Verb patterns

Verb Pattern

Structure

Examples

Verb + to-infinitive

This is one of the most common verb combination forms.

Afford, decide, agree, fail, hesitate, learn, manage, offer, prepare, pretend, propose, refuse, seem, strive, tend, undertake, volunteer, claim, hope, promise, threaten

- I waited to begin dinner.
- They wanted to come to the party.

Verb + verb-ing

This is one of the most common verb combination forms.

- They enjoyed listening to the music.
- They regretted spending so much time on the project.

Verb + verb-ing OR to infinitive – no change in meaning

Some verbs can combine with other verbs using both forms without changing the basic meaning of the sentence.

Begin, continue, start

- She started to eat dinner. OR

- She started eating dinner.

Verb + verb-ing OR verb infinitive – change in meaning

Some verbs can combine with other verbs using both forms. However, with these verbs, there is a change in the basic meaning of the sentence.

Hate, love, like, prefer + Verb-ing for general preference.

                                     + To-infinitive for a particular situation.

Forget, regret, remember + Verb-ing for a past action.

                                         + To-infinitive for an action happening later.

Try + Verb-ing means experiment with an action that might be a solution to your problem.

Try + To-infinitive means to make an effort to do something.

- They stopped speaking to each other. => They don't speak to each other anymore.
- They stopped to speak to each other. => They stopped walking in order to speak to each other. 

- I can’t get in touch with Carl. “Have you tried emailing him?”

- The doctor tried in vain to save his life.

Verb + object + infinitive

This is the most common form when a verb is followed by both an object and a verb.

Allow*, advise*, ask, elect, expect, help, want, wish, encourage, force, challenge, enable, inspire, invite, order, persuade, require, teach, tell

The (*) verbs can follow by a gerund without an object.

- She asked her to find a place to stay.
- They instructed them to open the envelope.

Verb + object + base form (infinitive without 'to')

This form is used with a few verbs.

Let, help, make, have (in causative form).

- She made her finish her homework.
- They let him go to the concert.
- He helped him paint the house.

Verb + verb-ing with passive meaing

This form is used with a few verbs.

Want, need, deserve

- Your proposal deserves discussing (to be discussed).

Verb + object + ‘that’ clause

Use this form for a clause beginning with 'that'.

There is no object between “command, direct, order, require, trust” and a that-clause

There is ALWAYS an object between “persuade, remind” and a that-clause.

The object between “instruct, teach, warn” and a that-clause is optional.

- She told him that she would worker harder.
- He informed him that he was going to resign.

- She taught us that poetry was valuable.

- She taught that poetry was valuable.

Wh-question word + to infinitive

Use this form for a clause beginning with wh- (why, when, where)

- They were instructed where to go.