they pretended being monsters vs they pretended to be monsters

Some examples from the web:

• They pretended to be dating although they had broken up.
• Luckily, she just left for work And they pretended not to know.
• And so they pretended to still hate each other.
• She's not spending the night in jail, and they pretended to believe me when I told them the smell in her car was skunk air freshener.
• They pretended to be enemies, fighting over Simon
• And so they pretended to still hate each other.
• You know, it's... they pretended as much as I did and even more.
• They pretended that they were some kind of workers from the power company, and that they had made a mistake and they'd have to do some digging.
• If we're licensed to be monsters, we end up having just one desire... truly being monsters.
• We pretended to teach them, they pretended to learn, and where - where'd they end up?

Some examples from the web:

• They pretended to be dating although they had broken up.
• And so they pretended to still hate each other.
• She's not spending the night in jail, and they pretended to believe me when I told them the smell in her car was skunk air freshener.
• They pretended to be enemies, fighting over Simon
• And so they pretended to still hate each other.
• We pretended to teach them, they pretended to learn, and where - where'd they end up?
• Luckily, she just left for work And they pretended not to know.
• All the other boys pretended to know everything and you never pretended to know anything.
• Every contract I got, I pretended to fill it.
• I pretended to be a woman. I called myself Lorde.
• This Zach guy set up an office and pretended to work there for years.
• Pretended to be a 14-year-old boy with payos envy.
• I've pretended to be other people online.
• You only pretended to like it for Robert.
• You pretended to be my friend.
• You pretended to burn Freddie Lounds in a wheelchair to flush me out.
• She pretended to be you... to make herself strong.
• So... I just pretended to be casey's girlfriend.
• I just can't believe he pretended to be this great dad.
• Or he pretended to escape so that he could play on your guilt and sympathy.