To Retain vs Retaining 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 retain (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to retain my employees by providing a positive work environment.

Retaining (Gerund)

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

Example

Retaining customers is essential for business growth.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To retain (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To retain employees is crucial for the success of any company.

  To retain employees is crucial for the success of any company.

  • "*To retain* employees" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (crucial for the success of any company).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to retain the key clients.

  She wants me to retain the key clients.

  • "Me *to retain* the key clients" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to retain* the key clients).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a strategy to retain our top talent.

  We need a strategy to retain our top talent.

  • "*To retain* our top talent" modifies the noun "strategy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a strategy *to retain* our top talent).

Retaining (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Retaining loyal customers is a key priority for this company.

  Retaining loyal customers is a key priority for this company.

  • "*Retaining* loyal customers" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a key priority for this company).
• 2. Object

  We enjoy retaining our existing clients.

  We enjoy retaining our existing clients.

  • "*Retaining* our existing clients" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (We) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*retaining* our existing clients).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for retaining talented employees.

  She has a talent for retaining talented employees.

  • "For *retaining* talented employees" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *retaining* talented employees).

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 retain their best employees with attractive benefits.

I hope to retain my position in the company after the merger.

He wants to retain his clients by providing excellent service.

We decided to retain the current marketing strategy for another year.

They agreed to retain the team leader for the upcoming project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys retaining satisfied customers through exceptional service.

They recommend retaining experienced staff for better performance.

I dislike the idea of retaining unproductive employees.

She avoids retaining clients who consistently cause problems.

Can you imagine the benefits of retaining loyal customers?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to retain control over my own schedule. I like retaining control over my own schedule.

They started to retain customer feedback for product improvement. They started retaining customer feedback for product improvement.

He began to retain important documents for future reference. He began retaining important documents for future reference.