Acknowledging facts and contributions

The idea

Use acknowledge with a noun, a that clause or an -ing form. The past is acknowledged.

Examples

• The manager acknowledged the delay at the meeting.
• We should acknowledge that the plan has risks.
• The author acknowledged her colleague’s contribution in the book.
• The council acknowledged residents’ concerns about traffic.
• She acknowledged making a mistake in the report.
• A short email acknowledged receipt of the application.

Watch out

Avoid an infinitive after the verb: say acknowledged making, not acknowledged to make.

Try it yourself

1. Choose the correct answer. The team ___ the problem yesterday. (acknowledged / acknowledges)

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   acknowledged

   acknowledged places the action yesterday.

2. Choose the correct answer. They acknowledged ___ the deadline. (missing / to miss)

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   missing

   missing names the action admitted.

3. Choose the correct answer. The speaker acknowledged ___ the work was difficult. (that / to)

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   that

   that introduces the fact about the work.

Use it today

Describe a problem you acknowledged and a contribution you would acknowledge.