To Mishear vs Mishearing Infinitives & Gerunds

When and How to Use Each Expression?

Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!

To mishear (Infinitive)

Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to mishear" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action

Example

I don't want to mishear any important instructions.

Mishearing (Gerund)

Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "mishearing" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.

Example

Mishearing can lead to misunderstandings in communication.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mishear (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mishear is frustrating when you're trying to have a conversation.

  To mishear is frustrating when you're trying to have a conversation.

  • "*To mishear*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (frustrating).
• 2. Object

  She asked him to mishear her on purpose.

  She asked him to mishear her on purpose.

  • "Him *to mishear* her on purpose" is the object of the verb "asked."
  • Noun (She) + verb (asked) + noun phrase (him *to mishear* her on purpose).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a hearing aid to mishear less often.

  He needs a hearing aid to mishear less often.

  • "*To mishear* less often" modifies the noun "hearing aid."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a hearing aid *to mishear* less often).

Mishearing (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mishearing is common, especially in noisy environments.

  Mishearing is common, especially in noisy environments.

  • "*Mishearing*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (common).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy mishearing song lyrics and creating my own versions.

  I enjoy mishearing song lyrics and creating my own versions.

  • "*Mishearing* song lyrics and creating my own versions" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mishearing* song lyrics and creating my own versions).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She apologized for mishearing the question.

  She apologized for mishearing the question.

  • "For *mishearing* the question" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (apologized) + noun phrase (for *mishearing* the question).

Verbs Taking Infinitives/Gerunds as Objects

The following are verbs that can take only the base form of the verb (infinitive), only the -ing form (gerund), or both.

Verbs Taking Infinitives as Objects

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to mishear the instructions intentionally.

They hope not to mishear any important details during the meeting.

He wants his colleagues not to mishear his ideas.

We decided to mishear the song lyrics on purpose.

They agreed to mishear each other's messages for fun.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys mishearing conversations and making funny interpretations.

They recommend practicing active listening to reduce mishearing.

I dislike mishearing important information during meetings.

He avoids mishearing by using noise-canceling headphones.

Can you imagine constantly mishearing what people say?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She doesn't like to mishear lyrics in songs. She doesn't like mishearing lyrics in songs.

We started to mishear each other's words as a joke. We started mishearing each other's words as a joke.

He began to mishear instructions more frequently. He began mishearing instructions more frequently.