Forgive Someone For Doing vs. Forgive Someone To Do
Cambridge gives the pattern “forgive someone for something/doing something,” supporting for + -ing when the action is what is being forgiven.
Use “forgive someone for doing something” when the action is the reason for forgiveness. “Forgive someone to do” is not the parallel complement construction.
Key details
Choose the right form
| Meaning / situation | Form / construction | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| action is the reason or object of forgiveness | forgive someone for + -ing | Use the documented “forgive someone for doing” pattern. |
| different clause meaning such as permission or purpose | use a construction that actually expresses that meaning | Do not treat “forgive someone to do” as the parallel complement. |
Quick tests
Meaning / construction test
Is the following action what the person is being forgiven for?
If yes: Use “forgive someone for” plus the -ing form.
If no: Use another construction for a different meaning; bare “forgive someone to do” is not the parallel complement pattern.
Caveat: This page is limited to the complement pattern in which an action is what is forgiven.
Examples
Please forgive me for arriving late.
The late arrival is the action being forgiven.
She forgave him for missing the meeting.
The -ing clause identifies the reason for forgiveness.
They forgave us for changing the schedule.
The action follows the documented “for” complement.
Further guidance
Boundary
This guide concerns the reason for forgiveness. Other infinitive clauses elsewhere in a sentence may have a different grammatical role and do not replace for + -ing.
Construction
The conventional complement is forgive + person + for + noun/-ing clause when the following action is the reason, conduct, or circumstance being referred to.
Decision
Use “forgive someone for doing something” when the action is the reason for forgiveness. “Forgive 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.
- forgive someone for something/doing something — Cambridge Dictionary (opens in a new tab)Cambridge Dictionary · Current dictionary construction showing forgive someone for something / doing something.