To Authorize vs Authorizing 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 authorize (Infinitive)

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

Example

The manager authorized me to authorize the payment.

Authorizing (Gerund)

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

Example

Authorizing the payment is part of my job.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To authorize (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To authorize is a responsibility of the manager.

  To authorize is a responsibility of the manager.

  • "*To authorize*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a responsibility of the manager).
• 2. Object

  He asked her to authorize the purchase.

  He asked her to authorize the purchase.

  • "Her *to authorize* the purchase" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (He) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (her *to authorize* the purchase).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a signature to authorize the document.

  We need a signature to authorize the document.

  • "*To authorize* the document" modifies the noun "signature."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a signature *to authorize* the document).

Authorizing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Authorizing payments requires attention to detail.

  Authorizing payments requires attention to detail.

  • "*Authorizing* payments" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (attention to detail).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy authorizing important documents.

  I enjoy authorizing important documents.

  • "*Authorizing* important documents" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*authorizing* important documents).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She received praise for authorizing the project.

  She received praise for authorizing the project.

  • "For *authorizing* the project" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (received) + noun phrase (praise for *authorizing* the project).

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
• demand
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend

Example

She decided to authorize the project proposal.

They demanded him to authorize the release of funds.

He attempted to authorize the transaction, but it failed.

We refused her request to authorize the access.

They pretended to authorize the order, but it was a mistake.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• consider
• postpone
• deny
• resist

Example

He recommends authorizing the payment immediately.

We are considering authorizing the use of new software.

They postponed authorizing the contract until next week.

She denied authorizing the changes in the document.

I resist authorizing unnecessary expenses.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She likes to authorize important decisions. She likes authorizing important decisions.

We began to authorize the invoices. We began authorizing the invoices.

He continues to authorize the transactions. He continues authorizing the transactions.