Infinerun Instructions

Learn How to Play!

Objective

Clear the board of all gerunds and infinitives. The player with the most gerunds and infinitives wins.

Introduction

Infinerun is designed to help ESL students become comfortable with the specific gerund/infinitive grammar mechanics. When used as an object, the choice between a gerund and infinitive depends on the preceding verb:

I enjoy eating. O

I enjoy to eat. X

I want eating X

I want to eat O

 

The best way to learn when to use a gerund and when to use an infinitive is through trial and error. Thus, Infinerun helps players learn which verbs precede gerunds, which precede infinitives, and which can precede both, in a fun and fast-paced game that helps commit these pairings to memory.

 

Setup

·       For 2 players. Players sit across from each other. (Player 1 and Player 2)

·       Stack all verb cards into a pile face-down between the two players

·       Randomly spread the different gerund and infinitive cards around the stack of verb cards on the board. Both players should be able to clearly see the words. Players can choose how many gerunds and infinitives to use.

·       Players randomly choose who flips first. That player will be considered Player 1.

Contents

·       20 verbs preceding infinitives

·       20 verbs preceding gerunds

·       12 verbs preceding both

·       10 gerunds

·       10 infinitives

Terminology

·       Draw pile: the pile of face-down verb cards. The player flips the card face-up from this pile.

·       Discard pile: the pile of verb cards that are face-up.

·       Verb card: the cards in the draw or discard pile

·       Gerund card: card that has an -ing

·       Infinitive card: card that has a to.

·       Board: a flat playing surface. This could be a table, the floor, etc.

·       Flip: take a face-down verb from the stack and turn it face-up.

·       Slap: quickly choose a gerund or infinitive by placing your hand on top.

How to Play

1)      Player 1 takes the first verb card on the draw pile and flips it onto the discard pile.

2)      Once the verb card is fully on the discard pile, both players find the gerund or infinitive that can follow the verb. Both players will slap a gerund or infinitive as fast as they can. Players can check the “mask” on the verb card if they are unsure.

3)      Whoever slaps the correct form first, collects the card. That player removes that card from the board.

4)      The player who slaps the correct form says an example sentence using the verb and gerund/infinitive they slapped. The player can choose all other words to complete the sentence.

5)      Player 2 flips the verb card on the draw pile. Steps 2-4 are repeated.

6)      Players take turns flipping the verb cards and repeating steps 2-4 until all gerunds and infinitives are collected.

7)      When there are no more gerunds or infinitives on the board, players count how many they have collected. Whoever has the most gerunds and infinitives wins.