Using Reporting Verbs for Accusations
When reporting accusations or blame, certain reporting verbs commonly pair with gerunds. The most common patterns are:
– accuse (someone) of + gerund
– blame (someone) for + gerund
– deny + gerund
– insist on + gerund
– accuse (someone) of + gerund
– blame (someone) for + gerund
– deny + gerund
– insist on + gerund
Accusation Patterns in Detail
The structure 'accuse of + gerund' is used to report allegations or charges. The gerund describes the action that someone is accused of doing. Similarly, 'blame for + gerund' indicates responsibility for an action or situation.
Examples
The manager accused Tom of stealing company funds.Uses 'accuse of + gerund' to report an allegation of theft
She denied taking the documents from the office.Uses 'deny + gerund' to report rejection of an accusation
They blamed me for losing the contract.Uses 'blame for + gerund' to assign responsibility for a negative outcome
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Incorrect: He accused her to steal the money.
✅ Correct: He accused her of stealing the money.
Explanation: 'Accuse' must be followed by 'of + gerund', not an infinitive
❌ Incorrect: They blamed him of breaking the window.
✅ Correct: They blamed him for breaking the window.
Explanation: 'Blame' must be followed by 'for + gerund', not 'of'
Tips for Success
- Remember that 'accuse' always takes 'of' while 'blame' takes 'for'
- The gerund form should describe the complete action being accused or blamed
- These structures often appear in formal or legal contexts
- When denying accusations, use the gerund form directly after 'deny'
Learning Path Notes
Key Concepts in This Series:
- Builds on previous reporting verb patterns
- Extends gerund usage to negative contexts
- Introduces formal accusation structures