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Prepositions + verb + ing

Presentation / Objective

My choices: Breaking down stereotypes


Objective

By the end of this topic you will:
Use verbs and adjectives that need a preposition and a gerund to indicate likes or dislikes. You will also use vocabulary and expressions related to every day, amusement and cultural activities of people living in English-speaking countries to compare them to your own.

Content

Preposition + verb + ing


Watch the following video: Community Report Takes a look at Male Hair Stylist Pt.1, is your chart the same or different?

Did you change your opinion after watching the video? What do you think about this person?

Expressing likes and dislikes

• I like pizza.
• love sun-bathing.
• People enjoy taking their dog for a walk.
• We adore watching horror movies.

On the other side, if you dislike something:

• You don’t like cooking very much.
• I can’t stand jealous people.
• I hate wasting time.

However, in this topic, we will introduce a different way to express your preferences.

Let’s learn new expressions!

Look at the following phrases to express likes and dislikes, if you need to check a definition, click on the word.

Let’s continue with the information:

Exactly! All of them have a preposition. Do you remember prepositions? Which prepositions can you see in the phrases?... Of course!! In, on, at, about, of, into, and for.

All these phrases are formed by a verb (have, lose, be, die, get) or an adjective (tired, sick, keen, fond) and a preposition (in, on, about, of, for, into)

Now let’s check the structure and some examples:

You can use these phrases to express an opinion or attitude about something:

Verb/adjective + preposition + noun

E.g.

  • Men are crazy about sports.
  • She is interested in science.
  • I am into technology.

The verb or adjective takes a preposition, and its complement is a noun. In this case, the preposition is followed by a noun: i.e. sports or science. This is called a prepositional complement with a noun.

Check the following information about gerunds.

When you want to express your opinion or attitude about doing something, the verb or adjective takes as a preposition complement a gerund (verb in –ing form). This is called a prepositional complement with gerund. The structure is the following:

Verb/adjective+ preposition+  gerund (-ing)

E.g.

  • Men are crazy about watching sports.
  • She is interested in reading science.

When the prepositions in, at, with, of, for, about and so on are used before a verb/adjective,  the verb must use – ing. All prepositions are followed by a gerund as, despite, from, for, with, to, by, in, on, at, up, through, after, etc.

Note that the preposition does not belong to the verb, but rather complements it, in other words, it completes the idea expressed by the subject and the action.
Besides, this structure helps you to be more specific about the activities you like or dislike, look at this examples:

If you say:  “I like sports” (this could be general)

I’m fond of watching sports, but I’m not that into practicing them.
Or a classical:  I like eating food not cooking it.
In these examples you are specific about the activities related to the things, because you are not only talking not only the thing, but the specific actions.

 





Let's wrap up with:

For most of the verbs we make the –ING form by simply adding –ING at the end of the verb:

eat- eating

cook- cooking

stay- staying

work- working

Verbs ending with ‘-e’ (except verbs ending in ‘-ee’ and ‘ie’) -Drop the ‘-e’ and add –ING

hope- hoping

ride-riding

make- making

write-writing

Verbs ending with ‘-ee’: -Just add –ING

agree – agreeing

see- seeing

flee- feeing

Verbs ending with ‘-ie’: -Change the ‘-ie’ to ‘y’ and add –ING

die- dying

lie- lying

tie- tying

Verbs ending ‘vowel-consonant’ (except w,x, y) -for one syllable verbs:

Double the consonant and add –ING

jog- jogging

sit- sitting

plan- planning

run-running

swim- swimming

stop- stopping

for two syllable verbs:
if the first syllable is stressed, just add –ING

answer- answering

listen- listening

visit- visiting

if the second syllable is stressed, double the consonant and add –ING

answer- answering

listen- listening

visit- visiting



 

 

Exercise 1. Checking gerunds

Once you have checked the structure of gerunds, you are going to practice them.

You can try this exercise as many times as necessary since it is for practice not for evaluation.

Select the best option for each sentence.

 

Exercise 2. Communication.

Remember that expressing likes and dislikes is an essential aspect of communication. In this exercise, you will explore vocabulary in context.

Complete the sentences for each situation using –ing form in the verb and the word in parenthesis. Look at the following example:

 

Reading

Reading and discussing gender stereotypes

Before reading look at the five concepts that are related to the text you are going to read:

Do you know the meaning of these concepts? If not, look them up in the dictionary. Once you have the definitions, try to predict what is their relationship with the text.

Now read the text and discover if the prediction you made at the beginning was right.

Now, according to what you read, answer True (T) or False (F) below. In the end, you will know your grade. Keep in mind, you only have one opportunity, so get ready.

 

 

 

Messages.

Finally, read some messages from people expressing their opinion about the issue. Read them carefully:

“I am a woman, and I’m crazy about my beer! Why should men have all the beer?”
– Samyuktha Iyer

“I’m a man, and I cried in front of 500 people at the Worlds University Debating Championship when I didn’t qualify into the knock-out rounds. Let men have the right to cry. Stereotypes hurt everyone.”
-Partha Sarathi Sharma, IIT-Bombay

“I’m a woman, and I follow the latest books, not the latest fashion trends.”
– Sharada Srinivasan, National Law School

“It is tragic how certain facial expressions are only imputed to a particular gender. We are men, and we are more than happy to pout for the camera and break another gender stereotype. And we do it in pink!”
– Shobhit Singh Ranawat, Girish Ashok, RVCE

“I’m a man, and I am into watching ballet and listening to Taylor Swift. Art appreciation is not gender-specific.”
– Arjun Jagdish Ram

“I recently cut my hair to a short length. I was having a normal day at office until one of my colleagues came up to me and said “Hi bro, wassup?” very unusually. I took it lightly but what pissed me off was when he went on to say that he’d call me brother till I grow my hair long. I cannot accept anyone addressing me as a boy because of my way of dressing, hair, or habits. I’m sick of listening to that”
– Neha Nair Payyur, MSRIT alum

“I am a man and my girlfriend drives a car better than I can. She taught me how to drive a car and till date takes the wheel when we are on more challenging roads.”
– Sayan Sanyal, RVCE alum

I’m keen on wearing pink kurtas and Pink shirts. Not because I’m Gay. Not Because I’m feminine, but because I like it. Pink is a color, not an identity.”
– Vignesh Hariharan, MSR Law

“I’m a man, and I like my pink bicycle!”
– Darshan Dorai

“In a society that pressurizes men to be in control of a wedding proposal and follow a two-month salary rule for the ring, I’m a woman, and I proposed to my husband, and bought my own wedding ring.”
– Esha Agarwal Gejji

“In a society that pressurizes men to be in control of a wedding proposal and follow a two-month salary rule for the ring, I’m a woman, and I proposed to my husband, and bought my own wedding ring.”
– Esha Agarwal Gejji

“If two girl friends kiss each other, they’re oh-so-cute and besties and the world is XOXOXO about that concept but if two guy friends kiss each other, they’re gay and uncool. There’s nothing wrong with a little bit of bromance.”
– Rushil Zutshi, Vellore Institute of Technology

“Through most of college, I’ve had to delve into a lot of domestic work including sweeping, mopping, dusting, watering plants, laundry and even folding clothes. I must say I’m now wickedly good at all of the above and can turn professional. I’ve also begun to slowly take over the kitchen. I can now successfully cook for at least 10 people. And I love doing crochet work. (They call me domestic goddess). The domestic sphere is as much for men as it is for women.”
– Tanmay Dangi, NLSIU

“People keep telling me that I need to learn how to cook only because I’m a woman. I don’t like cooking, and I don’t want to learn how to make round rotis, just Maggi. A woman’s place is not just in the kitchen.”
– Poorna Mujumdar

“I’m a man, and I’m physically weaker than most people, men and women alike. That doesn’t make me less of a man, or ‘fight like a girl’. “
– Deborshi Goswami

After Reading, what is the comment you most agree with? Is there any message that you were surprised about? Is there any similar initiative in your country?

Answer the questions, and make sure they have the following characteristics:

- I have mentioned the comment I most agree with and the feedback I was more surprised about.
- I have made use of my discussion abilities: giving opinions, giving reasons for your answers, offering arguments, refuting beliefs, showing pros and cons.
- I have compared these events to what is happening in my country.

 

 

Listening

Gender roles

Before listening, do you think gender roles influence career choice? Are there careers associated with men or women? Which ones? What about if someone says: “But we have always done it that way.”

Watch only the first minute of the video: Nontraditional careers and then answer True (T) or False (F). You will have just one opportunity. If necessary take some notes.

 

 

 

Listening for details.

Now, watch the full video. Look at the comments of the people in the video. Match the name of the person to the comment.

In case you consider it necessary, you can turn on the subtitles.

After listening and practised, what happens in your country? Choosing a career is a matter of gender? Is this traditional point of view changing? Which professions do men or women like/enjoy doing?

Let’s continue practising our main topic.

 

Writing

Activity 5

Passions beyond barriers

Are you into something that based on stereotypes, is not associated with your gender?
Now it is time to break the stereotypes!

Think about an activity you are crazy about or enjoy doing that is not generally ‘related’ to your gender. Fill the chart with your answers.

What is the activity you are crazy about?

How long have you had this passion?

What first created your interest?

Why do you like it so much?

How are you breaking the stereotypes?

 

Once you have filled in the chart with some of your ideas about your passion, use that information to write a text (130-150 words). Remember to use the expressions you have explored in this lesson to express your likes and dislikes.

Evaluate yourself using this checklist. Based on your perception, you have to select a correspondent degree of achievement. In the end, check your score with the level of performance you got.

 

 

Speaking

Activity 6

Giving your opinion about famous quotes

Over the years, people have expressed their opinion about gender issues. Now it is essential to know: What do you think about it?
Here you are some opinions given by famous people. Read them and chose ONE to give your opinion about it. Record at least 3 minutes.

Your opinion MUST include:
• What is the most crucial point the person wanted to transmit?
• Do you agree or disagree with his/her position? Do you like their way of thinking?

Take some notes before you record your comments. In your answer, try to use phrases explored in this lesson to express your opinion: “I have mixed feelings about…”, I’m very interested in….”, “I’m tired of….”, etc.

“I am a woman, and I’m crazy about my beer! Why should men have all the beer?”
– Samyuktha Iyer

“I’m a man, and I cried in front of 500 people at the Worlds University Debating Championship when I didn’t qualify into the knock-out rounds. Let men have the right to cry. Stereotypes hurt everyone.”
-Partha Sarathi Sharma, IIT-Bombay

“I’m a woman, and I follow the latest books, not the latest fashion trends.”
– Sharada Srinivasan, National Law School

Check the following example

After finishing your audio, evaluate it using the following checklist. In the end, check your score and reflect on how good you are at giving your opinion about things you like and dislike.

 

Self-assessment

Testing your grammar

To finish this lesson, it is a good idea to check your progress with a test. Choose the best option to complete the sentences:

Self-assessment

Transformation

Now, it is time to use the new expressions you have learned to express likes and dislikes in a different way. Transform the sentences so that they mean the same as the first sentence. Use the word between parentheses and the structure preposition + - ing.

Example:
Living abroad is something I am not very attracted to. (interested)
I’m not very interested in living abroad.

a) He is doing exercise all the time. (mad)
b) My boss hates working extra hours. (tired)
c) His son really enjoys reading, especially, classical literature. ( into)
d) I don’t like learning Chinese, it is very difficult. (Not that into).
e) She has been practicing yoga for six months, but I think she is not enjoying it anymore (lose).

Remember to check the verbs and prepositions to your sentences.

By the time you finish you can check your answers in the following document: Answers

Self-assessment

Communicating your ideas

Use your own ideas to complete the sentences. Write your sentences in a word processor, then listen to them in the following website:  Text-to-speech, your answers should include the following characteristics:

  • Content: Your sentences must be related to your life.
  • Grammar: Give your opinion using expressions above, using the structure of the lesson:  verb+ preposition+-ing 
  • Vocabulary: Include 4 new words from the topic.
  • Fluency: Feel confident about how you sound in your recording (as natural as possible).

a) I’m a big fan of…
b) I’m crazy about…
c) I’m fond of….
d) I can't get enough of…
d) I have mixed feelings about…
e) I’m not that into…
f) I’m not a big fan of…
g) I’m tired of….

Once you finished, self-evaluate your performance. The most important is that you feel well and confident with the new vocabulary. Keep practicing, remember that in order to learn you have to hear what you say.

References

Basic references

• Murphy, R. (2009) Grammar in use. Intermediate. 3rded. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
• Swan, M. (2005) Practical English Usage. 3rd ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
• Soars, L. & Soars, J. (2009) American Headway 3. 3rd. ed. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Complementary references

• Schoolco’s channel. (2010). A woman in a man’s world. [Video]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q7vvUKfc398
• Schoolco’s channel. (2010). A woman in a man’s world. [Video]. Retrieved from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBIsnNMI46o