To Adopt vs Adopting 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 adopt (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to adopt a puppy from the shelter.

Adopting (Gerund)

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

Example

Adopting a pet can bring so much joy to your life.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To adopt (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To adopt a child is a beautiful act of love.

  To adopt a child is a beautiful act of love.

  • "*To adopt* a child" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a beautiful act of love).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to adopt a kitten with her.

  She wants me to adopt a kitten with her.

  • "Me *to adopt* a kitten with her" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to adopt* a kitten with her).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a bigger house to adopt more pets.

  I need a bigger house to adopt more pets.

  • "*To adopt* more pets" modifies the noun "house."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a bigger house *to adopt* more pets).

Adopting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Adopting animals from shelters is a responsible choice.

  Adopting animals from shelters is a responsible choice.

  • "*Adopting* animals from shelters" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a responsible choice).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy adopting pets and giving them a loving home.

  I enjoy adopting pets and giving them a loving home.

  • "*Adopting* pets and giving them a loving home" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*adopting* pets and giving them a loving home).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for adopting abandoned animals.

  She has a passion for adopting abandoned animals.

  • "For *adopting* abandoned animals" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *adopting* abandoned animals).

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 adopt a child in the near future.

We hope to adopt a rescue dog from the shelter.

He wants to adopt a baby girl.

She decided to adopt a sibling group of three children.

They agreed to adopt a senior pet from the animal shelter.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy adopting cats and dogs from animal rescues.

Veterinarians recommend adopting pets instead of buying them.

I dislike the idea of adopting exotic animals as pets.

She avoids adopting animals from pet stores.

Can you imagine yourself adopting a retired racehorse?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to adopt older children. They like adopting older children.

We started to adopt animals from shelters. We started adopting animals from shelters.

He began to adopt rescue animals. He began adopting rescue animals.