To Mock vs Mocking 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 mock (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to mock others because it is hurtful.

Mocking (Gerund)

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

Example

Mocking others is a form of bullying.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To mock (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To mock is disrespectful behavior.

  To mock is disrespectful behavior.

  • "*To mock*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (disrespectful behavior).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to mock her in the skit.

  She wants me to mock her in the skit.

  • "Me *to mock* her in the skit" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to mock* her in the skit).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a reason to mock him.

  I need a reason to mock him.

  • "*To mock* him" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a reason *to mock* him).

Mocking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Mocking is never acceptable behavior.

  Mocking is never acceptable behavior.

  • "*Mocking*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (never acceptable behavior).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy mocking my friends in a playful way.

  I enjoy mocking my friends in a playful way.

  • "*Mocking* my friends in a playful way" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*mocking* my friends in a playful way).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for mocking people's accents.

  She has a talent for mocking people's accents.

  • "For *mocking* people's accents" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *mocking* people's accents).

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

• refuse
• attempt
• pretend
• choose
• demand

Example

They refuse to mock their opponents during the game.

He attempted to mock his friend's accent, but it didn't go well.

She pretends to mock her favorite celebrity's fashion sense.

We chose to mock a famous politician in our comedy sketch.

The audience demanded to mock the judge's decision.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• resist

Example

He avoids mocking others because it can be hurtful.

They recommend against mocking classmates or coworkers.

Do you mind mocking your own mistakes during practice?

She is considering mocking the teacher's mannerisms in her performance.

He tries to resist mocking his sister when she makes a mistake.

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

I don't like to mock people, it's mean. I don't like mocking people, it's mean.

They started to mock each other playfully. They started mocking each other playfully.

She began to mock her opponent's weaknesses. She began mocking her opponent's weaknesses.