Approve Of Doing vs. Approve To Do
Cambridge distinguishes intransitive “approve of” for a favorable opinion from transitive “approve something” for official acceptance or authorization. The official-authorization sense uses transitive “approve” with an object; do not collapse that separate sense into the “approve of doing” judgment pattern.
Use “approve of doing” when approve means think an action is good, acceptable, or suitable; “approve to do” is not the parallel complement for that meaning.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning | Construction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| hold a favorable opinion of an action | approve of + -ing | approve of changing the policy |
| officially authorize a thing/plan | approve + object | approve the request |
| approve + to-infinitive | not the parallel judgment pattern | do not merge senses |
Quick tests
Meaning test
Does “approve” mean consider an action good or acceptable?
If yes: Use “approve of + -ing.”
If no: If the meaning is formal authorization, use transitive “approve” with the thing being approved.
Caveat: The favorable-opinion and official-authorization senses use different syntax; “approve to do” is not a direct swap for “approve of doing.”
Examples
I approve of giving the team more time.
This expresses a favorable judgment about the action.
The manager approved the request.
Transitive “approve” expresses official authorization.
I approve to give the team more time.
Better: I approve of giving the team more time.
This is not the reviewed favorable-opinion construction.
Further guidance
Boundary
The official-authorization sense uses transitive “approve” with an object; do not collapse that separate sense into the “approve of doing” judgment pattern.
Construction
Cambridge distinguishes intransitive “approve of” for a favorable opinion from transitive “approve something” for official acceptance or authorization.
Decision
Use “approve of doing” when approve means think an action is good, acceptable, or suitable; “approve to do” is not the parallel complement for that meaning.
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.
- approve — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Approve of marks a favorable opinion, including approve of an activity; transitive approve has the separate official-authorization sense.