To Juke vs Juking 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 juke (Infinitive)

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

Example

I want to juke the defender and score a touchdown.

Juking (Gerund)

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

Example

Juking is a common technique used in football.

Where can infinitives/gerunds be placed in a sentence?

To juke (Infinitive)

• 1. Subject

  To juke is a skill that requires agility and quick thinking.

  To juke is a skill that requires agility and quick thinking.

  • "*To juke*" serves as the subject of the sentence.
  • Infinitive phrase (subject) + verb (is) + noun phrase (a skill that requires agility and quick thinking).
• 2. Object

  He wants me to juke the opponent in the game.

  He wants me to juke the opponent in the game.

  • "Me *to juke* the opponent in the game" is the object of the verb "wants."
  • Noun (He) + verb (wants) + noun phrase (me *to juke* the opponent in the game).
• 3. Adjective Modifier

  I need a good pair of shoes to juke effectively.

  I need a good pair of shoes to juke effectively.

  • "*To juke* effectively" modifies the noun "pair of shoes."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + noun phrase (a good pair of shoes *to juke* effectively).

Juking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Juking requires quick footwork and agility.

  Juking requires quick footwork and agility.

  • "*Juking*" is the subject of the sentence.
  • Gerund (subject) + verb (requires) + noun phrase (quick footwork and agility).
• 2. Object

  I enjoy juking defenders and scoring goals.

  I enjoy juking defenders and scoring goals.

  • "*Juking* defenders and scoring goals" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*juking* defenders and scoring goals).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for juking opponents.

  She has a talent for juking opponents.

  • "For *juking* opponents" is the object of the preposition "for."
  • Noun phrase (She) + verb (has) + noun phrase (a talent for *juking* 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

• plan
• hope
• want
• decide
• agree

Example

She plans to juke the defender and make a clear shot on goal.

They hope to juke the opponent and win the game.

He wants to juke his opponent and reach the end zone.

We decided to juke the defender and create an opening for our teammate.

They agreed to juke the defender and pass the ball to their teammate.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

She enjoys juking her opponents and leaving them behind.

They recommend practicing juking techniques for better performance.

I dislike the idea of juking because it can lead to injuries.

He avoids juking when he is not confident about his skills.

Can you imagine yourself juking multiple defenders and scoring a goal?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

She likes to juke her opponents in basketball. She likes juking her opponents in basketball.

We started to juke during our training sessions. We started juking during our training sessions.

He began to juke defenders to create scoring opportunities. He began juking defenders to create scoring opportunities.