To Mistreat vs Mistreating 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 mistreat (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to mistreat animals because it is cruel.

Mistreating (Gerund)

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

Example

Mistreating others will only lead to negative consequences.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mistreat (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mistreat others is never acceptable.

  To mistreat others is never acceptable.

  • "*To mistreat* others" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adverb (never) + adjective (acceptable).
• 2. Object

  She doesn't want me to mistreat her belongings.

  She doesn't want me to mistreat her belongings.

  • "Me *to mistreat* her belongings" is the object of the verb "doesn't want."
  • Noun (She) + verb (doesn't want) + noun phrase (me *to mistreat* her belongings).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a reminder to mistreat others.

  He needs a reminder to mistreat others.

  • "*To mistreat* others" modifies the noun "reminder."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reminder *to mistreat* others).

Mistreating (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mistreating animals is considered animal cruelty.

  Mistreating animals is considered animal cruelty.

  • "*Mistreating* animals" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is considered) + noun phrase (animal cruelty).
• 2. Object

  I can't stand mistreating people for personal gain.

  I can't stand mistreating people for personal gain.

  • "*Mistreating* people for personal gain" is the object of the verb "can't stand."
  • Noun (I) + verb (can't stand) + gerund (*mistreating* people for personal gain).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has been accused of mistreating her employees.

  She has been accused of mistreating her employees.

  • "*Mistreating* her employees" is the object of the preposition "of."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has been accused of) + gerund (*mistreating* her employees).

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

• decide
• refuse
• demand
• wish
• pretend

Example

They decided to mistreat their employees for personal gain.

I refuse to mistreat anyone based on their appearance.

She demands to mistreat her subordinates to assert her authority.

We wish not to mistreat the environment with our actions.

He pretends to mistreat his friends as a joke.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• consider
• recommend
• mind
• imagine

Example

He avoids mistreating others by practicing empathy and understanding.

They consider mistreating the environment as a violation of ethical principles.

I recommend mistreating no one, regardless of the circumstances.

Do you mind mistreating animals for your own entertainment?

Can you imagine mistreating someone just because they are different?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She doesn't like to mistreat her employees. She doesn't like mistreating her employees.

They started to mistreat each other after the argument. They started mistreating each other after the argument.

He began to mistreat his classmates when he felt threatened. He began mistreating his classmates when he felt threatened.