Top 20, Great Grammar for Great Writing, First Edition Teaching Notes

This section outlines a number of things, including the points that beginning a sentencewith an infinitive is not usual and that the structure it + BE + ADJECTIVE is usuallyfollowed by an infinitive. In Exercise 4, students use original thoughts to complete thesentences but are asked to find the function of the infinitive. This type of activity can bedone individually, with students sharing their answers orally to their classmates or on theblackboard.Verbs Commonly Followed by Infinitives (11.3.1)Students often ask if there is an easy way to remember to use gerunds or infinitives.Besides the examples mentioned in the text, there is no single rule that places some verbsin the gerund category and others in the infinitive category. As a result, students shouldbe encouraged to study the lists and practice using them orally and in written form.Exercise 5 serves as editing practice to review the rules already mentioned in the text.Verbs That Need Nouns or Pronouns Before the Infinitive (11.3.2)This section lists verbs that need nouns/pronouns to separate the main verb and theinfinitive. Students should work on Exercise 6 to practice these verbs.Verbs Commonly Followed by Either Gerunds or Infinitives (11.4)This list is by far the easiest for students to master as the verbs highlighted can take eitherthe gerund or infinitive form. Exercise 7 allows students to write original sentences usingboth gerunds and infinitives. These student-generated sentences can be useful tools toshare with the rest of the class. Students may read their sentences out loud or share themon the blackboard.Exercise 8 serves are a review of gerunds and infinitives with students choosing thecorrect answer.Follow up with Exercise 9, Original Writing.2