To Affirm vs Affirming 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 affirm (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to affirm my commitment to this project.

Affirming (Gerund)

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

Example

Affirming your feelings is an important step towards self-acceptance.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To affirm (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To affirm is important in building trust.

  To affirm is important in building trust.

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

  She wants me to affirm my agreement with the terms.

  She wants me to affirm my agreement with the terms.

  • "Me *to affirm* my agreement with the terms" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to affirm* my agreement with the terms).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a written document to affirm our commitment.

  We need a written document to affirm our commitment.

  • "*To affirm* our commitment" modifies the noun "document."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a written document *to affirm* our commitment).

Affirming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Affirming yourself is crucial for personal growth.

  Affirming yourself is crucial for personal growth.

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

  I enjoy affirming my beliefs through daily affirmations.

  I enjoy affirming my beliefs through daily affirmations.

  • "*Affirming* my beliefs through daily affirmations" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*affirming* my beliefs through daily affirmations).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of affirming her worth.

  She has a habit of affirming her worth.

  • "Of *affirming* her worth" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *affirming* her worth).

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
• want
• choose
• decide
• demand

Example

They plan to affirm their support for the cause at the meeting.

He wants to affirm his loyalty to the company.

She chose to affirm her belief in equal rights.

We decided to affirm our dedication to the project.

The protesters demand to affirm their rights.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• consider
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys affirming others' achievements.

They recommend affirming positive affirmations daily.

I consider affirming my goals as a motivation technique.

She avoids affirming negative thoughts.

Can you imagine affirming your dreams and making them come true?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

They like to affirm their commitment publicly. They like affirming their commitment publicly.

She started to affirm herself more often. She started affirming herself more often.

He began to affirm his intentions to the team. He began affirming his intentions to the team.