Grade Level: High School (Grades 9-12) / Intermediate to Advanced ESL Students

Subject: English Language Arts / Grammar

Duration: 60 minutes

Objective:

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Understand the difference between gerunds and infinitives.
2. Recognize and correctly use gerunds and infinitives in sentences.
3. Identify verbs that are typically followed by gerunds, infinitives, or both.

Materials:

• Whiteboard and markers
• Handouts with examples and practice sentences
• Worksheet for individual practice
• Projector or slides for visual examples (optional)
• A short reading passage or dialogue containing gerunds and infinitives

Lesson Outline:

1. Introduction to Gerunds and Infinitives (10 minutes)

• Warm-Up Discussion: Begin by asking students if they know what a verb is and how it functions in a sentence. Lead into the topic by introducing the concepts of gerunds and infinitives.
• Definitions:
  • Gerund: A verb form ending in -ing that functions as a noun.
  • Example: “Swimming is fun.”
  • Infinitive: The base form of a verb, usually preceded by “to,” that can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.
  • Example: “To swim is fun.”
• Explanation: Explain that both gerunds and infinitives can be used as subjects, objects, or complements in sentences, but some verbs only take gerunds, some only take infinitives, and some can take both.

2. Teaching Gerunds and Infinitives (15 minutes)

• Examples and Explanation:
  • Gerunds as Subjects: “Running is a good way to stay fit.”
  • Gerunds as Objects: “She enjoys reading.”
  • Infinitives as Subjects: “To learn a new language is challenging.”
  • Infinitives as Objects: “He decided to leave early.”
• Verb Lists:
  • Gerund-only verbs: Enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest, etc.
  • Infinitive-only verbs: Decide, plan, hope, want, etc.
  • Verbs that can take both (with a change in meaning): Stop, remember, forget, try, etc.
• Interactive Example: Write sentences on the board and ask students to fill in the blanks with either a gerund or an infinitive based on the verb provided.
  • Example: “She avoids __ (to go/going) to crowded places.” (Answer: going)

3. Guided Practice (15 minutes)

• Group Activity: Provide students with sentences where they need to choose between a gerund or an infinitive. Have students work in pairs or small groups to discuss and complete the sentences.
  • Example: “They agreed __ (to meet/meeting) at noon.” (Answer: to meet)
• Class Discussion: After students complete the sentences, go over the answers as a class. Discuss any confusion or questions about why a gerund or infinitive is used in each case.

4. Application Through Writing (15 minutes)

• Creative Writing Exercise: Ask students to write a short paragraph or a dialogue using at least five gerunds and infinitives. Encourage them to use a variety of verbs and to think about the context in which gerunds and infinitives are used.
  • Example: Write a short story about a character who is making plans for the weekend, using both gerunds and infinitives to describe their activities.
• Peer Review: Have students exchange their writing with a partner to identify the gerunds and infinitives used. Encourage them to provide feedback on the correct usage.

5. Review and Reinforcement (5 minutes)

• Quick Review: Summarize the key points covered in the lesson: the definition of gerunds and infinitives, when to use them, and which verbs are followed by each.
• Mini-Quiz: Ask students to write one sentence using a gerund and one using an infinitive. Have a few students share their sentences with the class.

6. Homework Assignment (5 minutes)

• Reading and Identifying: Assign a short reading passage that includes several gerunds and infinitives. Ask students to underline or highlight the gerunds and infinitives and identify the verbs they follow.
• Sentence Writing: Ask students to write 10 sentences: five using gerunds and five using infinitives, making sure to use a variety of verbs from the lesson.

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Assessment:

• Formative Assessment: Observe student participation during class discussions, group work, and the guided practice activity.
• Homework: Evaluate the reading and writing assignments to assess students’ understanding and correct usage of gerunds and infinitives.
• Quiz: A short quiz could be given in the next class to reinforce and assess retention of the material.

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This lesson plan will help advanced students gain a deeper understanding of gerunds and infinitives, improving their ability to use these forms correctly in both written and spoken English.

Choosing between a gerund and an infinitive can be challenging for students, but with the right strategies, they can improve their ability to make the correct choice. Here are some strategies to help students guess when to use a gerund or an infinitive:

1. Learn Common Verbs and Their Patterns

• Memorization: Some verbs are typically followed by gerunds, while others are followed by infinitives. Encourage students to memorize common verbs and their patterns.
  • Gerund verbs: Enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest.
  • Infinitive verbs: Decide, plan, hope, want.
  • Both (with meaning changes): Stop, remember, try.
• Strategy: Create flashcards with verbs and their correct forms (gerund or infinitive) for regular practice.

2. Identify the Function of the Verb

• Subject of the Sentence:
  • Gerund: Often used when the verb is the subject of the sentence.
  • Example: “Swimming is a good workout.”
  • Infinitive: Can also be used as the subject but is less common.
  • Example: “To swim is a good workout.”
• Strategy: If the verb is at the beginning of the sentence and acts as the subject, a gerund is usually the safer choice.

3. Consider the Verb’s Meaning

• Gerund for General Actions:
  • When the action is general or habitual, gerunds are often used.
  • Example: “She enjoys reading.” (enjoys the general activity of reading)
• Infinitive for Specific Intentions or Future Actions:
  • Infinitives are often used when the action is more specific or intentional.
  • Example: “She wants to read the book.” (specific intention to read a particular book)
• Strategy: If the verb is about a general preference or habit, lean towards a gerund. If it’s about a specific intention or plan, use an infinitive.

4. Remember the “to” Test

• Infinitives: Typically, infinitives are preceded by “to.”
  • Example: “I need to study.”
• Gerunds: Gerunds do not have “to” before them and are just the -ing form of the verb.
  • Example: “I enjoy studying.”
• Strategy: If “to” is in the sentence before the verb, it’s likely an infinitive. If not, consider if it could be a gerund.

5. Practice with Common Expressions

• Expressions Taking Gerunds:
  • Certain phrases and expressions are always followed by gerunds.
  • Example: “He can’t help laughing.” / “She’s interested in learning.”
• Expressions Taking Infinitives:
  • Some expressions are always followed by infinitives.
  • Example: “It’s important to understand.” / “He agreed to help.”
• Strategy: Teach students to recognize these common expressions and automatically pair them with the correct form.

6. Use the “Would Like” Rule

• Infinitive After “Would Like”:
  • When expressing desires or preferences with “would like,” always use an infinitive.
  • Example: “I would like to go home.”
• Strategy: Whenever “would like” appears, immediately think of the infinitive.

7. Practice Contextual Guessing

• Context Matters: Sometimes, context can give a clue as to whether a gerund or an infinitive is needed.
  • Example: “She stopped to smoke.” (She stopped doing something else in order to smoke.)
  • Example: “She stopped smoking.” (She quit the habit of smoking.)
• Strategy: Encourage students to read the entire sentence or passage to understand the context, which can often guide them to the correct choice.

8. Use Error Analysis

• Self-Correction: Encourage students to write sentences and then review them, asking themselves if the verb choice sounds natural or if they’ve encountered similar structures in their reading or listening.
• Strategy: Have students practice editing sentences with deliberate errors to reinforce the correct use of gerunds and infinitives.

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These strategies, combined with regular practice, can help students become more confident in choosing between gerunds and infinitives, improving their accuracy and fluency in both written and spoken English.

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