To Become vs Becoming 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 become (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to become a doctor when I grow up.

Becoming (Gerund)

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

Example

Becoming a parent is a life-changing experience.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To become (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To become a teacher requires years of education and training.

  To become a teacher requires years of education and training.

  • "*To become* a teacher" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (years of education and training).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to become her business partner.

  She wants me to become her business partner.

  • "Me *to become* her business partner" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to become* her business partner).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a mentor to become successful in my career.

  I need a mentor to become successful in my career.

  • "*To become* successful in my career" modifies the noun "mentor."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a mentor *to become* successful in my career).

Becoming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Becoming a chef requires years of practice and dedication.

  Becoming a chef requires years of practice and dedication.

  • "*Becoming* a chef" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (years of practice and dedication).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy becoming involved in community service projects.

  I enjoy becoming involved in community service projects.

  • "*Becoming* involved in community service projects" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*becoming* involved in community service projects).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a passion for becoming a better version of herself.

  She has a passion for becoming a better version of herself.

  • "For *becoming* a better version of herself" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *becoming* a better version of herself).

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 become a professional athlete in the future.

They hope to become successful entrepreneurs.

He wants to become fluent in French.

We decided to become more environmentally friendly.

They agreed to become members of the club.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys becoming more knowledgeable about different cultures.

They recommend becoming involved in volunteer work for personal growth.

I dislike the idea of becoming dependent on others.

He avoids becoming complacent in his career.

Can you imagine yourself becoming a successful entrepreneur?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to become a better version of herself. She likes becoming a better version of herself.

We started to become more environmentally conscious. We started becoming more environmentally conscious.

He began to become more physically active. He began becoming more physically active.