When and How to Use Each Expression?
Get a sense of when and how each expression can be used through the following examples!To dupe (Infinitive)
Purpose or Intention: Use the infinitive "to dupe" when you want to express a purpose, intention, desire, or potential action
Example
He promised to dupe his friends into believing the prank.
Duping (Gerund)
Activity or Experience: Use the gerund "duping" when you want to refer to the activity itself or the experience as a noun.
Example
Duping others is not a fair game.
Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?
To dupe (Infinitive)
- 1Subject
To dupe someone is unethical.
To dupe someone is unethical.
- "*To dupe* someone" serves as the subject of the sentence.
- Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (unethical).
- 2Object
She wants him to dupe her boss.
She wants him to dupe her boss.
- "Him *to dupe* her boss" is the object of the verb "wants."
- Noun (She) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (him *to dupe* her boss).
- 3Adverb Modifier
He tries hard to dupe people with his tricks.
He tries hard to dupe people with his tricks.
- "Hard *to dupe* people with his tricks" modifies the verb "tries."
- Noun (He) + verb (tries) + adverb phrase (hard *to dupe* people with his tricks).
Duping (Gerund)
- 1Subject
Duping people is considered deceitful.
Duping people is considered deceitful.
- "*Duping* people" is the subject of the sentence.
- Gerund (subject) + verb (is) + adjective (deceitful).
- 2Object
He enjoys duping his opponents in chess.
He enjoys duping his opponents in chess.
- "*Duping* his opponents in chess" is the object of the verb "enjoys."
- Noun (He) + verb (enjoys) + gerund (*duping* his opponents in chess).
- 3Object of Preposition
They were accused of duping innocent people.
They were accused of duping innocent people.
- "*Duping* innocent people" is the object of the preposition "of."
- Noun phrase (They) + verb (were accused of) + gerund (*duping* innocent people).
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 decided to dupe their teacher for April Fools' Day.
She pretends to dupe her siblings with magic tricks.
He attempted to dupe the audience with his illusion.
I wish to dupe my friends with a surprise party.
They refused to dupe their colleagues into doing their work.
Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects
Example
She avoids duping others for personal gain.
Experts recommend not duping people for financial advantage.
He resisted the temptation of duping his colleagues.
They consider duping as a form of betrayal.
We need to discuss the consequences of duping in society.
Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects
Example
She likes to dupe her classmates with practical jokes. She likes duping her classmates with practical jokes.
He began to dupe his friends as a prankster. He began duping his friends as a prankster.
They continue to dupe unsuspecting victims for money. They continue duping unsuspecting victims for money.
