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 accident.

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 the solution to our problems.

  To blame is not the solution to our problems.

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

  She asked me to blame her for the mistake.

  She asked me to blame her for the mistake.

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

  He needs a scapegoat to blame for his failures.

  He needs a scapegoat to blame for his failures.

  • "*To blame* for his failures" modifies the noun "scapegoat."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a scapegoat *to blame* for his failures).

Blaming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Blaming is not productive in this situation.

  Blaming is not productive in this situation.

  • "*Blaming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not productive in this situation).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy blaming my siblings for everything.

  I enjoy blaming my siblings for everything.

  • "*Blaming* my siblings for everything" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*blaming* my siblings for everything).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a habit of blaming others for her mistakes.

  She has a habit of blaming others for her mistakes.

  • "Of *blaming* others for her mistakes" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *blaming* others for her mistakes).

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
• attempt
• demand
• wish
• manage

Example

They refused to blame him for the accident.

She attempted to blame the situation on someone else.

He demanded to blame them for the mistake.

We wished to blame nobody for the incident.

I managed to blame myself for the failure.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• deny
• consider
• understand

Example

He avoids blaming himself for his failures.

They recommend blaming no one for the situation.

She denied blaming anyone for the incident.

I am considering blaming the faulty equipment.

We understand the frustration of blaming others for our own mistakes.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• begin
• stop

Example

They like to blame others for their problems. They like blaming others for their problems.

She began to blame herself for everything. She began blaming herself for everything.

He stopped to blame others for his mistakes. He stopped blaming others for his mistakes.