To Occupy vs Occupying 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 occupy (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to occupy the vacant position in the company.

Occupying (Gerund)

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

Example

Occupying the position of manager comes with great responsibility.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To occupy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To occupy the vacant position is my goal.

  To occupy the vacant position is my goal.

  • "*To occupy* the vacant position" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (my goal).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to occupy the office space.

  She wants me to occupy the office space.

  • "Me *to occupy* the office space" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to occupy* the office space).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a desk to occupy the space.

  We need a desk to occupy the space.

  • "*To occupy* the space" modifies the noun "desk."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a desk *to occupy* the space).

Occupying (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Occupying the position requires strong leadership skills.

  Occupying the position requires strong leadership skills.

  • "*Occupying* the position" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (strong leadership skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy occupying a challenging role.

  I enjoy occupying a challenging role.

  • "*Occupying* a challenging role" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*occupying* a challenging role).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in occupying managerial positions.

  He has experience in occupying managerial positions.

  • "In *occupying* managerial positions" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *occupying* managerial positions).

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 occupy the new building next year.

I hope to occupy a leadership position in the future.

He wants to occupy the corner office.

We decided to occupy the larger room for our meeting.

They agreed to occupy separate workspaces.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys occupying leadership roles in her organization.

They recommend occupying the vacant position immediately.

I dislike the idea of occupying a high-pressure job.

He avoids occupying positions with limited growth potential.

Can you imagine yourself occupying a top executive position?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She would like to occupy the new office space. She would like occupying the new office space.

We started to occupy the premises last month. We started occupying the premises last month.

He began to occupy the leadership role in the organization. He began occupying the leadership role in the organization.