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Module # 3__
I. General Information
Subject: English IV CODE: INE-0207
Credit Units: 3 Module Duration: 10 days

Specific Objectives:
-The student will be able to learn how to use modals of preference correctly.

- Students will learn how to use gerund phrases.

Skills to Develop:

 Practice the correct use of modals of preference.

 Practice correct use of gerund phrases.

Brief Description of the Forum:

After reading the material, the student will be able to participate in the discussion
forum and:
1. Practice the reading segments of conversations use it in conversation form
in the forum.

Brief Description of Activities:

The student will practice conversations using the grammar practice on gerunds and
modals of preference learned in class.

Homework Description:
Workbook Activities from your Textbook: Open Mind Level 2B- Unit 8
Homework Template Module No. 1
 UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA DE HONDURAS
PLANTILLA PARA DESARROLLO DE CONTENIDO

II. Content
Modals of Preference

INTRODUCTION
III. Content Development

1. Modals of Preference
1. prefer: ¨Prefer¨ is used to show that you like one thing more than another
thing.

If you use a noun after ¨prefer¨, you should use the preposition ¨to¨. If you use
an infinitive after ¨prefer¨, use ¨than¨.

a. I prefer skiing to playing basketball. (¨Skiing¨ and ¨playing¨ are gerunds, which
are nouns.)

b. I prefer fish to chicken.

c. Do you prefer jazz or rock music?

d. I usually prefer to swim than to play golf.

2. would prefer: ¨Would prefer¨ is used to show that you want to do something
or have something.

You can use the coordinating conjunction ¨or¨ in a question. Use the infinitive or a
noun after ¨would prefer.¨

a. Would you prefer to hike or to ski this weekend?

b. The waitress asks, “Would you prefer fish or chicken?”

c. I would prefer fish, thank you.

3. would rather: Use the base form of the verb after ¨would rather¨. You must
use a verb after ¨would rather¨. To compare two verbs, use ¨than¨.
 UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA DE HONDURAS
PLANTILLA PARA DESARROLLO DE CONTENIDO

a. I would rather hike than ski.

b. I’d rather write an email than a letter.

c. I would rather go to a small school than a large school.

4. would rather not: This is a polite way to say no. We can answer questions
simply with “I’d rather not.¨

a. Would you like to go shopping? I’d rather not go shopping. I have no

money.

b. Would you like to go shopping? I’d rather not.

2. The Gerund Phrase

A gerund phrase will begin with a gerund, an ing word, and will include
other modifiers and/or objects. Gerund phrases always function as nouns,
so they will be subjects, subject complements, or objects in the sentence.
Read these examples:

Eating ice cream on a windy day can be a messy experience if you

have long, untamed hair.

Eating ice cream on a windy day = subject of the verb can be.

A more disastrous activity for long-haired people is blowing giant

bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down.

Blowing giant bubble gum bubbles with the car windows down =
subject complement of the verb is.

Wild food adventures require getting your hair cut to a short, safe
length.

Getting your hair cut to a short, safe length = direct object of the
verb require.
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PLANTILLA PARA DESARROLLO DE CONTENIDO

The Parts of a Gerund Phrase

All gerunds end -ing. They are nouns formed from verbs. For example:

 eating (from the verb to eat)

 taking (from the verb to take)
 painting (from the verb to paint)

A gerund is not like a normal noun because a gerund can take a direct object (just
like a verb can). The direct object of a gerund is known as a gerund complement.
For example:

 eating a cake
 taking a drink
 painting a fence

These complements (or objects) make up part of the gerund phrase.

Gerunds can also be modified. For example:

 eating a cake quickly

 taking a drink at the watering hole
 painting a fence with the brush his wife bought him

Don't mistake a gerund phrase for a present

participle phrase.
Gerund and present participle phrases are easy to confuse because they
both begin with an ing word. The difference is that a gerund phrase will
always function as a noun while a present participle phrase describes
another word in the sentence. Check out these examples:

Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine will result in

disaster.

Jamming too much clothing into a washing machine = gerund

phrase, the subject of the verb will result.
 UNIVERSIDAD TECNOLOGICA DE HONDURAS
PLANTILLA PARA DESARROLLO DE CONTENIDO

I. BIBLIOGRAPHY

1. Textbook: Open Mind Level 2B , Editorial Macmillan, Edición 2014.

2. Diccionario de Ingles / Español o www.dictionary.com
3. Laboratorio de Idiomas - Open Mind : www.macmillanmind.com