Blog Post 3

Before writing your blog post today, let's review a little grammar:

Comparing Gerunds and Infinitives

The difference in the form of gerunds and infinitives is quite clear just from comparing the following lists:

• Gerunds: swimming, hoping, telling, eating, dreaming
• Infinitives: to swim, to hope, to tell, to eat, to dream

Their functions, however, overlap. Gerunds always function as nouns, but infinitives often also serve as nouns. Deciding which to use can be confusing in many situations, especially for people whose first language is not English.

Confusion between gerunds and infinitives occurs primarily in cases in which one or the other functions as the direct object in a sentence. In English some verbs take gerunds as verbal direct objects exclusively while other verbs take only infinitives and still others can take either. Many such verbs are listed below, organized according to which kind of verbal direct object they take.

Verbs that take only infinitives as verbal direct objects

agree	decide	expect	hesitate
learn	need	promise	neglect
hope	want	plan	attempt
propose	intend	pretend

Examples:

I hope to go on a vacation soon.
(not: I hope going on a vacation soon.*)

He promised to go on a diet.
(not: He promised going on a diet. *)

They agreed to sign the treaty.
(not: They agreed signing the treaty.*)

Because she was nervous, she hesitated to speak.
(not: Because she was nervous, she hesitated speaking.*)

They will attempt to resuscitate the victim
(not: They will attempt resuscitating the victim.*)

Verbs that take only gerunds as verbal direct objects

deny	risk	delay	consider
can't help	keep	give up	be fond of
finish	quit	put off	practice
postpone	tolerate	suggest	stop (quit)
regret	enjoy	keep (on)	dislike
admit	avoid	recall	mind
miss	detest	appreciate	recommend
get/be through	get/be tired of	get/be accustomed to	get/be used to

Examples:

They always avoid drinking before driving.
(not: They always avoid to drink before driving.*)

I recall asking her that question.
(not: I recall to ask her that question.*)

She put off buying a new jacket.
(not: She put off to buy a new jacket.*)

Mr. Allen enjoys cooking.
(not: Mr. Allen enjoys to cook.*)

Charles keeps calling her.
(not: Charles keeps to call her.*)

Now go to http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_verbform2.htm and test yourself with the quiz.

For today:

1. Write about a career-related web site you enjoy visiting (150 words).

You should:

- provide a link
- say how you found the site
- say how often you visit the site
- use at least one gerund form and one infinitive form--make them bold!

and explain why you like the site.

Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs

Blog Post 3

Before writing your blog post today, let's review a little grammar:

Comparing Gerunds and Infinitives

The difference in the form of gerunds and infinitives is quite clear just from comparing the following lists:

• Gerunds: swimming, hoping, telling, eating, dreaming
• Infinitives: to swim, to hope, to tell, to eat, to dream

Their functions, however, overlap. Gerunds always function as nouns, but infinitives often also serve as nouns. Deciding which to use can be confusing in many situations, especially for people whose first language is not English.

Confusion between gerunds and infinitives occurs primarily in cases in which one or the other functions as the direct object in a sentence. In English some verbs take gerunds as verbal direct objects exclusively while other verbs take only infinitives and still others can take either. Many such verbs are listed below, organized according to which kind of verbal direct object they take.

Verbs that take only infinitives as verbal direct objects

agree	decide	expect	hesitate
learn	need	promise	neglect
hope	want	plan	attempt
propose	intend	pretend

Examples:

I hope to go on a vacation soon.
(not: I hope going on a vacation soon.*)

He promised to go on a diet.
(not: He promised going on a diet. *)

They agreed to sign the treaty.
(not: They agreed signing the treaty.*)

Because she was nervous, she hesitated to speak.
(not: Because she was nervous, she hesitated speaking.*)

They will attempt to resuscitate the victim
(not: They will attempt resuscitating the victim.*)

Verbs that take only gerunds as verbal direct objects

deny	risk	delay	consider
can't help	keep	give up	be fond of
finish	quit	put off	practice
postpone	tolerate	suggest	stop (quit)
regret	enjoy	keep (on)	dislike
admit	avoid	recall	mind
miss	detest	appreciate	recommend
get/be through	get/be tired of	get/be accustomed to	get/be used to

Examples:

They always avoid drinking before driving.
(not: They always avoid to drink before driving.*)

I recall asking her that question.
(not: I recall to ask her that question.*)

She put off buying a new jacket.
(not: She put off to buy a new jacket.*)

Mr. Allen enjoys cooking.
(not: Mr. Allen enjoys to cook.*)

Charles keeps calling her.
(not: Charles keeps to call her.*)

Now go to http://esl.about.com/library/quiz/bl_verbform2.htm and test yourself with the quiz.

For today:

1. Write about a career-related web site you enjoy visiting (150 words).

You should:

- provide a link
- say how you found the site
- say how often you visit the site
- use at least one gerund form and one infinitive form--make them bold!

and explain why you like the site.

Add comments to at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs

Blog 2

Write about your favourite piece of technology.

Say:

What it is.
When you got it.
How you use it.
How often you use it.
Why you like it.
What life would be like with out it.

(150 words minimum)
Include a picture.

Comment on at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs.

Introduction

Hello, All!

Welcome to our class blog. We will use this page to publish assignments and tips for blogging in English. I suspect many of you already have experience blogging, and if you would like to add your own tips to this page, just comment below.

Should I comment on others' blogs? Yes!

Once you have completed your own blog post, take a few minutes to look at the posts your classmates have made. If you like, you may link to each other's blogs or use this class homepage to find others' blogs.

First Blog Assignment:

1. Follow the instructions and create your blog. Make sure you select English as your working language and activate the comments option (automatic by default).

2. Link your teacher’s blog and ALL your classmates’ blogs. To do this you will need to write your URL on the whiteboard.

3. Write a short introductory post.

Say:
Who you are and what English learning objectives you hope to achieve through using your blog (50 words minimum).

4. Leave comments on at least 3 of your classmates’ blogs.

5. Personalize your blog (e.g. add a presentation, survey, change colour fonts, etc).