To Accord vs According 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 accord (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to accord you the respect you deserve.

According (Gerund)

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

Example

According to the rules, you must follow the guidelines.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To accord (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To accord is a sign of appreciation.

  To accord is a sign of appreciation.

  • "*To accord*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a sign of appreciation).
• 2. Object

  They expect us to accord them equal treatment.

  They expect us to accord them equal treatment.

  • "Us *to accord* them equal treatment" is the object of the verb "expect."
  • Noun (They) + verb (expect) + noun phrase (us *to accord* them equal treatment).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a fair system to accord everyone their rights.

  We need a fair system to accord everyone their rights.

  • "*To accord* everyone their rights" modifies the noun "system."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a fair system *to accord* everyone their rights).

According (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  According to experts, this is the best approach.

  According to experts, this is the best approach.

  • "*According* to experts" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (the best approach).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy according my teammates the respect they deserve.

  I enjoy according my teammates the respect they deserve.

  • "*According* my teammates the respect they deserve" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*according* my teammates the respect they deserve).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She made her decision according to the facts.

  She made her decision according to the facts.

  • "*According* to the facts" is the object of the preposition "to."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (made) + noun phrase (her decision *according* to the facts).

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 accord him the promotion he deserves.

They hope to accord her the opportunity to lead the project.

He wants to accord them the recognition they have earned.

We decided to accord him the title of honorary chairman.

They agreed to accord us a higher budget for the project.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys according her team members the necessary support.

They recommend according equal opportunities to all employees.

I dislike the practice of according preferential treatment.

He avoids according special privileges to certain individuals.

Can you imagine according priority to customer satisfaction?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to accord everyone a fair chance. She likes according everyone a fair chance.

We started to accord more importance to employee well-being. We started according more importance to employee well-being.

He began to accord greater attention to environmental sustainability. He began according greater attention to environmental sustainability.