Activity 1: Warm-up · 5 minutes
Sorting Verbs: Which Pattern?
a) Aims
Ss activate prior knowledge of verbs and recall the idea that some verbs are followed by to-infinitive and others by V-ing.
b) Content
T writes eight verbs on the board: decide, hope, want, plan, enjoy, avoid, finish, mind. T asks Ss to guess which verbs go with to-infinitive and which go with V-ing. Ss work individually for one minute, then compare with a partner.
c) Expected outcomes
Ss’ predicted groups:
- To-infinitive group: decide, hope, want, plan
- V-ing group: enjoy, avoid, finish, mind
S’ guesses are checked and kept on the board for later reference.
d) Organisation
Teacher's activities
Students' activities
Teacher
Step 1: Task delivering
T writes the eight verbs on the board and says: 'Look at these verbs. Which ones are followed by to-infinitive and which by V-ing? Guess first.' T gives one minute.
Students
Ss look at the verbs and quietly decide which group each verb belongs to.
Teacher
Step 2: Task performance
T asks Ss to turn to a partner and compare their guesses. T walks around and listens.
Students
Ss compare their guesses in pairs, e.g. 'I think decide goes with to-infinitive because we say decide to do something.'
Teacher
Step 3: Report and discussion
T invites two or three pairs to share their groups and writes the suggested groups on the board. T asks: 'Why do you think so?'
Students
Ss report, e.g. 'We think hope and want take to-infinitive. We think enjoy and avoid take V-ing.'
Teacher
Step 4: Conclusion and assessment
T praises the good guesses, says that today's lesson will check the patterns, and keeps the board groups for reference.
Students
Ss listen and note the title of the lesson: Verb patterns.