Complex Forms of Infinitives and Gerunds

Grammar Lesson Plan: Complex Forms of Infinitives and Gerunds

Level: B2+/C1 (11th grade, English profile)
Age: 16–17 years
Duration: 45 minutes
Topic: Gadgets and Apps for Exam Preparation
Grammar Focus: Complex forms of infinitives and gerunds (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, passive)
Social Focus: Building confidence, collaboration, and self-reflection

Lesson Objectives

• Grammar: Students will be able to identify and use complex forms of infinitives and gerunds in the context of exam preparation.
• Vocabulary: Students will learn and use B2+/C1 vocabulary related to gadgets, apps, and studying (e.g., transform, empower, harness).
• Students will build confidence in their grammar skills, collaborate effectively in pairs/groups, and reflect on their learning progress.

Materials

• Handouts with activities (Pre-Reading, Matching, Choose the Correct Form, Gap-Fill, Semi-Controlled Practice, Freer Practice)
• Whiteboard or projector for examples and instructions
• Timer for time management
• Stickers or small rewards for motivation (optional)

Lesson Plan

1. Warm-Up (5 minutes)

Objective: Engage students emotionally, activate prior knowledge, and set a positive tone.

• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Greet the class warmly: “Hello, my amazing students! Today we’re diving into a topic that’s super relevant for you – gadgets and apps for exam prep, like the NMT. But we’ll also master some tricky grammar: complex forms of infinitives and gerunds!”
  • Ask a question to build confidence: “Raise your hand if you’ve ever used an app to study for an exam. How did it make you feel – more confident or stressed?” (Encourage 2–3 students to share briefly.)
  • Transition: “Great! Today, you’ll not only learn how to use gadgets for studying but also how to express your ideas using advanced grammar. Let’s get started!”

2. Pre-Reading Activity (5 minutes)

Objective: Activate background knowledge and introduce the topic.

• Activity: Pre-Reading Activity: Smartphones and Studying
  • Instructions (from the task): Discuss in pairs:
    1. How often do you use your smartphone for studying, and what apps do you find most helpful for preparing for exams like the NMT?
    2. Can you think of any creative ways to use your smartphone to improve your English skills, such as vocabulary or grammar, instead of playing games or using social media?
• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Display the questions on the board/projector.
  • Give students 2 minutes to discuss in pairs, then ask 2 pairs to share their ideas with the class.
  • Provide feedback: “I love that you mentioned Quizlet – it’s a great app! Let’s see what other apps and techniques we can explore in our text.”
• Encourage collaboration by praising teamwork: “You worked so well together – I can see you’re ready to learn more!”

3. Matching Activity: Rules to Examples (7 minutes)

Objective: Introduce complex forms of infinitives and gerunds by matching rules to examples.

• Activity: Matching Activity: Gerunds and Infinitives – Match the Rule to the Example
  • Instructions (from the task): Match each example (1–12) to the correct rule (a–l).
  • Examples include: I enjoy using Quizlet to learn new words. (simple gerund), She is proud to have been chosen for the English competition. (perfect passive infinitive), etc.
• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Hand out the activity or display it on the board.
  • Give students 4 minutes to work in pairs to match the examples to the rules.
  • Check answers as a class by asking pairs to explain one match: “Why did you match ‘I’m excited to be preparing’ with rule e?” (Answer: “It’s a continuous infinitive because the action is happening now.”)
  • Provide feedback: “Excellent! You’re already recognizing these forms – let’s practice using them now.”
• Build confidence by praising effort: “I’m so impressed with how quickly you identified these forms – you’re on the right track!”

4. Choose the Correct Form (7 minutes)

Objective: Practice selecting the correct form of gerunds or infinitives in controlled sentences.

• Activity: Choose the Correct Form: Gerunds and Infinitives
  • Instructions (from the task): Choose the correct form in each sentence (e.g., She is proud to have been chosen / to having been chosen for the English competition.).
  • Sentences include: I’m proud to have been preparing / to having been preparing for the NMT for months., etc.
• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Hand out the activity or display it on the board.
  • Give students 4 minutes to work in pairs to circle the correct option.
  • Check answers by asking students to read one sentence and explain their choice: “Why did you choose to have been preparing in sentence 9?” (Answer: “It’s a perfect continuous infinitive showing an ongoing past action.”)
  • Provide feedback: “Well done! You’re getting the hang of these forms. Let’s try filling in some blanks next.”
• Encourage self-reflection: “How did you feel choosing between these forms? Did it get easier as you went along?”

5. Gap-Fill Activity (7 minutes)

Objective: Practice forming complex gerunds and infinitives in a controlled context.

• Activity: Gap-Fill Activity: Gerunds and Infinitives – Fill in the Blanks
  • Instructions (from the task): Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the gerund or infinitive (e.g., She was proud ________ (choose) for the English Olympiad last year.).
  • Answers include: to have been chosen (perfect passive infinitive), not having practiced (perfect gerund), etc.
• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Hand out the activity or display it on the board.
  • Give students 4 minutes to work individually to fill in the blanks.
  • Pair students to compare answers, then check as a class by asking volunteers to read their sentences: “What did you write for sentence 1?” (Answer: to have been chosen.)
  • Provide feedback: “Great job! You’re using these forms more confidently now. Let’s get more creative!”
• Foster collaboration: “I love how you helped each other check your answers – teamwork makes the dream work!”

6. Semi-Controlled Practice (8 minutes)

Objective: Practice forming complex gerunds and infinitives with more freedom.

• Activity: Semi-Controlled Practice: Gerunds and Infinitives – Complete the Sentences
  • Instructions (from the task): Complete each sentence with your own ideas using the specified form (e.g., She regrets… (perfect gerund) → She regrets having failed to join a study group last semester.).
  • Sentences include: I’m excited… (continuous infinitive), The app is believed… (perfect continuous infinitive), etc.
• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Hand out the activity or display it on the board.
  • Give students 5 minutes to work in pairs to complete the sentences.
  • Ask 2–3 pairs to share one of their sentences with the class: “What did you write for sentence 4?” (Possible answer: I’m excited to be learning new vocabulary with Quizlet right now.)
  • Provide feedback: “I love your creativity! You’re using these forms so well. Let’s move to our final task where you can be even more creative.”
• Build confidence: “You’re doing amazing – I can see how much more confident you are with these forms now!”

7. Freer Practice and Wrap-Up (6 minutes)

Objective: Allow students to use complex forms creatively, reflect on their learning, and set a goal with homework.

• Activity: Freer Practice: Gadgets and Apps for Exam Preparation
  • Instructions (from the task): Write a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) about how gadgets and apps help with exam prep, using at least 4 different complex forms of gerunds or infinitives. Underline and label the forms (e.g., I’m thrilled to have been preparing (perfect continuous infinitive)).
  • Example: I love using (simple gerund) apps like Duolingo to enhance (simple infinitive) my grammar skills every day.
• Teacher’s Actions:
  • Give students 4 minutes to write their paragraphs individually.
  • Ask 1–2 students to share their paragraphs with the class: “Who wants to share their blog post? Let’s hear it!”
  • Provide Feedback: “Fantastic work, everyone! I love how you used to have been preparing and being challenged – those forms are spot on, and your ideas are so creative! You’ve really shown that you can use complex forms of infinitives and gerunds confidently, and I can see how much progress you’ve made today.”
  • Ask a reflective question: “What’s one thing you learned today about using gadgets for studying or about infinitives and gerunds? How do you feel about your progress?” (Encourage 2–3 students to share.)
  • End on a positive note: “You’ve all done an incredible job today! I’m so proud of how you tackled these tricky forms and shared such great ideas. Keep using your gadgets wisely, and you’ll ace the NMT!”
• Homework Assignment:
  • “For homework, I’d like you to write a short blog post (8–10 sentences) titled ‘My Favorite Gadget for Exam Success.’ Describe how you use a gadget or app to prepare for exams, and use at least 5 different complex forms of gerunds or infinitives (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, or passive). Underline and label each form, just like we did in class. For example, you might write: I’m excited to be using (continuous infinitive) my laptop for studying. Bring your blog post to the next class – I can’t wait to read your ideas!”
  • “As you write, think about how using these gadgets makes you feel – more confident, motivated, or maybe less stressed? We’ll share some of your reflections in the next lesson.”
• (Optional): Give out stickers or small rewards to motivate students.

Timing Breakdown

• Warm-Up: 5 minutes
• Pre-Reading Activity: 5 minutes
• Matching Activity: 7 minutes
• Choose the Correct Form: 7 minutes
• Gap-Fill Activity: 7 minutes
• Semi-Controlled Practice: 8 minutes
• Freer Practice, Feedback, Homework, and Wrap-Up: 6 minutes
  Total: 45 minutes

Elements Incorporated

• Social-Emotional Learning:
  • Building confidence through positive reinforcement (“You’re doing amazing!”).
  • Encouraging collaboration in pair/group work.
  • Promoting self-reflection with questions like “How did you feel choosing between these forms?”
• Teaching Approach:
  • Gradual progression from controlled to freer practice (matching → choose → gap-fill → semi-controlled → freer).
  • Contextual learning (gadgets and apps for NMT prep) to make grammar relevant.
  • Interactive and student-centered activities to keep engagement high.

Notes for the Teacher

• Monitor pair/group work to ensure all students are participating. If some students finish early, ask them to create an extra example for the form they just practiced.
• Be flexible with timing – if students need more time for a task, adjust by shortening the wrap-up.
• Use the SELTA questions to create a supportive atmosphere, especially for students who might feel nervous about grammar.

**

Student Worksheet: Complex Forms of Infinitives and Gerunds

Level: B2+/C1
Topic: Gadgets and Apps for Exam Preparation
Grammar Focus: Complex forms of infinitives and gerunds (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, passive)

1. Pre-Reading Activity: Smartphones and Studying

Instructions:
Before reading the text "Smartphones: Revolutionize Your NMT Prep with Tech Magic!", discuss these questions with a partner. Be ready to share your ideas with the class!

Example:

• Q: How often do you use your smartphone for studying?
• A: I use my smartphone every day for studying. I like Quizlet because it helps me learn new words.

1. How often do you use your smartphone for studying, and what apps do you find most helpful for preparing for exams like the NMT?
2. Can you think of any creative ways to use your smartphone to improve your English skills, such as vocabulary or grammar, instead of playing games or using social media?

2. Matching Activity: Gerunds and Infinitives – Match the Rule to the Example

Instructions:
Match each example (1–12) to the correct rule (a–l) by writing the letter next to the example. Work in pairs.

Example:

• I love studying English. – a (Simple gerunds describe an action in the present or a general action.)

Rules:
a) Simple gerunds describe an action in the present or a general action.
b) Simple infinitives describe a present or future action.
c) Passive simple gerunds describe actions done to the subject in the present.
d) Passive simple infinitives describe actions done to the subject in the present or future.
e) Continuous infinitives describe an action in progress at the present time.
f) Passive continuous infinitives describe an ongoing action done to the subject at the present time.
g) Perfect gerunds emphasize a completed action in the past.
h) Perfect infinitives show an action completed before the main verb.
i) Passive perfect gerunds describe a completed action in the past done to the subject.
j) Passive perfect infinitives describe a completed action in the past done to the subject.
k) Perfect continuous infinitives show an ongoing action in the past up to a later time.
l) Passive perfect continuous infinitives describe an ongoing past action done to the subject up to a later time.

Examples:

1. I enjoy using Quizlet to learn new words. ______
2. She wants to improve her Reading skills for the NMT. ______
3. He doesn’t like being told to study more. ______
4. This app needs to be updated before the exam. ______
5. I’m excited to be preparing for the NMT with my friends right now. ______
6. They love to be helping their classmates during study sessions. ______
7. She regrets having missed the chance to join a study group. ______
8. I’m happy to have finished my NMT preparation early. ______
9. He denied having been offered a chance to cheat on the test. ______
10. She is proud to have been chosen for the English competition. ______
11. I’m glad to have been practicing Use of English tasks for weeks. ______
12. They are thought to have been hiding their study techniques for months. ______

3. Choose the Correct Form: Gerunds and Infinitives

Instructions:
Choose the correct form of the gerund or infinitive in each sentence. Circle the correct option.

Example:

• I’m happy to be studying / to having been studying English right now.
  (Correct: to be studying – continuous infinitive)

1. She was thrilled to have been accepted / to having been accepted into the advanced English program last month.
2. I regret not studying / to not have studied harder before the NMT Reading section.
3. He seems to be working / to have been working on his Use of English skills all week.
4. They denied being involved / to have been involved in cheating during the exam.
5. I’m happy to be helping / to having helped my classmates with their vocabulary practice right now.
6. She would rather to have joined / have joined a study group last semester to improve her scores.
7. The app is believed to have been helping / to having been helping students to improve / improving their grammar for years.
8. He doesn’t mind being guided / to be guided by his peers in the Discord study group.
9. I’m proud to have been preparing / to having been preparing for the NMT for months.
10. The teacher expects the students to be recognized / to having been recognized for their hard work at the end of the year.

4. Gap-Fill Activity: Gerunds and Infinitives – Fill in the Blanks

Instructions:
Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the gerund or infinitive (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, or passive) using the verb in parentheses. Use complex forms where appropriate.

Example:

• I’m glad ________ (finish) my homework early.
  (Answer: to have finished – perfect infinitive)

1. She was proud ________ (choose) for the English Olympiad last year.
2. I regret ________ (not practice) Use of English tasks more before the NMT.
3. He seems ________ (work) on his Reading skills for weeks, but he still struggles.
4. They denied ________ (involve) in any cheating scandals during the exam.
5. I’m excited ________ (help) my classmates with their vocabulary practice right now.
6. She would rather ________ (join) a study group last semester to boost her confidence.
7. The app is believed ________ (help) students ________ (improve) their grammar for years.
8. He doesn’t mind ________ (guide) by his peers in the online study group.
9. I’m glad ________ (prepare) for the NMT for months, so I feel ready now.
10. The teacher expects the students ________ (recognize) for their hard work at the ceremony.

5. Semi-Controlled Practice: Gerunds and Infinitives – Complete the Sentences

Instructions:
Complete each sentence by adding your own ideas. Use the specified form of the gerund or infinitive (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, or passive) in your answer. Make sure your sentence makes sense in the context of studying, technology, or preparing for the NMT.

Example:

• I’m proud… (perfect continuous infinitive)
  Answer: I’m proud to have been studying English for months to prepare for the NMT.

1. She regrets… (perfect gerund)
2. He seems… (perfect continuous infinitive)
3. They denied… (perfect passive gerund)
4. I’m excited… (continuous infinitive)
5. She would rather… (perfect infinitive)
6. The app is believed… (perfect continuous infinitive)
7. He doesn’t mind… (simple passive gerund)
8. I’m glad… (perfect passive infinitive)
9. The teacher expects the students… (simple passive infinitive)
10. They are thought… (perfect continuous infinitive)
11. I’m happy… (continuous infinitive)
12. She was thrilled… (perfect passive gerund)

6. Freer Practice: Gadgets and Apps for Exam Preparation

Instructions:
Imagine you are creating a blog post or a presentation about how gadgets and apps can help students prepare for exams like the NMT. Write a short paragraph (5–6 sentences) about your experience or ideas. Use at least 4 different complex forms of gerunds or infinitives (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, or passive) in your paragraph. Underline the gerunds and infinitives you use, and label them (e.g., perfect infinitive, passive gerund). Be creative and share your thoughts on apps, gadgets, or study techniques!

Example:
I’ve always been excited to be using (continuous infinitive) my smartphone to improve (simple infinitive) my English skills for the NMT. Last year, I was proud to have been chosen (perfect passive infinitive) for a study group where we used Quizlet for mastering (simple gerund) new vocabulary. I also enjoy being guided (simple passive gerund) by my peers on Discord.

Your Paragraph:

Homework

Instructions:
Write a short blog post (8–10 sentences) titled ‘My Favorite Gadget for Exam Success.’ Describe how you use a gadget or app to prepare for exams, and use at least 5 different complex forms of gerunds or infinitives (simple, continuous, perfect, perfect continuous, active, or passive). Underline and label each form, just like we did in class. For example: I’m excited to be using (continuous infinitive) my laptop for studying. Bring your blog post to the next class. As you write, think about how using these gadgets makes you feel – more confident, motivated, or less stressed?