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Scenerio:
I used to work at Google. When I was an employee at Google, I learned how to work efficiently. Now I am not a Google employee.
Example 1
Working at Google taught me how to work efficiently.
Example 2
To work at Google taught me how to work efficiently.
Question:
One is gerund and the other is an infinitive phrase. I think Example 1 expresses the meaning. However, I wonder whether Example 2 also expresses the same meaning.
Are both of them acceptable?
Example 1 is correct. Example 2 is not.
Infinitive phrases, when used as nouns, refer to the concept of something, not the actual thing itself.
While not currently working at Google:
To work at Google/working at Google is my dream job.
I would love to work at Google/working at Google. (both correct, but with slightly different meanings)
In both cases, it could be replaced with a gerund phrase, but if you're talking about something real, like you're actually working there now, you'd have to use a gerund phrase, not the infinitive phrase:
While working at Google:
Working at Google is my dream job.
I love working at Google.
