To Ascribe vs Ascribing 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 ascribe (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to ascribe the success to hard work.

Ascribing (Gerund)

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

Example

Ascribing blame is not productive in this situation.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To ascribe (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To ascribe is a common practice in academia.

  To ascribe is a common practice in academia.

  • "*To ascribe*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a common practice in academia).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to ascribe the achievement to her team.

  She wants me to ascribe the achievement to her team.

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

  I need a reason to ascribe the failure.

  I need a reason to ascribe the failure.

  • "*To ascribe* the failure" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reason *to ascribe* the failure).

Ascribing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Ascribing blame can lead to conflict.

  Ascribing blame can lead to conflict.

  • "*Ascribing* blame" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can) + noun phrase (conflict).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy ascribing meaning to abstract art.

  I enjoy ascribing meaning to abstract art.

  • "*Ascribing* meaning to abstract art" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*ascribing* meaning to abstract art).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for ascribing motives to people.

  She has a talent for ascribing motives to people.

  • "For *ascribing* motives to people" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *ascribing* motives to people).

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

• decide
• learn
• pretend
• struggle
• manage

Example

They decided to ascribe the project to their manager.

He learned to ascribe the success to teamwork.

She pretends to ascribe her talent to luck.

We struggled to ascribe the error to a specific cause.

They managed to ascribe the problem to a software glitch.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• resist

Example

He avoids ascribing blame without evidence.

They consider ascribing responsibility to each team member.

I recommend ascribing value to experiences, not possessions.

Do you mind ascribing authorship to someone else?

She resists ascribing intention to random events.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

I like to ascribe success to hard work. I like ascribing success to hard work.

They began to ascribe the problem to a technical glitch. They began ascribing the problem to a technical glitch.

He continues to ascribe his achievements to luck. He continues ascribing his achievements to luck.