To Pretend vs Pretending 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 pretend (Infinitive)

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

Example

I refuse to pretend to be someone I'm not.

Pretending (Gerund)

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

Example

Pretending to be someone else can be fun.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To pretend (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To pretend requires imagination and creativity.

  To pretend requires imagination and creativity.

  • "*To pretend*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (imagination and creativity).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to pretend to be her sister.

  She wants me to pretend to be her sister.

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

  I need a costume to pretend to be a superhero.

  I need a costume to pretend to be a superhero.

  • "*To pretend* to be a superhero" modifies the noun "costume."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a costume *to pretend* to be a superhero).

Pretending (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Pretending helps children develop their social skills.

  Pretending helps children develop their social skills.

  • "*Pretending*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (helps) + noun phrase (children develop their social skills).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy pretending to be a pirate.

  I enjoy pretending to be a pirate.

  • "*Pretending* to be a pirate" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*pretending* to be a pirate).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for pretending to be different characters.

  She has a talent for pretending to be different characters.

  • "For *pretending*" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *pretending* to be different characters).

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

• agree
• hope
• want
• plan
• decide

Example

They agreed to pretend to be aliens for the school play.

He hopes to pretend to be a detective in the upcoming movie.

We want to pretend to be astronauts for Halloween.

She plans to pretend to be a famous singer at the talent show.

I decided to pretend to be a chef for the cooking competition.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• avoid
• consider
• mind

Example

They enjoy pretending to be superheroes during playtime.

Experts recommend pretending as a way to enhance creativity.

He avoids pretending to be someone he's not.

I am considering pretending to be a magician for the party.

Do you mind pretending to be my assistant for the performance?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to pretend to be a princess. She likes pretending to be a princess.

We started to pretend to be spies. We started pretending to be spies.

He began to pretend to be a rockstar. He began pretending to be a rockstar.