To Blame vs Blaming 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 blame (Infinitive)

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

Example

I don't want to blame anyone for the mistake.

Blaming (Gerund)

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

Example

Blaming others won't solve the problem.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To blame (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To blame is not a productive way to solve problems.

  To blame is not a productive way to solve problems.

  • "*To blame*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a productive way to solve problems).
• 2. Object

  She expects me to blame her for the accident.

  She expects me to blame her for the accident.

  • "Me *to blame* her for the accident" is the object of the verb "expects."
  • Noun (She) + verb (expects) + noun phrase (me *to blame* her for the accident).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  We need a solution to blame the correct person.

  We need a solution to blame the correct person.

  • "*To blame* the correct person" modifies the noun "solution."
  • Noun (We) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a solution *to blame* the correct person).

Blaming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Blaming is not a helpful behavior.

  Blaming is not a helpful behavior.

  • "*Blaming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a helpful behavior).
• 2. Object

  I dislike blaming others for my mistakes.

  I dislike blaming others for my mistakes.

  • "*Blaming* others for my mistakes" is the object of the verb "dislike."
  • Noun (I) + verb (dislike) + gerund (*blaming* others for my mistakes).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of blaming everyone except herself.

  She has a habit of blaming everyone except herself.

  • "Of *blaming* everyone except herself" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *blaming* everyone except herself).

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

• refuse
• deny
• pretend
• choose
• wish

Example

He refuses to blame himself for the failure.

They deny to blame anyone for the incident.

She pretends to blame others to avoid responsibility.

We chose to blame the weather for the delay.

I wish to blame someone else for this mess.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• imagine

Example

He avoids blaming others and takes responsibility.

We are considering blaming the faulty equipment.

They recommend against blaming individuals without evidence.

Do you mind blaming yourself for the mistake?

Can you imagine blaming someone for something they didn't do?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• continue

Example

She doesn't like to blame others for her problems. She doesn't like blaming others for her problems.

He began to blame himself for the failure. He began blaming himself for the failure.

They will continue to blame each other for their mistakes. They will continue blaming each other for their mistakes.