Gerunds & Infinitives

Gerunds & infinitives can often leave learners confused and unsure in themselves. The problem arises primarily in the fact that it really just depends on the verb which preceds (don't even tell them that a gerund is a noun or their minds may actually explode). Teachers can also find these to be a problem because finding engaging activities which stick with the learner and fire up their inner curiousity are seldom to be found, and it's just something that we know without explanation. Gerunds and infinitives used to drive me and my students crazy for a long time.

Below is one lesson idea which helped both my students and myself.

Level: Pre-intermediate - Advanced/Adults or Teens

Materials: Whiteboard, paper, paper aeroplane instructions.

1) Elicit: Write the word happiness on the board. Ask students what makes them happy?

• Write answers with the gerund or infinitive and the noun e.g learning to speak languages,
• Students then discuss each of the phrases and say if it makes them happy.

2) Demo/grammar auction: Write down some sentences that are correct and some that are incorrect.

• Students do a grammar auction.
• Quickly explain which verbs preceed a geund and which preceed an infinitive (You can change the verbs depending on what level the students are and what they are studying etc).

3) Receptive skills reading: Students Write an activity that makes them happy on a piece of paper in the gerund form (explain that gerunds can function as nouns and activities).

• Students read some instructions on how to make paper aeroplanes.
• First they read for gist to tell you what the article is about.
• Second they read for specific detail and find the infinitives. (explain that often infinitives talk about process). 
• Third they read and build a paper aeroplane with the paper.
• Finally they throw the paper aeroplanes and each collect a different paper aeroplane. They then read and share the advice.

4) Homework: Students  complete the activities and say how it made them feel.