Extension Exercises

Index | Chapter 11 - Infinitive and -ing forms of verbs | Possible Answers

Course materials

Study the Contents pages and indexes of course materials that you use or have access to.

1. How easy is it to find where attention is paid to infinitive and -ing forms?
2. Is this topic classified under grammar or vocabulary?
3. Is the topic considered systematically?
4. Is a distinction made between gerunds and present participles?
5. Is a distinction made between full and bare infinitives?
6. Does the material guide learners to analyse the use of infinitive and -ing forms in authentic contexts?
7. Does the material provide learners with the opportunity to choose appropriate forms?

Exploring how learners use English

Devise a very brief test/questionnaire to discover how aware your students are of this area of grammar, and devise a diagnostic test to discover exactly what kinds of problems this area of grammar poses them. The awareness test/questionnaire might ask the students to identify and correct typical mistakes (for example, * I advised him going...), and to comment on how they recognise that these are mistakes. The diagnostic test might consist of a list of sentences to demonstrate the main uses of infinitive and -ing forms. In each case, the students have to choose which form is appropriate (for example, I wanted him going/to go).

Over a period of time teach a range of the major uses of infinitive and -ing forms. Repeat the diagnostic test and discuss the results with your students.

Possible Answers