To Retrieve vs Retrieving 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 retrieve (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to retrieve my lost keys from the office.

Retrieving (Gerund)

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

Example

Retrieving lost data can be a complex process.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To retrieve (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To retrieve the file, you need to enter the correct password.

  To retrieve the file, you need to enter the correct password.

  • "*To retrieve* the file" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (need) + noun phrase (the file).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to retrieve her bag from the car.

  She asked him to retrieve her bag from the car.

  • "Him *to retrieve* her bag from the car" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to retrieve* her bag from the car).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a ladder to retrieve the ball stuck on the roof.

  I need a ladder to retrieve the ball stuck on the roof.

  • "*To retrieve* the ball stuck on the roof" modifies the noun "ladder."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a ladder *to retrieve* the ball stuck on the roof).

Retrieving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Retrieving personal belongings is a top priority for the authorities.

  Retrieving personal belongings is a top priority for the authorities.

  • "*Retrieving* personal belongings" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a top priority for the authorities).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy retrieving information from various sources.

  I enjoy retrieving information from various sources.

  • "*Retrieving* information from various sources" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*retrieving* information from various sources).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for retrieving lost items.

  She has a talent for retrieving lost items.

  • "For *retrieving* lost items" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *retrieving* lost items).

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

He plans to retrieve the documents tomorrow.

They hope to retrieve their lost luggage soon.

She wants to retrieve her phone from the repair shop.

We decided to retrieve the information from the database.

They agreed to retrieve the stolen goods together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• imagine
• consider

Example

He enjoys retrieving old photographs from the attic.

They recommend retrieving the backup files regularly.

I avoid retrieving sensitive information without authorization.

Can you imagine yourself retrieving artifacts from ancient ruins?

We are considering retrieving the lost documents from the archive.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to retrieve important documents. She likes retrieving important documents.

We started to retrieve data from the server. We started retrieving data from the server.

He began to retrieve his belongings from the lost and found. He began retrieving his belongings from the lost and found.