Be Ashamed To Do vs. Ashamed Of Something
Oxford directly records both ashamed + to-infinitive and ashamed of + noun/pronoun. The guide compares those attested structures without inventing an unsupported parallel complement.
Use “ashamed to do something” when shame or embarrassment is tied to carrying out or admitting an action. Use “ashamed of something/someone/yourself” when the complement names the object or cause of shame.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| shame tied to carrying out/admitting an action | ashamed + to-infinitive | use the infinitive action complement |
| object or cause of shame | ashamed of + noun/pronoun/-ing | name what the shame is about |
Quick tests
Action-or-object test
Does the complement name an action being done/admitted, or the object/cause of the shame?
If yes: Use “ashamed to + verb” for the action reading.
If no: Use “ashamed of + noun/pronoun/-ing” when naming the object or cause of shame.
Caveat: Both patterns are documented; the choice follows the complement meaning rather than a universal preference.
Examples
She was ashamed to admit the mistake.
The infinitive names the action associated with the shame.
He was ashamed of his behaviour.
“Of” introduces the object or cause of shame.
They were ashamed of ignoring the warning.
An -ing form can function after the preposition “of.”
Further guidance
Core difference
Oxford documents ashamed + to-infinitive and ashamed of + noun/pronoun as standard complement patterns.
Style Boundary
Keep the preposition in ashamed of; the “to” in ashamed to do introduces an infinitive rather than a prepositional gerund.
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.
- Ashamed (opens in a new tab)Oxford University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for ashamed of + noun/pronoun and ashamed + to-infinitive.