Introduction
Welcome to your first webquest!
In this short exercise, you will get familiar with a very important aspect of English grammar that always gives us a hard time: when do we use gerunds or infinitive forms of verbs?
Before you start, I would like you to click here to check a very brief and quick explanation of what their differences are. Once you have checked the website, you can proceed to the task section.
The task section will tell you the general objective and final product for this webquest. The process shows the exact steps to follow; please read them all before starting. Finally, the evaluation section will show the rubric I'll use for your final product.
Good luck!
Task
Objective
To identify the different functional uses of gerunds and infinitives in English via the exploration of web resources.
By the end of this webquest you...
will have created a live presentation explaining the functional difference between gerunds and infinitives. you may use different resources, and the only condition is that your voice must be heard.
Process
READ ALL THE INSTRUCTIONS BEFORE STARTING!
Before you start, choose your presentation form:
- Video
- Automated power point presentation
- Powtoon
- Any other option you may know
Do not use Google Translate!
Use "Define:" on Google, Merriam-Webster or Dictionary.com to find the definition of new words.
1. Gerunds
- Click here to see the generalities of the use of gerunds in English.
- Find two more links and one video that talk about the use of gerunds and see if they complement, expand or contradict the information found in the first link.
- Save the links to use them as references of your final work.
- Create the first part of your presentation, in which you explain the generalities and uses of gerunds in English.
- This part of your presentation should last between 3 and 5 minutes.
2. Infinitives
- Click here to see the generalities of the use of infinitives in English.
- Find two more links and one video that talk about the use of infinitives and see if they complement, expand or contradict the information found in the first link.
- Save the links to use them as references of your final work.
- Create the first part of your presentation, in which you explain the generalities and uses of infinitives in English.
- This part of your presentation should last between 3 and 5 minutes.
3. Verb patterns
- To finish up, click here and here to take a quick look at verb patterns (verbs that require either a gerund or an infinitive immediately after using them.
- In the final part of your presentation, between 3 and 5 minutes, you should answer the following questions:
- What do the verbs that require an infinitive have in common?
- What do the verbs that require an infinitive have in common?
- What do the verbs that can be used with either choice have in common?
4. Polish it up!
- Proofread your presentation. Today, you will only need to send me your outline (script), and you can finish it up and have it ready for next Tuesday. This is going to be your oral midterm exam.
- Send your outline to my institutional e-mail.
Enjoy!
Evaluation
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
| Creativity | Images are generic and cause no impact or are too few | Images show some resourcing but are not enough or cause little impact | Images are related with the topic and cause some impact | Images are related with the topic and cause impact, but the layout is somewhat simple | Images are shocking/impressive and the layout of the presentation is unique |
| Accuracy | No sentence uses correct grammar | Less than half the sentences use correct grammar | Half the sentences use correct grammar | Most sentences use correct grammar | All sentences use correct grammar |
| Coherence | Images show no relationship with the notes | Few images show a relationship with the notes | Some images show a relationship with the notes | Most images show a relationship with the notes | All images show a relationship with the notes |
| Completeness | One or two slides created |
Three slides created | Four or five slides created |
Six or seven slides created |
All slides were created |
| Resourcing | No references to new websites | One new website was referenced | Two or three new websites were referenced | Four to five new websites were referenced | All six new websites were referenced |
Conclusion
Thinking about abstract and concrete actions allows us to know how and when to use these forms. Hopefully, your own research and reading will enable you to improve your skills in this aspect of English grammar.
Credits
https://www.fluentu.com/blog/english/gerunds-and-infinitives/
https://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/gerund/
https://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/infinitive/
http://grammar.ccc.commnet.edu/grammar/gerunds.htm
https://www.engvid.com/english-resource/verbs-followed-by-gerunds-and-i…