To Accuse vs Accusing 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 accuse (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to accuse him without any evidence.

Accusing (Gerund)

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

Example

Accusing others without evidence is unfair.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To accuse (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To accuse someone falsely is a serious offense.

  To accuse someone falsely is a serious offense.

  • "*To accuse* someone falsely" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a serious offense).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to accuse him of stealing.

  She wants me to accuse him of stealing.

  • "Me *to accuse* him of stealing" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to accuse* him of stealing).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need solid evidence to accuse him.

  I need solid evidence to accuse him.

  • "Solid evidence *to accuse* him" modifies the noun "evidence."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (solid evidence *to accuse* him).

Accusing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Accusing someone falsely can ruin their reputation.

  Accusing someone falsely can ruin their reputation.

  • "*Accusing* someone falsely" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can ruin) + noun phrase (their reputation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy accusing my friends in friendly banter.

  I enjoy accusing my friends in friendly banter.

  • "*Accusing* my friends in friendly banter" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*accusing* my friends in friendly banter).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of accusing others without evidence.

  She has a habit of accusing others without evidence.

  • "Of *accusing* others without evidence" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *accusing* others without evidence).

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

• refuse
• demand
• decide
• pretend
• attempt

Example

They refuse to accuse him without proof.

He demands to accuse the real culprit.

We decided to accuse him of the crime.

She pretends to accuse him just to get attention.

They attempted to accuse him of cheating.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• mind
• imagine

Example

He avoids accusing anyone without concrete proof.

They recommend not accusing others without valid reasons.

I am considering accusing him of the crime.

Do you mind accusing your friend in the game?

Can you imagine accusing someone without any basis?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to accuse people of wrongdoing. She likes accusing people of wrongdoing.

We started to accuse him of cheating. We started accusing him of cheating.

He began to accuse her of lying. He began accusing her of lying.