To Sock vs Socking 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 sock (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to sock him in the face for what he did.

Socking (Gerund)

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

Example

Socking someone is considered an act of aggression.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To sock (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To sock someone is considered a violent act.

  To sock someone is considered a violent act.

  • "*To sock* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is considered) + noun phrase (a violent act).
• 2. Object

  She wants me to sock him for his rude behavior.

  She wants me to sock him for his rude behavior.

  • "Me *to sock* him for his rude behavior" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to sock* him for his rude behavior).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  He needs a reason to sock someone.

  He needs a reason to sock someone.

  • "*To sock* someone" modifies the noun "reason."
  • Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a reason *to sock* someone).

Socking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Socking someone can lead to serious consequences.

  Socking someone can lead to serious consequences.

  • "*Socking* someone" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (can lead to) + noun phrase (serious consequences).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy socking him when he annoys me.

  I enjoy socking him when he annoys me.

  • "*Socking* him when he annoys me" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*socking* him when he annoys me).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  They have a talent for socking people unexpectedly.

  They have a talent for socking people unexpectedly.

  • "For *socking* people unexpectedly" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (They) + verb (have) + noun phrase (a talent for *socking* people unexpectedly).

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
• attempt
• refuse
• pretend
• demand

Example

They decided to sock him for his betrayal.

She attempted to sock him, but missed.

He refused to sock him out of respect.

They pretended to sock him as a prank.

I demand to sock him for his lies.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• avoid
• recommend
• mind
• consider
• imagine

Example

He avoids socking people in order to maintain peace.

They recommend socking a punching bag for stress relief.

Do you mind me socking him for his rude comment?

We are considering socking him as a form of punishment.

Can you imagine yourself socking someone in public?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to sock him when he irritates her. She likes socking him when he irritates her.

They started to sock each other playfully. They started socking each other playfully.

He began to sock the punching bag for exercise. He began socking the punching bag for exercise.