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This is a lesson plan for intermediate students to practice different uses of the infinitive through games and conversation.

You will need the lesson plan, students worksheet and articulate cards.

Infinitives Lesson Plan

Infinitives students sheet

Articulate Object Cards

Warmer

Play the classic memory game: “I went to the shops to buy…”

Teacher starts: “I went to the shops to buy a loaf of bread” (encourage use of partitives – loaf of bread, bar of soap, carton of milk etc.)

Next student must repeat the sentence and add another item, continue until you have a huge shopping list of items.

Infinitives of purpose

Have students repeat back the sentences “I went to the shops to buy…”

Ask them what the infinitive expresses? Purpose/reason, introduce the title: infinitives of purpose. Students complete the matching exercise.

Match the sentences halves 1-6 a-f to make sentences using the infinitive of purpose.

1.       I go to the gym 3 times a week	a.       To give to her mother.
2.       I went to the supermarket	b.      To see the new Woody Allen film.
3.       We went to the cinema	c.       To do the weekly shop.
4.       I drove all night just	d.      To clean underneath it.
5.       He lifted up the sofa	e.      To keep fit.
6.       She bought chocolates	f.        To see you.

Key: 1-e, 2-c, 3-b, 4-f, 5-d, 6-a.

In these sentences we can also use “in order to” to be more formal.

We often use “so as” with a negative infinitive to express purpose.

She’s leaving now so as not to arrive late.

1.       She entered the house quietly	a.       So as not to hurt his feelings.
2.       He turned the volume down	b.      So as not to wake the children.
3.       She stopped eating chocolate	c.       So as not to burn the onions.
4.       They told him the terrible picture was lovely	d.      So as not to miss the start of the film.
5.       He turned the heat down	e.      So as not to annoy the neighbours.
6.       They hurried	f.        So as not to put on weight.

Key: 1-b, 2-e, 3-f, 4-a, 5-c, 6-d.

Game – Articulate

Cut up the object cards on the hand out. Split class into teams. Each team has 1 minute to describe the objects on the cards using an infinitive of purpose:

It’s an object we use to eat soup. Spoon!

For each card they get 1 point.

Verbs with infinitives

The following verbs are all followed by the infinitive. Use them to answer the questions below.

Decide

Want

Need

Would like/love

Learn

Pretend

Promise

Forget + an obligation

1. What did you want to be when you were a child?
2. Do you always keep your promises?
3. Have you ever broken a promise?
4. When did you learn to ride a bike?
5. Have you ever forgotten to lock your door?
6. Have you ever forgotten to pick up your keys?
7. What’s the worst thing you’ve ever forgotten to do?
8. Who did you pretend to be when you were playing as a child?
9. Have you made any big decisions recently? What have you decided to do?
10. What would you like/love to do this year?
11. What do you want to have for dinner tonight? What do you think you will have?
12. Is there anything important you need to do this week? Do you think you will do it?