Some rules in English just need to be memorized. Among these are which verbs (and adjectives and adverbs) should be followed by a gerund, which by an infinitive, and which can be followed by either. Giving your students a list of verbs that match each category can be useful, but some students learn best through story. And the more interesting the story is, the more likely they are to remember it.
Below are some short stories I have written with common verb + infinitive / verb + gerund collocations. Choose one that suits your level and give it a shot with your students.
I use a story (see samples below) as a springboard for my lesson. This is how I begin.
Afterwards, if I'm teaching a 1.5-hour lesson, I usually begin my more formal lesson with a controlled worksheet, and then a semi-controlled speaking activity (e.g. discussion questions (there are some below)). As a productive activity, I typically do this activity with verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives. (Note: it requires having some pictures cut up, but it could be done without pictures).
My friend Bernardo liked to eat McDonald's hamburgers. But he had a problem. He was gaining weight. He decided to go on a diet. He stopped eating fast food and started buying more fruit and vegetables. After a month, he had lost a few pounds. But he wanted to lose more. I suggested joining a gym. Bernardo disliked exercising, but he agreed to try it. Now he exercises every day and he looks better. He's looking forward to losing more weight.
My friend Bernardo liked _________________ (eat) McDonald's hamburgers. But he had a problem. He was gaining weight.. He decided _________________ (go) on a diet. He stopped _________________ (eat) fast food and started _________________ (buy) more fruit and vegetables. After a month, he had lost a few pounds. But he wanted _________________ (lose) more. I suggested _________________ (join) a gym. Bernardo disliked _________________ (exercise), but he agreed _________________ (try) it. Now he exercises every day and he looks better. He's looking forward _________________ (lose) more weight.
My friend Bernardo enjoys cooking. He also really likes eating. But one month ago, his girlfriend told him to lose weight, so he decided to join a gym. In the beginning, it was difficult to go regularly. He tried to go every day, but sometimes he forgot to go. Yesterday, he drank beer with me instead of exercising. He prefers drinking alcohol to lifting weights, of course. His girlfriend called him when we were at the pub. He stopped drinking his beer to answer the phone. He promised to be home by 10 p.m. However, we kept drinking until we ran out of money.
My friend Bernardo enjoys __________ . He also really likes __________. But one month ago, his girlfriend told him __________ weight, so he decided __________ a gym. In the beginning, it was difficult __________ regularly. He tried __________ every day, but sometimes he forgot __________. Yesterday, he drank beer with me instead of __________. He prefers __________ alcohol to __________ weights, of course. His girlfriend called him when we were at the pub. He stopped __________ his beer __________ the phone. He promised __________ home by 10 p.m. However, we kept __________ until we ran out of money.
Teresa's boyfriend Bernardo is gaining weight. She wanted him to quit eating fast food. He agreed to start eating healthily.A few weeks passed. Teresa expected Bernardo to lose weight, but nothing changed. She noticed that sometimes he would smell like hamburgers. She started to suspect that he had broken his promise to eat well.
One day, she followed him home from work. She saw him pass by McDonald's, but then he stopped walking. He hesitated to go in, but he finally did. After a few minutes, she decided to follow him in. She caught him eating a Big Mac. She attempted to wrestle it from him, but she couldn't manage to get it out of his greasy hands. He tried to push her away, but he accidentally hit her in the face. Naturally, she got angry. He said that he didn't mean to hit her, but she started screaming. They both got kicked out of the restaurant. Now they refuse to speak to each other.
Teresa's boyfriend Bernardo is gaining weight. She wanted him __________ _________ fast food. He agreed _________ _________ healthily.
A few weeks passed. Teresa expected Bernardo _________ weight, but nothing changed. She noticed that sometimes he would smell like hamburgers. She started _________ that he had broken his promise _________ well.
One day, she followed him home from work. She saw him pass by McDonalds, but then he stopped _________. He hesitated _________ in, but he finally did. After a few minutes, she decided _________ him in. She caught him _________ a Big Mac. She attempted _________ it from him, but she couldn't manage _________ it out of his greasy hands. He tried _________ her away, but he accidentally hit her in the face. Naturally, she got angry. He said that he didn't mean _________ her, but she started _________. They both got kicked out of the restaurant. Now they refuse _________ to each other.
One month ago, my friend Bernardo decided to lose some weight. He stopped eating chocolate, gave up drinking beer, and he refused to eat anything high in fat. This was difficult for him because he enjoyed eating chocolate and he preferred to drink/drinking beer to Diet Coke! Luckily, his girlfriend agreed to help him. She promised to make him a lot of healthy food, and she did. But after two months, he only managed to lose 3 pounds. Now, his girlfriend has suggested joining a gym. Bernardo hates exercising, but he will try it.
One month ago, my friend Bernardo decided _________________ (lose) some weight. He stopped _________________ (eat) chocolate, gave up _________________ (drink) beer, and he refused _________________ (eat) anything high in fat. This was difficult for him because he enjoyed _________________ (eat) chocolate and he preferred _________________ (drink) beer to Diet Coke! Luckily, his girlfriend agreed _________________ (help) him. She promised _________________ (make) him a lot of healthy food, and she did. But after two months, he only managed _________________ (lose) 3 pounds. Now, his girlfriend has suggested _________________ (join) a gym. Bernardo hates _________________ (exercise), but he will try it.
Verb Focus: love, start/stop, remember, forget, try
Bernardo loves traveling. He began traveling when he was a young child. He remembers visiting new places every Christmas and summer holiday. In particular, he'll never forget visiting Hawaii in 2010. On the day he and his family were going to depart, there was a big snowstorm. His father tried to get them to the airport, but the roads were icy. The car kept sliding. In the airport parking lot, his father actually hit another car. He tried to stop, but he couldn't. Finally, when they got inside the airport, Bernardo realized that he had forgotten to pack clothes. He remembered to bring his passport at least. So after arriving in Honolulu, his family had to stop to buy some clothes for him. In the end, he had a great trip. He hopes that he never stops traveling.
Bernardo loves _____________. He began _____________ when he was a young child. He remembers _____________ new places every Christmas and summer holiday. In particular, he'll never forget _____________ Hawaii in 2010. On the day he and his family were going to depart, there was a big snowstorm. His father tried _____________ them to the airport, but the roads were icy. The car kept _____________. In the airport parking lot, his father actually hit another car. He tried _____________ but he couldn't. Finally, when they got inside the airport, Bernardo realized that he had forgotten _____________ clothes. He remembered _____________ his passport at least. So after arriving in Honolulu, his family had to stop _____________ some clothes for him. In the end, he had a great trip. He hopes that he never stops _____________.
( Note to teachers: Delete the questions that you haven't studied if you feel it will confuse your students)
These questions match the verbs in Story #2 above. They include the adjective + gerund & preposition + gerund pattern.
Student A
1.doing, 2. to study, 3. doing, 4. watching/reading, 5. to do, 6. to do
Student B
1.to learn, 2. to do, 3. doing, 4. to do, 5. doing
Student A
1.doing, 2. doing/to do 3. doing/to do 4. to do 5. doing
Student B
1.to do, 2. doing 3. doing 4. to do 5.being. 6. studying
With a partner, look at the questions below (together). Put them in the correct form (gerund of infinitive) and then ask each other the questions.
This activity combines a review of reported speech (i.e. shifting verb tenses back when the reporting verb is in the past tense) and gerunds and infinitives . If you haven't taught reported speech, then you can still use the pair-work questions on the sheet (just delete the top paragraph about reported speech).
This activity combines grammar with speaking and listening practice. To conduct it in full, first explain to your students that they will be asking each other questions that contain verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives. However, some of the questions have errors. Their job is to listen to the question and indicate if it's correct or incorrect. If it's correct, they can just answer the question. If there's an error, they can clarify the question (Sorry, did you ask me. ?) and then answer it.
Put your students in pairs, and let them give it a try. Naturally, as the teacher, you'll want to preview the questions to make sure they are familiar with the verbs. Note that it also has a few questions with adjectives/adverbs.
The worksheet can be previewed below in its entirely. You can download it above.
Clarifying Questions — Gerunds and Infinitives Version
Your partner will ask you a question. If the question has an error, clarify it using one of the strategies below combined with reported speech (i.e. move the verb tense back). If the question is error-free, then just answer the question.
Example. A: Do you enjoy to go to concerts?
B: I'm sorry. Did you ask me if I enjoyed going to concerts?
B: Oh. Yes… I saw Justin Bieber last year and…
Student A
Student B
Hopefully these activities will give you some firepower for your English lessons.
Matthew Barton / Creator of Englishcurrent.com
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