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Verb + infinitive/-ing with a change in meaning
In this class, we’ll explore verbs that are followed by infinitives (to + base form of the verb) and those that are typically followed by gerunds (-ing form). Understanding the correct use of these structures is essential for expressing ideas clearly and accurately in English.
Learning Objectives
- Identify verbs that are followed by infinitives and those followed by gerunds.
- Understand the difference in meaning when certain verbs are followed by infinitives vs. gerunds.
- Apply the rules of infinitives and gerunds in speaking and writing exercises.
CONTENT
Infinitives are the “to” form of the verb, used to talk about actions in a general way, to express purposes, or to discuss future intentions.
Gerunds are the “-ing” form of the verb, acting as nouns and often talking about the action itself in a more general sense.
Verbs Followed by Infinitives
These verbs usually indicate intention, necessity, obligation, or a plan. These verbs are directly followed by the infinitive form to clearly indicate the subsequent action or intention.
Some verbs followed by infinitives with examples:
- Agree: “She agreed to help with the project.”
- Decide: “They decided to move to a new city.”
- Expect: “I expect to receive the package by noon.”
- Hope: “We hope to see you at the party.”
- Learn: “He learned to play the piano in just one year.”
- Need: “You need to submit your application by the deadline.”
- Offer: “She offered to drive me to the airport.”
- Plan: “They plan to renovate their house next summer.”
- Promise: “He promised to return the book tomorrow.”
- Refuse: “She refused to comment on the matter.”
- Seem: “It seems to rain every time we plan a picnic.”
- Want: “I want to visit Japan someday.”
- Wish: “They wish to retire early and travel the world.”
- Demand: “The job demands to stay alert at all times.”
- Fail: “He failed to pass the final exam.”
- Prepare: “They are preparing to launch the new product line.”
- Attempt: “She attempted to break the world record.”
- Choose: “We chose to adopt a healthier lifestyle.”
- Deserve: “He deserves to win the award for his hard work.”
- Hesitate: “Don’t hesitate to call me if you need anything.”
Verbs Followed by Gerunds
They often refer to likes, dislikes, or actions already in progress. These verbs often describe activities or preferences, and the gerund functions as a noun in these instances. These verbs are followed by the gerund to express actions or states in a noun form, focusing on the activity itself rather than on its completion or initiation.
Some verbs followed by a gerund with examples
- Admit: “He admitted cheating on the test.”
- Avoid: “She avoids going out in the rain.”
- Consider: “They are considering moving to Canada.”
- Delay: “He delayed leaving for the party until he finished his work.”
- Deny: “She denied knowing the secret.”
- Enjoy: “I enjoy cooking for my family.”
- Finish: “We finished painting the room by noon.”
- Imagine: “Can you imagine living on Mars?”
- Keep: “She keeps talking about her vacation.”
- Mention: “He mentioned visiting France last year.”
- Mind: “Do you mind closing the window?”
- Miss: “I miss seeing my friends regularly.”
- Postpone: “They decided to postpone buying a new car.”
- Practice: “He practices playing the guitar every day.”
- Quit: “She quit smoking last month.”
- Regret: “I regret not taking the job offer.”
- Risk: “He risked getting caught in the rain without an umbrella.”
- Suggest: “They suggested meeting at the library.”
- Tolerate: “I can’t tolerate waiting in long lines.”
- Understand: “I understand making sacrifices for family.”
Learning Activities
Verb Transformation Comic Strip
Objectives:
- Grammar Application: Reinforce the understanding of how the meaning of certain verbs changes when followed by an infinitive or a gerund.
- Creative Expression: Creatively express the nuances of verb meaning changes through the medium of comic strips.
- Critical Thinking: Enhance your ability to think critically about verb usage and its impact on sentence meaning.
- Visual Literacy: Develop visual literacy skills as you convey grammatical concepts through illustrations and narratives.
Activity Description:
In this activity, you will create comic strips that depict a chosen verb in both its infinitive and gerund forms, showing how the verb’s meaning changes in different contexts. This hands-on, creative task allows you to explore and internalize the nuanced meanings of verbs in a fun and engaging way, combining linguistic knowledge with artistic expression.
Preparation:
- We will review verbs that change meaning when followed by an infinitive or a gerund.
- You will be provided examples to illustrate how meaning changes with verb form.
Instructions:
- Verb Selection:
- Select a verb from a provided list that can be followed by an infinitive or a gerund with a change in meaning (e.g., stop, remember, forget, try).
- Concept Development:
- Brainstorm two scenarios that illustrate the different meanings of your chosen verb when used with an infinitive and a gerund. Be creative thinking of situations that clearly depict the contrast.
- Comic Strip Creation:
- Create a comic strip for each scenario. The comic strips should include:
- A brief introduction to the characters and setting.
- Illustrations and dialogue that incorporate the chosen verb in both its infinitive and gerund forms, clearly showing the change in meaning.
- A conclusion that wraps up the mini-narrative.
- You can use traditional art materials or digital tools like online comic creators.
- Create a comic strip for each scenario. The comic strips should include:
- Presentation and Explanation:
- Present your comic strips to the class, explaining the scenarios and how the verb’s meaning changes.
Infinitive vs. -ing Debate
Objectives:
- Deepen Understanding of Verb Forms: Enhance your understanding of the differences between verbs followed by infinitives and gerunds, particularly focusing on how the choice affects the meaning of the actions described.
- Promote Critical Thinking and Persuasion Skills: Develop your ability to formulate arguments and debate persuasively, using grammatical structures to support your points.
- Foster Analytical Skills: Analyze and evaluate the implications of using different verb forms in hypothetical scenarios.
- Enhance Public Speaking and Listening Skills: Improve your public speaking abilities and active listening skills through structured debate.
Instructions:
- Introduction:
- We will begin by reviewing the rules and use of infinitives and gerunds, especially focusing on verbs that can take both forms but with a change in meaning (e.g., “stop smoking” vs. “stop to smoke”).
- The concept of the debate will be introduced: You will argue which form (infinitive or gerund) better conveys a preferred action or outcome in various hypothetical scenarios.
- Preparation:
- The class will be divided into two teams. Each team will be assigned a position: one team supports the use of infinitives, and the other supports the use of gerunds.
- Each team will be provided with a list of verbs and scenarios in which these verbs could be used with either form. Examples include verbs like “stop,” “remember,” “try,” “need,” etc.
- Teams prepare their arguments, focusing on why their assigned verb form is more effective or preferable in each scenario.
- Debate Setup:
- We will arrange the classroom for the debate. Consider a traditional debate layout where each team faces the audience, with a podium for speakers.
- The debate rules will be explained: Each team will have an opportunity to present their argument for each scenario, followed by a rebuttal from the opposing team.
- Debate:
- Begin the debate. For each scenario, a speaker from each team presents their argument supporting the use of either the infinitive or gerund form.
- A brief rebuttal from the opposing team after each presentation is allowed.
- Use specific examples and explanations of how the verb form changes the meaning or impact of the action described.
- Judging and Discussion:
- If possible, we will have a panel of judges (other teachers or advanced students) to provide feedback and score the teams based on the clarity, persuasiveness, and grammatical accuracy of their arguments.
- Alternatively, the class will vote for the most persuasive arguments.
- We will discuss as a class what was learned from the debate, highlighting key points from the arguments and any new insights into the use of infinitive and gerund forms.
- Reflection
Sentence Conversion Challenge
Objectives:
- Deepen Understanding of Verb Forms: Enhance grasp of how verbs followed by infinitives or gerunds can change the meaning of a sentence.
- Improve Grammatical Accuracy: Develop your ability to accurately use verb+infinitive and verb+gerund constructions in different contexts.
- Promote Critical Thinking and Analysis: Analyze and discuss how changes in verb forms affect sentence meaning and overall communication.
- Foster Collaboration and Communication: Strengthen collaborative and communication skills through group discussions and feedback sessions.
Instructions:
- Introduction:
- We will begin with a brief review of verbs that can be followed by either an infinitive (to + base form of the verb) or a gerund (-ing form), focusing on how the choice between these forms can change the meaning of a sentence. Examples will be provided, such as “stop smoking” vs. “stop to smoke.”
- Conversion Task:
- This could be done individually or in small groups to convert each sentence from one form to the other (from infinitive to gerund or from gerund to infinitive). Think carefully about how the new form changes the sentence’s meaning.
- Example: Convert “I forgot to call my mom” (I did not remember to call my mom) to “I forgot calling my mom” (I do not remember calling my mom).
- Class Discussion:
- Share your converted sentences with the class. Each student or group presents both the original and converted sentences and explains the change in meaning.
- Each conversion will be discussed, and as a class, you will be asked to provide feedback and further insights into how the change in verb form affects the interpretation of the sentence.
- Reflection:
- We will conclude with a reflective discussion on the activity. Comment on what you learned about verb forms and their importance in conveying clear messages.
- Discuss any common challenges you encountered during the conversion process and how you resolved them.
