities.

  • "*Acquisiting*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (enhances) + noun phrase (your abilities).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy acquisiting practical experience in my job.

  I enjoy acquisiting practical experience in my job.

  • "*Acquisiting* practical experience in my job" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*acquisiting* practical experience in my job).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for acquisiting new knowledge.

  She has a passion for acquisiting new knowledge.

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

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 acquisite new knowledge through online courses.

They hope to acquisite valuable skills during their internship.

He wants to acquisite advanced certifications in his field.

We decided to acquisite additional training for better job prospects.

They agreed to acquisite specialized expertise in their respective areas.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys acquisiting new skills through hands-on projects.

They recommend continuous acquisiting of knowledge for career growth.

I dislike the idea of acquisiting skills without practical application.

He avoids acquisiting irrelevant information in his research.

Can you imagine yourself acquisiting expertise in multiple fields?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to acquisite new knowledge through reading books. She likes acquisiting new knowledge through reading books.

We started to acquisite foreign language skills. We started acquisiting foreign language skills.

He began to acquisite coding skills. He began acquisiting coding skills.