Accuse Someone Of Doing vs. Accuse Someone To Do
Cambridge records “accuse someone of something” and specifically “accuse someone of doing something.” That supports of + -ing when the action is the alleged wrongdoing.
Use “accuse someone of doing something” when naming the alleged wrongdoing. “Accuse someone to do” is not the parallel complement construction.
Key details
Choose the right form
| What follows “accuse” | Standard construction | What it expresses |
|---|---|---|
| alleged action | accuse + person + of + -ing | the conduct being alleged |
| thing/charge | accuse + person + of + noun | the matter alleged |
| purpose elsewhere in sentence | separate to-infinitive | not the complement selected by accuse |
Quick tests
Complement test
Is the following action the wrongdoing being alleged?
If yes: Use “accuse + person + of + -ing.”
If no: If the to-infinitive expresses another sentence function, analyze that separately rather than treating it as an alternative complement.
Caveat: The key distinction is grammatical function: “of + -ing” names the accusation; a later to-infinitive can occur for a different purpose without replacing that complement.
Examples
They accused him of altering the figures.
The -ing clause names the alleged conduct.
The report accused the supplier of delaying delivery.
“Of + -ing” identifies the conduct under accusation.
They accused him to alter the figures.
Better: They accused him of altering the figures.
This is not the standard complement for naming the alleged wrongdoing.
Further guidance
Boundary
This guide compares the complement selected by accuse. A later to-infinitive can occur for another sentence function, such as purpose, without becoming the complement of accuse.
Construction
The conventional complement is accuse + person + of + noun/-ing clause when the following action is the reason, conduct, or circumstance being referred to.
Decision
Use “accuse someone of doing something” when naming the alleged wrongdoing. “Accuse someone to do” is not the parallel complement construction.
Sources and evidence
Sources are shown with the role they play in this guide. Historical or style-sensitive claims are kept within the evidence boundary described above.
- accuse someone of something — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Current dictionary construction showing accuse someone of something / of doing something.