Remember that at this KISS level, the objective is not that students recognize these verbs as gerunds or infinitives, but simply that they recognize that the verb phrase functions as a direct object, and that it may itself have subjects and complements.

1. a. My uncle started to laugh very hard {at us}! |

1. b. My uncle started laughing very hard {at us}! |
 

2. a. Alice began trying to turn off the stove. |

2. b. Alice began to try to take the pan {off the stove}. |
 

3. a. The children loved to go {through a dark tunnel}. |

3. b. The children loved going {through a dark tunnel}. |
 

4. a. Robert tried to make a pie {with apples}. |

4. b. Robert tried making a pie {with chocolate pudding}. |