To Hire vs Hiring 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 hire (Infinitive)

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

Example

I plan to hire a new employee for our team.

Hiring (Gerund)

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

Example

Hiring the right candidate can make a significant difference in the success of a company.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To hire (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To hire a professional is essential for the success of the project.

  To hire a professional is essential for the success of the project.

  • "*To hire* a professional" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for the success of the project).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to hire a reliable contractor.

  She wants me to hire a reliable contractor.

  • "Me *to hire* a reliable contractor" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to hire* a reliable contractor).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a spacious office to hire more employees.

  We need a spacious office to hire more employees.

  • "*To hire* more employees" modifies the noun "office."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a spacious office *to hire* more employees).

Hiring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Hiring talented individuals is crucial for any organization.

  Hiring talented individuals is crucial for any organization.

  • "*Hiring* talented individuals" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for any organization).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate your help in hiring new employees.

  We appreciate your help in hiring new employees.

  • "*Hiring* new employees" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (*hiring* new employees).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for hiring the right people.

  She has a talent for hiring the right people.

  • "For *hiring* the right people" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *hiring* the right people).

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

• decide
• want
• refuse
• offer
• plan

Example

They decided to hire a consultant for their business.

He wants to hire a personal assistant to help with his workload.

The company refused to hire inexperienced candidates.

We offered to hire him as a permanent employee.

She plans to hire a marketing agency for their upcoming campaign.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• delay
• resist

Example

They recommend hiring a professional HR consultant.

He avoids hiring candidates without relevant experience.

We are considering hiring a part-time employee.

She delayed hiring a new manager until next month.

They resisted hiring temporary workers during peak season.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She would like to hire an intern for the summer. She would like hiring an intern for the summer.

We started to hire remote workers for our company. We started hiring remote workers for our company.

He began to hire freelancers for specific projects. He began hiring freelancers for specific projects.