To Recruit vs Recruiting 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 recruit (Infinitive)

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

Example

The company plans to recruit new employees for expansion.

Recruiting (Gerund)

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

Example

Recruiting talented individuals is essential for business growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To recruit (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To recruit talented individuals is a priority for the HR department.

  To recruit talented individuals is a priority for the HR department.

  • "*To recruit* talented individuals" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a priority for the HR department).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to recruit more volunteers for the project.

  She wants me to recruit more volunteers for the project.

  • "Me *to recruit* more volunteers for the project" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to recruit* more volunteers for the project).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a qualified candidate to recruit for the vacant position.

  We need a qualified candidate to recruit for the vacant position.

  • "*To recruit* for the vacant position" modifies the noun "candidate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a qualified candidate *to recruit* for the vacant position).

Recruiting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Recruiting the right candidates requires careful evaluation.

  Recruiting the right candidates requires careful evaluation.

  • "*Recruiting* the right candidates" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (careful evaluation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy recruiting new members for our team.

  I enjoy recruiting new members for our team.

  • "*Recruiting* new members for our team" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*recruiting* new members for our team).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for recruiting highly skilled professionals.

  She has a knack for recruiting highly skilled professionals.

  • "For *recruiting* highly skilled professionals" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *recruiting* highly skilled professionals).

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 recruit experienced professionals in the coming months.

I hope to recruit someone with excellent communication skills.

The organization wants to recruit fresh graduates from top universities.

He decided to recruit an external consultant for the project.

We agreed to recruit interns for the summer program.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy recruiting diverse candidates for their organization.

Experts recommend proactive recruiting strategies for talent acquisition.

We are considering recruiting freelancers for specific projects.

He avoids recruiting individuals without relevant experience.

Can you imagine yourself recruiting a team of professionals?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to recruit candidates with strong leadership skills. She likes recruiting candidates with strong leadership skills.

We started to recruit for the new branch. We started recruiting for the new branch.

He began to recruit volunteers for the charity event. He began recruiting volunteers for the charity event.