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

He refuses to accuse anyone without 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 someone without proof can ruin their reputation.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To accuse (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To accuse someone without proof is unfair.

  To accuse someone without proof is unfair.

  • "*To accuse* someone without proof" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (unfair).
• 2. Object

  She wants him to accuse the suspect.

  She wants him to accuse the suspect.

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

  I need a lawyer to accuse the real culprit.

  I need a lawyer to accuse the real culprit.

  • "*To accuse* the real culprit" modifies the noun "lawyer."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a lawyer *to accuse* the real culprit).

Accusing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Accusing others without evidence is wrong.

  Accusing others without evidence is wrong.

  • "*Accusing* others without evidence" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (wrong).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys accusing people of their mistakes.

  She enjoys accusing people of their mistakes.

  • "*Accusing* people of their mistakes" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*accusing* people of their mistakes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a fear of accusing the wrong person.

  They have a fear of accusing the wrong person.

  • "Of *accusing* the wrong person" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a fear of *accusing* the wrong person).

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

• demand
• choose
• seem
• pretend
• wish

Example

They demand him to accuse the person responsible.

She chose not to accuse anyone of the crime.

It seems unfair to accuse him without evidence.

He pretends to accuse others to divert attention.

We wish to accuse the right person for justice.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• delay
• deny

Example

He avoids accusing others without concrete evidence.

We are considering accusing him of theft.

Experts recommend not accusing anyone without proof.

She delayed accusing him until more evidence was found.

He denies accusing her of any wrongdoing.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to accuse people of their mistakes. She likes accusing people of their mistakes.

We started to accuse him of the crime. We started accusing him of the crime.

He began to accuse others without any evidence. He began accusing others without any evidence.