C1 Operation Albatross - Verb + Object + Infinitive or Gerund

C1 GRAMMAR · VERB PATTERNS

Operation Albatross

PICTURE

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One grandfather turning eighty. One aunt with a battle plan. Seven cousins, and the first signs of mutiny.

verb + object + to-infinitive · for + object + to-infinitive · let / make / help + bare infinitive · passive be made to · verb + object + -ing

Reading

Speaking

A · LEAD-IN

Before we start - you decide

Five quick decisions. Choose a, b or c for each and send your five letters to the teacher by private chat. No teaching yet - trust your ear.

1. The doctor advised ___ down for a few days.

a) me to lie b) me lie c) me lying

2. They wouldn't let us ___ the documents.

a) to photograph b) photograph c) photographing

3. As a trainee, I was made ___ every shift with the inventory.

a) start b) to start c) starting

4. We've arranged ___ you at the airport.

a) a driver to meet b) for a driver to meet c) for a driver meeting

5. The new rota will involve ___ on Sundays.

a) some of us to work b) that some of us work c) some of us working

B · BEFORE YOU READ

A family, a secret, a spreadsheet

You will read two emails: Aunt Renata's instructions to her seven adult nieces and nephews, and one cousin's reply to all.

READ FOR

1. What is the occasion - and what is Grandpa being told instead?

2. Which single instruction sparks the rebellion?

3. Is Michal refusing to help at all?

PICTURE

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B · READING · EMAIL 1 OF 2

From: Aunt Renata

Subject: OPERATION ALBATROSS - Grandpa Stan's 80th - READ EVERY WORD

Dear all,

Twelve days to go. I expect every one of you to be at the Marina Hall by four o'clock sharp on the 14th. Grandpa believes he's going to a quiet fish supper, and I intend him to keep believing it.

The theme is "A Life at Sea". I've arranged for a singer to perform the songs from his navy days, and for the hall to be opened at two so we can decorate. Kasia has kindly agreed to help me hang the banners on Friday night.

Marta - remind your brother to collect the cake on Saturday morning, and warn him not to leave it in the car this time.

Tomek and Ala - the banners are currently in Grandpa's garage. Do not let him open that door under any circumstances. If he drifts towards it, keep him talking about fishing until someone signals that it's safe.

Costumes: sailor outfits for everyone, no exceptions. I'd hate anyone to imagine this is optional.

Yes, this will involve everyone giving up an entire Saturday. It is one Saturday. The man has given us eighty years.

Finally: I will not risk anyone spoiling the surprise. No posts, no hints, no "accidental" mentions. Can you imagine him finding out from Facebook? Because I can, and it keeps me awake.

I am still waiting for three of you to confirm. You know who you are.

Aunt Renata

B · READING · EMAIL 2 OF 2

Reply all: Michal

Subject: RE: OPERATION ALBATROSS - a note from below deck

Dear Aunt Renata (cc: fellow conscripts),

Thank you for the briefing - sorry, the invitation.

First, the important part: we all want the day to be perfect, and I will happily help you move furniture, guard the garage and hum along to the navy songs.

However. You cannot make me wear a sailor costume. The last time anyone made me perform in fancy dress was in Year 4, when we were made to sing sea shanties for a school inspection, and I remember it vividly enough to be certain that no adult should ever be made to relive that.

Second, the tone. I don't mind you organising things - frankly, you're better at it than the rest of us put together - but I do mind you ordering us about like recruits. If you want us to arrive enthusiastic rather than merely obedient, let us choose our own outfits, and encourage people to volunteer for jobs instead of assigning them. You might even find you can persuade the twins to handle the parking with something close to grace.

I've asked for this reply to be sent to everyone, because I doubt I'm the only mutineer aboard.

Yours from below deck, Michal

C · COMPREHENSION

Reading between the lines

Read again. Match each line (1-7) to the message underneath it (a-g).

1. "I expect every one of you to be at the Marina Hall by four o'clock sharp."

2. "I've arranged for a singer to perform the songs from his navy days."

3. "Do not let him open that door under any circumstances."

4. "I will not risk anyone spoiling the surprise."

5. "You cannot make me wear a sailor costume."

6. "We were made to sing sea shanties for a school inspection."

7. "I don't mind you organising things, but I do mind you ordering us about."

a) It's not the work he resents - it's the tone.

b) One glance inside and the whole operation collapses.

c) Attendance is non-negotiable.

d) A childhood memory is doing a lot of the arguing here.

e) She trusts nobody - secrecy outranks everything.

f) The professional entertainment is booked; the plan is already in motion.

g) Here is the line he will not cross.

D · GRAMMAR FOCUS

Verb + object + ...what, exactly?

Look at lines 1-7 on the last slide. In each one the main verb (expect, arrange, let...) is followed by an object - but what comes after the object? Sort the seven lines into three groups, then answer 4 and 5.

1. object + to + infinitive: lines ______

2. object + infinitive without to: lines ______

3. object + -ing: lines ______

4. In line 2, which small word comes before the object? Find one more example of it in Renata's email.

5. Line 5 and line 6 both use make. What is different about line 6?

D · GRAMMAR FOCUS

What changes - and what's forbidden

1. Renata writes "I'd hate anyone to imagine this is optional." Why can't she write "I'd hate that anyone imagines..."?

2. "You cannot make me wear..." but "We were made to sing..." - what happens to to when make goes passive? Does let work the same way?

3. "I don't mind you organising things." Now delete you. Who does the organising in each version? So what job is the object doing?

4. "I am still waiting for three of you to confirm." Which small word is essential here - and which three other verbs in this unit behave the same way?

D · THE RULES

The patterns, pinned down

Complete the rules with: for · -ing · without to · to + infinitive (twice)

• advise, expect, remind, warn, persuade, encourage, want, would like / love / prefer / hate + object + ______

• arrange, ask, plan, wait + ______ + object + to + infinitive

• let, make, help + object + infinitive ______ (help also accepts to: help me (to) hang the banners)

• passive make + ______ : He was made to apologise.

• dislike, involve, keep, mind, prevent, risk, imagine + object + ______

CAREFUL

After want and would like / love / prefer / hate a that-clause is impossible: I want that you come - I want you to come. Let has no passive - use be allowed to: We weren't allowed to see the room. And prevent + object + (from) + -ing, where from is optional: prevent him (from) wandering in.

E · PRACTICE

Sort the crew

All twelve verbs take an object - the question is what comes next. Put each into the right column. Then: one of the twelve could sit in two columns. Which, and what's the difference?

expect · let · mind · warn · make · risk · advise · help · imagine · would prefer · involve · persuade

+ object + to-infinitive

+ object + bare infinitive

+ object + -ing

E · PRACTICE

Two cousins, one phone call

Ala calls Tomek three days before the party. Write Tomek's full responses using the prompts in brackets. Sometimes more than one form works - be ready to justify your choice.

1. ALA: Have you seen Michal's reply? The whole family's seen it.

TOMEK: I know. I can't _______________ well. (imagine / Renata / take / it)

2. ALA: Someone needs to calm things down before the weekend.

TOMEK: Agreed. We can't _______________ into a full family war. (let / this / turn)

3. ALA: She's now saying Thursday's rehearsal is compulsory.

TOMEK: She can't _______________ a dance routine at our age. (make / us / rehearse)

4. ALA: Fair. Is the cake at least sorted?

TOMEK: Yes. I've already _______________ it before ten. (remind / Piotr / collect)

5. ALA: And the music?

TOMEK: All booked. She's _______________ at six. (arrange / an accordion player / arrive)

6. ALA: Weren't you on Michal's side on Monday?

TOMEK: I was. Then I _______________ by Grandma. (make / see reason)

7. ALA: Ha! Last thing - the toast. Will you give it?

TOMEK: Fine. But I'd _______________ next to me when I do. (prefer / you / stand)

F · SPEAKING & WRITING

The peace treaty · the great delegation

Phase 1 - the cousins reply (groups of 3). In your shared doc, write the cousins' joint reply to Aunt Renata: save the party, sink the costumes, keep the peace. 80-120 words, diplomatic but firm.

• YOU MUST USE: persuade her to... · we'd prefer you to... · let us... · it would only involve everyone ...-ing

• Then read the other groups' versions. Which reply is most likely to actually work on Renata? Vote.

• Phase 2 - the great delegation (pairs). Think of a real task coming up in your life. You can't do it alone. Who will you ask to do what, what will you let people decide for themselves, and what won't you risk anyone else touching?

PICTURE

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TEACHER'S REFERENCE · SKIP OR DELETE BEFORE CLASS

Answer key

A · COLD QUIZ 1a · 2b · 3b · 4b · 5c. Revisit after THE RULES and celebrate the upgrades.

B · GIST Grandpa Stan's surprise 80th birthday party; he's been told it's a quiet fish supper. The compulsory sailor costumes spark the rebellion. Michal isn't refusing to help - he'll move furniture, guard the garage and hum along; he refuses the costume and objects to the tone.

C · BETWEEN THE LINES 1c · 2f · 3b · 4e · 5g · 6d · 7a

D · SORTING object + to-infinitive: 1, 2 · object + bare infinitive: 3, 5 · object + -ing: 4, 7. The small word in line 2 is for (also "waiting for three of you to confirm"). Line 6 differs from line 5: it is passive, and to appears.

D · CONCEPT 1 want / would like / love / prefer / hate never take a that-clause; object + to-infinitive is the only option. 2 Passive make takes the to-infinitive; let has no passive - English switches to be allowed to. 3 With you, the addressee organises; without it, the speaker does - the object before -ing names the doer. 4 For is essential; arrange, ask and plan pattern the same way.

D · RULES to + infinitive · for · without to · to + infinitive · -ing

E · COLUMNS to-infinitive: expect, warn, advise, would prefer, persuade · bare infinitive: let, make, help · -ing: mind, risk, imagine, involve. Two-column verb: help (object + bare infinitive or to-infinitive, same meaning).

E · DIALOGUE 1 imagine Renata taking it · 2 let this turn · 3 make us rehearse · 4 reminded Piotr to collect (I already reminded also acceptable) · 5 arranged for an accordion player to arrive · 6 was made to see reason (active Grandma made me see reason also correct - elicit both) · 7 prefer you to stand

SLIDE 12 No key. Collect the must-use structures from the joint replies and the delegation plans.