To Deceive vs Deceiving 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 deceive (Infinitive)

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

Example

She promised to deceive her opponent in the game.

Deceiving (Gerund)

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

Example

Deceiving others can lead to mistrust and broken relationships.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To deceive (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To deceive is not a good strategy in the long run.

  To deceive is not a good strategy in the long run.

  • "*To deceive*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (not a good strategy in the long run).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to deceive the audience with my magic trick.

  He wants me to deceive the audience with my magic trick.

  • "Me *to deceive* the audience with my magic trick" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to deceive* the audience with my magic trick).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  They need a disguise to deceive their enemies.

  They need a disguise to deceive their enemies.

  • "*To deceive* their enemies" modifies the noun "disguise."
  • Noun (They) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a disguise *to deceive* their enemies).

Deceiving (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Deceiving your loved ones is never a good idea.

  Deceiving your loved ones is never a good idea.

  • "*Deceiving*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (never a good idea).
• 2. Object

  She enjoys deceiving people with her magic tricks.

  She enjoys deceiving people with her magic tricks.

  • "*Deceiving* people with her magic tricks" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
  • Noun (She) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*deceiving* people with her magic tricks).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  He has a talent for deceiving others.

  He has a talent for deceiving others.

  • "For *deceiving* others" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (He) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *deceiving* others).

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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to deceive her opponent in the chess match.

They hope to deceive the enemy spies during the mission.

He wants to deceive his rival in the business negotiation.

We decided to deceive the enemy troops with a surprise attack.

They agreed to deceive the judges with their amazing performance.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys deceiving her friends with prank calls.

They recommend avoiding deceiving others for ethical reasons.

I dislike the act of deceiving people for personal gain.

He avoids deceiving his colleagues to maintain trust.

Can you imagine yourself deceiving someone you care about?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to deceive her opponents in the game. She likes deceiving her opponents in the game.

We started to deceive our competitors with innovative marketing strategies. We started deceiving our competitors with innovative marketing strategies.

He began to deceive his rivals in the political campaign. He began deceiving his rivals in the political campaign.