When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To bamboozle (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to bamboozle" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
He promised to bamboozle his opponent with his tricks.
Bamboozling (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "bamboozling" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Bamboozling is not a fair way to win.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To bamboozle (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To bamboozle is his favorite strategy in the game.
To bamboozle is his favorite strategy in the game.
- "*To bamboozle*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (his favorite strategy in the game).
- 2Object
She wants me to bamboozle her friends with my magic tricks.
She wants me to bamboozle her friends with my magic tricks.
- "Me *to bamboozle* her friends with my magic tricks" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to bamboozle* her friends with my magic tricks).
- 3Adjective Modifier
He needs a new deck of cards to bamboozle his audience.
He needs a new deck of cards to bamboozle his audience.
- "*To bamboozle* his audience" modifies the noun "deck of cards."
- Noun (He) + verb (needs) + noun phrase (a new deck of cards *to bamboozle* his audience).
Bamboozling (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Bamboozling is frowned upon in the world of sports.
Bamboozling is frowned upon in the world of sports.
- "*Bamboozling*" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (frowned upon in the world of sports).
- 2Object
I enjoy bamboozling my friends with riddles.
I enjoy bamboozling my friends with riddles.
- "*Bamboozling* my friends with riddles" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
- Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*bamboozling* my friends with riddles).
- 3Object of Preposition
He has a talent for bamboozling his opponents.
He has a talent for bamboozling his opponents.
- "For *bamboozling* his opponents" is the object of the preposition "for."
- Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *bamboozling* his opponents).
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
Example
They plan to bamboozle the crowd with their illusions.
She hopes to bamboozle the judges with her performance.
He wants to bamboozle the audience with his mind-bending tricks.
We decided to bamboozle our opponents with our strategic moves.
They agreed to bamboozle their rivals with their cunning tactics.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She enjoys bamboozling her opponents in the game.
They recommend avoiding bamboozling others in competitions.
I dislike the act of bamboozling people for personal gain.
He avoids bamboozling his teammates during practice.
Can you imagine yourself bamboozling your opponents with your skills?
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
They like to bamboozle their opponents with their strategies. They like bamboozling their opponents with their strategies.
We started to bamboozle our rivals from the beginning. We started bamboozling our rivals from the beginning.
He began to bamboozle his competitors with his mind games. He began bamboozling his competitors with his mind games.
