Be Proud To Do vs. Proud Of Something
Cambridge directly records proud + to-infinitive and proud of + noun/pronoun. The title is deliberately narrower than an unsupported proud-of-doing contrast.
Use “proud to do something” when pride is expressed through an infinitive action or role. Use “proud of something/someone” when the complement names the object of pride.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| pride expressed through an action, role, or statement | proud + to-infinitive | use the infinitive construction |
| the person, thing, achievement, or fact that is the object of pride | proud of + noun phrase | use “of” to name the object of pride |
Quick tests
Action-or-object test
Are you expressing pride through an action, or naming what the pride is about?
If yes: Use “proud to + verb” for the action/role construction.
If no: Use “proud of + noun phrase” for the object of pride.
Caveat: Both constructions may appear together naturally; they are not competing spellings or interchangeable prepositions.
Examples
We are proud to publish the revised edition.
The infinitive presents the action associated with pride.
We are proud of the editorial team.
“Of” introduces the object of pride.
She was proud to present a result she was proud of.
The example contrasts action with object.
Further guidance
Core difference
Cambridge documents proud + to-infinitive and proud of + noun/pronoun as standard constructions.
Style Boundary
Do not infer a gerund-specific rule from noun/pronoun evidence; this guide stays with the complement forms directly documented by the source.
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.
- Proud (opens in a new tab)Cambridge University Press · Direct learner-dictionary evidence for proud of + noun/pronoun and proud + to-infinitive.