To Require vs Requiring 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 require (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to require your assistance for this project.

Requiring (Gerund)

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

Example

Requiring attention to detail is crucial in this job.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To require (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To require attention is essential in any job.

  To require attention is essential in any job.

  • "*To require* attention" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential in any job).
• 2. Object

  They want me to require their services.

  They want me to require their services.

  • "Me *to require* their services" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (me *to require* their services).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a detailed plan to require less effort.

  He needs a detailed plan to require less effort.

  • "*To require* less effort" modifies the noun "plan."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a detailed plan *to require* less effort).

Requiring (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Requiring patience is important when dealing with children.

  Requiring patience is important when dealing with children.

  • "*Requiring* patience" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (important when dealing with children).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy tasks requiring problem-solving skills.

  I enjoy tasks requiring problem-solving skills.

  • "Tasks *requiring* problem-solving skills" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (tasks *requiring* problem-solving skills).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for requiring high standards.

  She has a talent for requiring high standards.

  • "For *requiring* high standards" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *requiring* high standards).

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 require additional resources for the project.

They hope to require minimal changes to the design.

He wants to require a higher level of expertise.

We decided to require more training for the employees.

They agreed to require stricter quality control measures.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys projects requiring creativity and innovation.

They recommend strategies requiring teamwork and collaboration.

I dislike tasks requiring repetitive actions.

He avoids situations requiring public speaking.

Can you imagine a job requiring constant travel?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to require attention to detail. She likes requiring attention to detail.

We started to require additional resources. We started requiring additional resources.

He began to require specialized knowledge. He began requiring specialized knowledge.