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 to 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 strategy used in football to deceive the defenders.

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 good footwork to juke effectively.

  I need good footwork to juke effectively.

  • "*To juke* effectively" modifies the noun "footwork."
  • Noun (I) + verb (need) + adjective phrase (good footwork *to juke* effectively).

Juking (Gerund)

• 1. Subject

  Juking requires quick reflexes and good coordination.

  Juking requires quick reflexes and good coordination.

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

  I enjoy juking my opponents on the field.

  I enjoy juking my opponents on the field.

  • "*Juking* my opponents on the field" is the object of the verb "enjoy."
  • Noun (I) + verb (enjoy) + gerund (*juking* my opponents on the field).
• 3. Object of Preposition

  She has a talent for juking defenders.

  She has a talent for juking defenders.

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

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 during the next play.

They hope to juke their opponents and score goals.

He wants to juke the goalkeeper and score a goal.

We decided to juke the defense and make a touchdown.

They agreed to juke the opposing team's defense together.

Verbs Taking Gerunds as Objects

• enjoy
• recommend
• dislike
• avoid
• imagine

Example

He enjoys juking his opponents in every game.

They recommend practicing juking techniques for better performance.

I dislike the idea of juking in dangerous situations.

She avoids juking in crowded areas to prevent collisions.

Can you imagine yourself juking past the defenders and scoring a goal?

Verbs Taking Both Infinitives and Gerunds as Objects

• like
• start
• begin

Example

He likes to juke his opponents in basketball. He likes juking his opponents in basketball.

We started to juke our opponents in the game. We started juking our opponents in the game.

She began to juke defenders at a young age. She began juking defenders at a young age.