Gerunds & Infinitives
Lessons targeting one of the most important and sometimes challenging grammar points for English learners: when to use the –ing form versus the infinitive form of a verb. The series is carefully sequenced to help learners identify, practice, and master the rules and patterns in a step-by-step way.
The features mentioned in this article are available to all Teachers on paid and free subscriptions. However, only a limited number of lessons are available on free subscriptions.
Table of contents
What are Gerunds & Infinitives lessons?
Gerunds & Infinitives lessons target one of the most important and sometimes challenging grammar points for English learners: when to use the –ing form versus the infinitive form of a verb. The series is carefully sequenced to help learners identify, practice, and master the rules and patterns in a step-by-step way. The series is designed as standalone lessons, giving teachers the flexibility to introduce or review individual points as needed. The series covers:
- Key concepts – Identifying gerunds (e.g., swimming is fun) and infinitives (e.g., I like to read)
- Verbs followed by infinitives or gerunds – Including cases where only one form is correct (want to go, enjoy playing)
- Verbs followed by either form with a change in meaning – (remember doing vs. remember to do)
- Verbs followed by an object + infinitive or gerund – (ask someone to help, stop someone from going)
- Expressions and clauses – Including those followed by gerunds (be used to doing) or that-clauses
- Special verb categories – Such as causative verbs (make/let/have someone do something)
- Consolidation and practice lessons – Opportunities to apply the rules in extended speaking and writing activities
Target students
As general English lessons focused on specific language points, Gerunds & Infinitives can be used with all students who need to practice these language points. However, due to the complexity of the grammar covered, they are most appropriate for intermediate (CEFR B1+, WIDA Expanding) and higher proficiency levels. Teachers can use the lessons to introduce new concepts to students, fill gaps in student knowledge, or reinforce previously taught grammar.
Key features
All Gerunds & Infinitives lessons feature:
- Easy-to-follow explanations: Language points are introduced in a logical and easy-to-understand way with numerous relevant examples, meaning students can quickly understand the target language rules.
- Extensive practice: Throughout the lessons, students have regular opportunities to practice the target language, developing both accuracy and fluency.
- Productive activities: Lessons include relevant writing and speaking tasks, allowing students to apply the target language in meaningful contexts.
Lesson details & links
The lesson name (with link) and objectives are listed below for a quick overview of each lesson. Click a lesson name to launch it directly from this article. To see a spreadsheet of all Off2Class lessons, click here.
| Lesson & Link | Objectives |
| G1.1 - Intro-to-Gerunds - 1 | At the end of the lesson, students can identify gerunds and how to form them. Students can differentiate between gerunds and present participles. Students can present common complement constructions (e.g. he likes swimming). ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.2 - Intro-to-Infinitives - 2 | At the end of the lesson, students can identify the infinitive form and its basic uses. Students can use adjectives followed by infinitives to give opinions. Students can use too + adjective + infinitive. ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.3 - Verbs-Followed-by-Infinitives - 3 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs commonly followed by infinitives. ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.4 - Verbs-Followed-by-Gerunds - 4 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs commonly followed by gerunds. ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.5 - Verbs-Followed-by-Infinitives-and-Gerunds - 5 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs that are followed by gerunds or infinitives with no change in meaning (e.g. like, love, hate, prefer, can’t bear, can’t stand, begin, start, continue) ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.6 - Verbs-Followed-by-an-Object-and-Infinitive - 6 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs commonly followed by an object and infinitive (e.g. advise, allow, challenge, convince, encourage, forbid, force, instruct, invite, motivate, order, permit, persuade, remind, require, tell, teach, urge, warn, ask, beg, expect, need, prepare, promise, trust, want, would like) ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.7 - Verbs-Followed-by-an-Object-and-Gerund-or-Bare-Infinitive - 7 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs followed by objects and gerunds and verbs that are followed by bare infinitives (e.g. appreciate, can’t stand, dislike, dread, imagine, like, love, mind, miss, recall, regret, resent, risk, remember) ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.8 - Verbs-Followed-by-Gerund-or-Infinitive-With-Change-In-Meaning - 8 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs followed by gerunds or infinitives, where there is a change in meaning between the two. ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.9 - Expressions-Followed-by-Gerund - 9 | At the end of the lesson, students can use expressions that are typically followed by gerunds (e.g. Have some problems, Have a good/hard/easy time, Have difficulty, Have fun, Waste one’s time, Spend one’s time, Look forward to, Confess to, Adjust to, Object to, Devote to, Addicted to, Committed to, Opposed to, Dedicated to, Used to / Accustomed to) ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.10 - Verbs-Followed-by-a-That-Clause - 10 | At the end of the lesson, students can use verbs commonly followed by that clauses, including verbs of thinking and saying. (e.g. wish, imagine) ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
| G1.11 - Practice-With-Gerunds-And-Infinitives - 11 | At the end of the lesson, students can have a stronger understanding of verbs followed by gerunds and infinitives. ELD-SI.4-12.Narrate Share ideas about one’s own and others’ lived experiences and previous learning |
| G2.1 - Causative-Verbs - 1 | At the end of the lesson, students can form and use causative verbs (verb + object + bare infinitive), (e.g. My brother let me drive his car). ELD-LA .9-12 .Inform .Interpretive Analyze descriptions and inferences in textual evidence for key attributes, qualities, characteristics, activities, and conceptual relationships |
From 7 Oct 2025, the updated lessons replace the original Gerunds & Infinitives lessons in the drop-down menu in the Lesson Library. However, the original lessons can still be accessed from the search bar and the Teacher Panel for a 5-week transition period. From 11 Nov 2025, the original lessons are no longer accessible.