Infinitives and Gerunds

How To Teach Infinitives and Gerunds

Objective:

To teach students the usage and differences between infinitives and gerunds in English, thereby enhancing their grammatical skills and enabling them to use these verb forms accurately in both spoken and written communication.

Introduction to Infinitives and Gerunds

• Define infinitives as the basic form of a verb, often preceded by “to” (e.g., to run, to eat), and gerunds as verbs that function as nouns, ending in -ing (e.g., running, eating).
• Explain how these verb forms can act as subjects, objects, and complements in sentences, and the importance of choosing the correct form based on the context and preceding verbs.

Real Life Examples

• Provide examples from various texts, such as novels, articles, and scripts, showing the use of infinitives and gerunds in different grammatical roles.
• Highlight common verbs that are followed by infinitives (e.g., want to do) and those followed by gerunds (e.g., enjoy doing).

Interactive Activities

• Organize a ‘Verb Form Transformation' exercise where students convert sentences from using an infinitive to a gerund, and vice versa, to understand their interchangeable and specific uses.
• Conduct a ‘Role Play' activity, where students create dialogues using a mix of infinitives and gerunds, practicing their correct usage in spoken English.