To Acknowledge vs Acknowledging 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 acknowledge (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to acknowledge my team's hard work.

Acknowledging (Gerund)

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

Example

Acknowledging others' achievements is a sign of humility.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To acknowledge (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To acknowledge is important in building trust.

  To acknowledge is important in building trust.

  • "*To acknowledge*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important in building trust).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to acknowledge her contribution.

  She wants me to acknowledge her contribution.

  • "Me *to acknowledge* her contribution" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to acknowledge* her contribution).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a platform to acknowledge their achievements.

  I need a platform to acknowledge their achievements.

  • "*To acknowledge* their achievements" modifies the noun "platform."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a platform *to acknowledge* their achievements).

Acknowledging (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Acknowledging mistakes is important for personal growth.

  Acknowledging mistakes is important for personal growth.

  • "*Acknowledging*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective phrase (important for personal growth).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy acknowledging my team's accomplishments.

  I enjoy acknowledging my team's accomplishments.

  • "*Acknowledging* my team's accomplishments" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*acknowledging* my team's accomplishments).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of acknowledging others' efforts.

  She has a habit of acknowledging others' efforts.

  • "Of *acknowledging* others' efforts" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *acknowledging* others' efforts).

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

They plan to acknowledge their supporters at the event.

I hope to acknowledge everyone's effort during my speech.

We want to acknowledge our sponsors for their support.

He decided to acknowledge the team's dedication publicly.

They agreed to acknowledge each other's contributions.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

They enjoy acknowledging their customers' loyalty.

I recommend acknowledging your team members' hard work.

He dislikes acknowledging his mistakes in public.

She avoids acknowledging her weaknesses.

Can you imagine acknowledging your opponents' success?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I like to acknowledge people's efforts. I like acknowledging people's efforts.

We started to acknowledge each other's achievements. We started acknowledging each other's achievements.

He began to acknowledge his mistakes. He began acknowledging his mistakes.