To Attest vs Attesting 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 attest (Infinitive)

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

Example

I promise to attest to the truth of his statement.

Attesting (Gerund)

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

Example

Attesting to the truth is crucial in a court of law.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To attest (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To attest is an important part of the legal process.

  To attest is an important part of the legal process.

  • "*To attest*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (an important part of the legal process).
• 2. Object

  They want us to attest to their innocence.

  They want us to attest to their innocence.

  • "Us *to attest* to their innocence" is the object of the verb "want."
  • Noun (They) + verb (want) + noun phrase (us *to attest* to their innocence).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a witness to attest to his whereabouts.

  He needs a witness to attest to his whereabouts.

  • "*To attest* to his whereabouts" modifies the noun "witness."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a witness *to attest* to his whereabouts).

Attesting (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Attesting to the authenticity of the document is necessary.

  Attesting to the authenticity of the document is necessary.

  • "*Attesting* to the authenticity of the document" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (necessary).
• 2. Object

  We appreciate you attesting to his character.

  We appreciate you attesting to his character.

  • "You *attesting* to his character" is the object of the verb "appreciate."
  • Noun (We) + verb (appreciate) + gerund (you *attesting* to his character).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has experience in attesting to financial statements.

  He has experience in attesting to financial statements.

  • "In *attesting* to financial statements" is the object of the preposition "in."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (experience in *attesting* to financial statements).

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

• agree
• promise
• demand
• refuse
• wish

Example

We agree to attest to the accuracy of the data.

She promised to attest to the authenticity of the document.

They demand all witnesses to attest to the facts.

He refused to attest to the validity of the contract.

I wish to attest to the importance of his testimony.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• postpone
• understand

Example

Experts recommend attesting to the accuracy of the report.

She avoids attesting to information without proper evidence.

We are considering attesting to his professional qualifications.

They decided to postpone attesting to the document until further investigation.

I understand the importance of attesting to the validity of the will.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I would like to attest to the truth of his statement. I would like attesting to the truth of his statement.

They started to attest to their innocence. They started attesting to their innocence.

He began to attest to the accuracy of the data. He began attesting to the accuracy of the data.