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 promise to confirm my attendance to the event.

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 order will ensure prompt delivery.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To confirm (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To confirm is essential for the reservation.

  To confirm is essential for the reservation.

  • "*To confirm*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (essential).
• 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 response to confirm my travel plans.

  I need a response to confirm my travel plans.

  • "*To confirm* my travel plans" modifies the noun "response."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a response *to confirm* my travel plans).

Confirming (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Confirming is necessary to proceed with the application.

  Confirming is necessary to proceed with the application.

  • "*Confirming*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (necessary).
• 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 habit of confirming everything twice.

  She has a habit of confirming everything twice.

  • "Of *confirming* everything twice" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a habit of *confirming* everything twice).

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

• plan
• want
• hope
• decide
• offer

Example

She plans to confirm her availability for the party tomorrow.

They want you to confirm your participation in the workshop.

He hopes to confirm the reservation at the hotel.

We decided to confirm our flight tickets in advance.

The company offered to confirm the appointment via email.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• delay
• imagine

Example

They recommend confirming the reservation in advance.

I avoid confirming any information without verification.

We are considering confirming the details before finalizing the agreement.

He delayed confirming his attendance until the last moment.

Can you imagine yourself confirming the purchase before it's too late?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to confirm all the arrangements beforehand. She likes confirming all the arrangements beforehand.

We started to confirm the reservations for the trip. We started confirming the reservations for the trip.

He began to confirm his availability for the event. He began confirming his availability for the event.