Speaking: AGREEING & DISAGREEING

Expressing Opinions - How to agree, disagree or show doubts de Mariusz Mirecki

Gerunds & Infinitives

There are certain words in English that are usually followed by an infinitive or gerund. If you are not sure whether to use the infinitive or gerund, check out our lists or look the words up in a dictionary.

Infinitive

Use

Certain words are followed by an infinite verb with or without ‘to’.

Use and Word Lists	Example
as the subject of a clause	To know you is to love you.
after certain expressions (without ‘to’)	Why not go to the cinema?
after certain verbs (without ‘to’)	I can swim.
after certain verbs (with ‘to’)	He wants to swim.
after certain verbs with interrogatives (infinitive constructions)	They don’t know how to swim.
after certain verbs with objects (without ‘to’)	He made her swim.
after certain verbs with objects (with ‘to’)	They wanted him to swim.
after certain adjectives and their comparisons	It’s easier to swim downstream.
after nouns deriving from the verbs mentioned above	We made a promise to swim. (derived from the verb ‘to promise’)

Gerund

Form

ing form of the verb

Exceptions in Spelling

See → Present Progressive – Exceptions

Use

Certain words are followed by an Ing-Form.

Use and Word Lists	Example
as the subject of a clause	Cycling is good for your health.
after certain adjectives	He’s afraid of going by plane.
after certain prepositions	Before going to bed he turned off the lights.
after certain verbs	I enjoy cooking.
after certain verbs with prepositions	I am looking forward to seeing you again.
after certain nouns	We had problems finding our way back home.

Words followed either by Infinitive or Ing-Form

Use and Word Lists	Example
same meaning	I started to read. / I started reading.
same meaning but different use	She forbids us to talk. / She forbids talking.
different meaning	He stopped to smoke. / He stopped smoking.
infinitive or present participle	I saw him go up the stairs. / I saw him going up the stairs.

Exercises and Tests

Infinitive

• Infinitive with / without to • Exercise 2 
• Infinitive Constructions • Exercise 2 

Gerund

• Gerund – Form 
• Gerund used as a subject 

Infinitive / Gerund

• Infinitive or Gerund • Exercise 2 
• Infinitive or Gerund • Exercise 2 
• Infinitive or Gerund • Exercise 2 • Exercise 3 
• Infinitiv and/or Ing-Form 

Tests on Infinitive and Gerund

• Level 1 • Level 2 • Level 3 • Level 4

Gerunds and infinitives 

Reported speech

Reported Speech 

Direct and Reported Speech A) DIRECT SPEECH: words actually spoken; quotation marks. B) REPORTED SPEECH: we only give the meaning of what was said; no quotation marks. C) TELL or SAY? TELL + IO + DO SAY + DO / SAY + TO + IO+ DO TELL always has an indirect object, except in some expressions like tell the time, tell the truth ... Changes in Reported Speech A) Changes of PERSON, TIME and PLACE depend on changes in the situation. The most important changes are: Pronouns I / we................................... he, she / they Time tomorrow ............................ the next / following day yesterday ........................... the day before now .................................... then today / tonight ..................... that day / night this morning ........................ that morning on / next Tuesday ............... the following Tuesday last Tuesday ....................... the previous Tuesday the day after tomorrow.......... in two days time ago...................................... before Place here .................................... there Demonstratives this / that ............................ the B) TENSE CHANGE: Tense change depends on whether the introductory verb is present or past. - If the introductory verb is present, there is no tense change. - If the introductory verb is past, there is often a tense change. If the statement is up to date when we report it, we can leave the same tense or change it. We change the tense if we think the statement may be untrue. In news reports, the tense usually changes. Direct Speech Reported Speech Direct Speech Reported Speech Simple Present ......... Simple Past WILL ...................... WOULD Present Continuous .. Past Continuous CAN ....................... COULD Simple Past ............. Past Perf/S. Past* MAY ...................... MIGHT Past Continuous ...... Past Perf/Past Cont.* MUST .................... HAD TO Present Perfect ........ Past Perfect WOULD NO CHANGE Past Perfect ............ Past Perfect COULD MIGHT SHOULD OUGHT TO       A) Reporting verbs: SAY, TELL, ANNOUNCE, EXCLAIM,... Reported statements B) Introduced by THAT (it can be omitted) C) Pronoun, verb and adverb change Reported questions A) Reporting verbs: ASK, WONDER, WANT TO KNOW B) WH-QUESTIONS: introduced by an INTERROGATIVE PRONOUN (it cannot be omitted) C) YES/NO QUESIONS: introduced by IF or WHETHER (they cannot be omitted) D) Pronoun, verb and adverb change.Word order changes E) EMBEDDED QUESTIONS: Could you tell me ...? Do you know ...? Reported functions (requests, orders, offers, ...) A) REQUESTS: - Reporting verb: ASK, BEG ... - Indirect Object + TO-INFINITIVE / NOT TO-INFINITIVE B) ORDERS: - Reporting verbs: TELL, ORDER, COMMAND ... - Indirect Object + TO-INFINITIVE / NOT TO-INFINITIVE C) OFFERS, SUGGESTIONS ... OFFER PROMISE AGREE REFUSE THREATEN REMIND ADVISE INVITE + TO-INFINITIVE SUGGEST ADMIT INSIST ON APOLOGIZE FOR + -ING D) PROMISE THAT, AGREE THAT ... PROMISE AGREE REMIND WARN ADVISE ADMIT INSIST Reported speech Presentation EXERCISES: 1. 'What do you think of the college?' She asked .........................................  . 2. 'I'll call you later tonight,' Keith promised.  Keith promised that ................................................  . 3. 'I didn't break the window,' said the boy.  The boy denied.....................................................  4. 'Why don't you come this evening?'  She suggested........................................................ . 5. 'You look really tired,' he told her.  He said .......................................................  . 6. 'You must do your homework tonight.' the teacher said.  The teacher told ......................................................  . 7. 'What's your name?' he asked.    He asked ........................................................  . 8. 'I might be late for work.' he told me.  He told ........................................................  . 9.‘Please don’t smoke in here!’  the waiter said to the customers.  The waiter told...................................................... 10. ‘Will it be alright to come over tomorrow?’ he wanted to know. He wanted........................................................................ 11. ‘What has she been doing while I was out?’ asked Susan  Susan asked......................................................................... 12. ‘Who ate the last piece of cake?’ Sue asked. Sue asked............................................................................................ 13. ‘The students were standing outside the classroom, waiting for the teacher to arrive.’ commented Graham. Graham commented............................................................................ 1 "I can't believe what you're saying," Paul told me. 2 "Would you like a cup of tea? she said to the girls. 3 "What time did you arrive in London?" he asked. 4 "I'm sorry to be late, but I missed the bus" she said. 5 "Thank you for the postcard you sent me," she said to Jane. 6 "What were you doing last night at 9.30?" he asked. 7 "I'll show you when I finish," he said. 8 "The film had already started when Peter arrived," she said. 9 "I was having a shower when the phone rang," she said. 10 "You must finish the report today," my boss told me.

Air travelling

• How old were you when you went on your first flight?
  • Where did you go?
• Do you like to travel by airplane?
• What was the longest flight you have ever taken?
• What seat do you prefer: window, center or aisle?
• What are three things you're supposed to do before the flight takes off?
• What do you like to do during the flight?
  • Does the plane provide anything to do to pass the time?
• What are some movies you remember seeing on the plane?
• What do you do when you experience turbulence?
• Have you ever met anyone or established any relationships during a flight?
• What should be done with obese people who practically take up two seats?
• Can you sleep during the flight?
• Have you ever seen a female pilot?
  • Why do you think that most pilots are men?
• Would you like to be a flight attendant?
  • What are the benefits and /or downfalls?
• Are most flight attendants female?
  • Is being a flight attendant considered a good job in your country?
  What do you think are the qualifications?
• Are planes really safer than cars? ( A British study shows that flying is 176 times safer than walking, 15 times safer than driving and 300 times safer than a motorbike.)
• Would you rather have a younger, more beautiful/handsome flight attendant or an older, more experienced one?
• What are the advantages of traveling by airplane?
  • What are the disadvantages?
• Do you know someone who is afraid of flying in an airplane?
• What questions should you ask when buying airplane tickets?
• What is a group rate?
• What is a charter flight?
• What arrangements should you make for pick-up at the airport?
• What things can you see in an airport?
• What questions do they ask you when you check-in at the airport?
• What questions do they ask you when going through immigration and customs at the airport?
• Have you ever seen an airplane crash?
• Have you ever seen terrorists on the plane?
• Have you ever met an annoying person during a flight?
• Have you ever had an accident during a flight?
• Have you ever work as a flight attendant?
• Do you only fly one airline?
• Do you think budget airlines are safe?
• Do you like to fly? Why or why not?
• What is the smallest airplane you have ever been on? How small was it?
• Do you prefer to fly in big planes or small planes? Why?
• Would you like to learn how to fly? Why or why not?
• Do you think being a pilot is a good job? Why or why not?
• Have you ever gone sky-diving? Why or why not?
• Have you or someone you know ever been in a plane crash?
• What would you do if you were on a plane that was crashing?
• Do you like to watch movies or TV about airplane crashes? Why or why not?
• Do you enjoy the foods on airplane?
• What arrangements should you make for pick-up at the airport?
• What things do you see in an airport?
• What questions do they ask when you check-in at the airport?
• What questions do they ask when going through immigration/customs at the airport?
• How much baggage do you take with you?
• What items should not be included in your hand baggage?
• What documents do you need for international travel?
• What airline do you prefer using?
• How was the service on your last flight?
• Do you like airline food?
• Would you pay money for airline food?
• Do you enjoy talking with strangers on an airplane?
• Do you enjoy takeoff / landing?
• What are some airplane disaster movies?
  • Why do you think they are popular?
• How do the pilot and the co-pilot navigate their planes?
• What is a boarding pass?
• When do you pay for airport tax?
• Where can you hang your coats after boarding an airplane? 5. What do you do when you get blocked ears during take off / landing?
• What do you do before take off / landing?
• Where can you smoke while traveling by plane?
• What do you do when you need a flight attendant's assistance?
• How can passengers reduce the risk of deep vein thrombosis?

Quick & Useful Phrases AIR TRAVEL FREE            Download 10 Questions You Might Hear 00:00 00:00 Right Click Here to Download Audio - Save as MP3 File 10 Statements You Might Hear 00:00 00:00 Right Click Here to Download Audio - Save as MP3 File 10 Questions You Might Ask 00:00 00:00 Right Click Here to Download Audio - Save as MP3 File 10 Statements You Might Say 00:00 00:00 Right Click Here to Download Audio - Save as MP3 File SUGGESTION Before handing out these phrases, consider dividing the board into a similar four-section grid and eliciting as many of the phrases that your learners can think of on their own.

Women´s Day 2018

What is International Women’s Day?

International Women’s Day takes place every year on 8 March to celebrate the achievements of women all over the world. It started with a protest that took place in New York City in 1908 where women went out onto the streets to demand the right to vote, shorter working hours and better pay. Since then it has taken many forms and today it’s a global event that is supported by lots of charities, NGOs, governments and academic institutions. In some countries, March 8 is an official holiday and in other countries it’s an official holiday but only for women.

Why do we need an International Women’s Day?

In today's world it may appear that women have all the same opportunities as men. If you watch the news you will see women astronauts, women prime ministers and women leaders in business. However, if you look at the statistics you realise there’s still a long way to go. The BBC did a report a few years ago that showed that in the UK women occupied only 30.9% of the most senior positions across a range of jobs in areas like politics, business and policing. So, although progress has been made since 1908, there is still a lot to do before we see an equal number of men and women in the top jobs and receiving equal pay.  

How is IWD celebrated?

A lot of special events take place in towns and cities to celebrate International Women’s Day. There are exhibitions, theatre shows, talks, discussions, walking tours, films, workshops, fun runs and so much more. All the events are designed to celebrate the role of women in society and to make us all take a step back and think about the progress that has been made, but also about the changes that still need to take place to ensure the world is a fair and equal place for all its citizens. To find out what is happening in your country have a look on the events page of the International Women's Day website. 

Think globally and act locally

The message for women around the world is to ‘think globally and act locally’. This means to learn about some of the key issues that women face around the world and then to try to take action close to home. Emma Watson, the actress who played Hermione in the Harry Potter films, is a great example of someone who is doing something to raise awareness about the issues that women face globally. She has launched a campaign called HeForShe, which aims to get people talking at all levels about gender equality. The aim is to create a ‘gender-equal world’. The HeForShe campaign makes it very clear that it’s the role of men as well as women to make changes in all areas of their lives, both at work and in the family, to help make this possible. With the support of UN Women, the United Nations organisation to support women, Emma’s campaign is surely going to make a big impact.

The future

Can you imagine a future where there’s no need at all to even have an International Women’s Day? Where there is total equality for men and women? Hmmm … something to think about but perhaps in your lifetime this could happen!?

Useful websites:
International Women’s Day: www.internationalwomensday.com
UNWomen: www.unwomen.org
HeForShe: www.heforshe.org
BBC report: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18187449

RECOMMENDED LINKS AROUND THE TOPIC OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY:

5 Minute English: Vocabulary and grammar exercise
ESL Video: Video with comprehension questions on IWD
Women in World History: Reading about the past and the present
Have Fun With Your English: IWD Poem (video and script) by Maya Angelou 
BBC: An interactive quiz on women's rights in British history
News In Levels: International Women's Days - Listening and vocabulary
ESL Holiday Lessons: A reading with follow up activities on IWD
My English Pages: Vocabulary related to women rights and equality
My English Papers: Seven Women Who Changed the World - reading 
The Holiday Spot: A crossword puzzle on IWD with answers
ISL Collective: Worksheets on IWD
ESL Library: A listening podcast on International Women's Day
Word Search Fun: A wordsearch puzzle on IWD
International Womens Day: A printable factsheet
Time For Kids: Worksheet on the History of Women in the Workforce (American)
Time for Kids: An activity worksheet on a women's suffrage march
Speak English: A lesson plan on IWD by ESL Library
International Women's Day: Resources for International Women's Day

Conversation Questions. Gender Roles

• Do you see yourself as a typical man or woman? Why or why not?
• In your country are the responsibilities of a mother the same as the responsibilities of a father to their families?
• What are the responsibilities of a father to his family?
• What are the responsibilities of a mother to her family?
• Are fathers capable of carrying out the duties of a mother and vice versa?
• Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?
• What habits are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
• What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
• What jobs are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?
• Are more doctors female or male in your country?
• Are more nurses female or male in your country?
• Are more professional musicians female or male in your country?
• Are more teachers female or male in your country?
• Are more truck drivers female or male in your country?
• Are men and women equal in ability and intelligence?
• What things can either men or women do that the other cannot do and why?
• What type of clothing do men wear?
• What type of clothing do women wear?
• Can men wear women's clothing or can women wear men's clothing? Why or why not?
• Can men wear pink clothes?
• Is it OK for men to cry?
• Is it OK for women to cry?
• What do people think of men or women crying?
• What would people think of a man who backs down from a fight?
• What would people think of two women involved in a fist fight?
• Is it OK for men to appear sad?
• Is it OK for women to appear angry?
• Is it OK for men to appear weak?

·         Is it common for women and men to take part in sporting activities? Do they take part in the same type of sporting activities?

·         In you home, who does the cooking, cleaning and household chores?

·         Is it possible for women to join the army in your country?

·         Is it compulsory for men and women to join the army in your country?

·         Do women swear a lot?

·         Are there more male or female managers and executives? Why do you think this is?

·         What jobs do men do and women not do in your country?

·         Who is regarded as the head of the family?

·         Should boys and girls be brought up differently?

·         Should boys and girls be treated differently on the part of the parents?

·         What would happen if your parents changed their place for one day?

·         How would the world look like without men?

·         How would the world look like without women?

·         When a woman and a man are together, who does most of the talking? What makes you think so?

·         Can a man and a woman be only friends?

·         Do men/men friendships differ from women/men or women/women friendships? How?

·         Who do you think has life easier, girls or guys? Why?

·         Do you see yourself as a typical man/woman? Why or why not?

·         What things can men or women do that the other cannot do and why?

·         In your country

·         What are the responsibilities of a father to his family?

·         What are the responsibilities of a mother to her family?

·         Are fathers capable of carrying out the duties of a mother and vice versa?

·         Who is regarded as the head of the family?

·         Who do the children go to for emotional support? For financial support?

·         Are there different expectations for sons and daughters?

·         Should boys and girls be brought up differently?

·         What habits are deemed as appropriate for women but not for men?

·         What behaviors are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?

·         What jobs are deemed as appropriate for men but inappropriate for women?

·         Are more doctors female or male in your country?

·         Are more nurses female or male in your country?

·         Are more professional musicians female or male in your country?

·         Are more teachers female or male in your country?

·         Are there more male or female managers and executives? Why do you think this is?

·         What type of clothing do men wear?

·         What type of clothing do women wear?

·         Can men wear women's clothing or can women wear men's clothing?

·         Can men wear pink clothes?

·         Is it OK for men to cry?

·         Is it OK for women to cry?

·         Is it OK for men to appear sad?

·         s it OK for women to appear angry?

·         Is it OK for men to appear weak?

·         What would people think of a man who backs down from a fight?

·         What would people think of two women involved in a fist fight?

·         Is it OK for women to swear (to cuss)?

·         Is it common for women and men to take part in sporting activities? Do they take part in the same sports? Are there famous women athletes?

·         Do you think it's permissible for a woman to show her face to a stranger?