To Confirm vs Confirming 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 confirm (Infinitive)

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

Example

I need to confirm my reservation for the hotel.

Confirming (Gerund)

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

Example

Confirming your identity is necessary for security purposes.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To confirm (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To confirm is an important step in the process.

  To confirm is an important step in the process.

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

  She wants me to confirm the details of the meeting.

  She wants me to confirm the details of the meeting.

  • "Me *to confirm* the details of the meeting" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to confirm* the details of the meeting).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a confirmation email to confirm my registration.

  I need a confirmation email to confirm my registration.

  • "*To confirm* my registration" modifies the noun "confirmation email."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a confirmation email *to confirm* my registration).

Confirming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Confirming your reservation is essential for a smooth check-in process.

  Confirming your reservation is essential for a smooth check-in process.

  • "*Confirming* your reservation" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (essential for a smooth check-in process).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy confirming the details of the project.

  I enjoy confirming the details of the project.

  • "*Confirming* the details of the project" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*confirming* the details of the project).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a knack for confirming information.

  She has a knack for confirming information.

  • "For *confirming* information" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a knack for *confirming* information).

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

• promise
• decide
• want
• attempt
• learn

Example

He promised to confirm his attendance at the event.

They decided to confirm their travel plans.

We want to confirm the details before proceeding.

She attempted to confirm her flight reservation online.

He learned to confirm the appointment in advance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• consider
• postpone
• deny

Example

He avoids confirming any suspicious requests.

They recommend confirming your reservation in advance.

I am considering confirming my attendance at the event.

She decided to postpone confirming the delivery date.

He denied confirming the accuracy of the report.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to confirm the details before finalizing the agreement. She likes confirming the information before making any decisions.

We started to confirm the availability of the venue. We started confirming the availability of the venue.

He began to confirm the accuracy of the data. He began confirming the accuracy of the data.