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 a leadership role 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 a leadership role comes with great responsibility.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To occupy (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To occupy the position requires strong communication skills.

  To occupy the position requires strong communication skills.

  • "*To occupy* the position" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (strong communication skills).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to occupy her old office.

  She wants me to occupy her old office.

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

  I need a desk to occupy in the new office space.

  I need a desk to occupy in the new office space.

  • "*To occupy* in the new office space" modifies the noun "desk."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a desk *to occupy* in the new office 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 key role in project management.

  I enjoy occupying a key role in project management.

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

  She has a passion for occupying leadership positions.

  She has a passion for occupying leadership positions.

  • "For *occupying* leadership positions" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a passion for *occupying* leadership 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

She plans to occupy a managerial position next year.

They hope to occupy a larger workspace in the future.

He wants to occupy a corner office with a view.

We decided to occupy the available cubicles for our team.

They agreed to occupy the conference room for their meeting.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys occupying a position of influence in the company.

They recommend occupying a leadership role for career growth.

I dislike the idea of occupying a role with no growth prospects.

He avoids occupying positions that require excessive travel.

Can you imagine yourself occupying a high-level executive position?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to occupy the top management position. She likes occupying leadership roles.

We started to occupy senior positions in the organization. We started occupying key roles in the organization.

He began to occupy a managerial position after years of hard work. He began occupying managerial positions after years of hard work.