VERB PATTERNS

1. VERB + -ing 2. VERB + to + infinitive 3. VERB + object + to +inf.

If these verbs are followed by afford
another verb, the structure agree advise
is: verb + -ing allow (passive) allow
admit appear ask
adore arrange beg
allow ask encourage
avoid attempt expect
cant stand choose force
carry on dare invite
consider decide order
deny expect permit
delay fail persuade
(dont) mind forget recommend
enjoy help remind
fancy hope teach
finish learn tell
give up manage want
imagine offer warn
involve plan would like
keep pretend
keep on promise eg.
postpone refuse They invited us to stay in their
house.
practise seem She told me to come on time.
put off tend They asked us not to make such a
recommend threaten noise.
risk want
suggest would like to
4. VERB + -ing / to inf.
eg. eg. - no change in meaning
He avoided writing the test. I cant afford to go on holiday. begin
Keep smiling! Shes decided to give up her job. continue
Did you enjoy reading the book? It seems to be a nice day.
He denied stealing the purse. He agreed to lend me some money.
intend
I dont mind helping you. You are not allowed to smoke here. start
He doesnt allow smoking in his eg. It started to rain / raining.
house.
He recommended staying in that
hotel. 5. VERB + object + inf.
- no TO in this structure
NOTE! help
LIKE
We use like + -ing when we talk
let
about hobbies and sth. We do with make
pleasure. Like=enjoy.
Eg. I like cooking and reading the Let me show you.
books. The news made her cry.
When like doesnt mean enjoy, but
Ill help you do it.
we talk about sth we think is good
or right to do, or it is a habit, we
say like + infinitive.
I like to do the washing up
immediately after the meal.
We like to eat out every Sunday.
6. VERB + -ing / to + inf.
-change in the meaning
REMEMBER
doing sth.
- when you did something
and now you remember it;
after you did sth.
Eg. I dont know how the
burglar got in. I clearly
remember locking the door
and shutting the windows.
to do sth
- you remembered that you
had to do sth, so you did
it; before you did it
eg. I remembered to lock the
door but I forgot to shut the
windows.
TRY
doing sth.
- try something to see if it
works or solves the
problem
eg. Ive got a terrible
headache.
- Why dont you try taking an
aspirin?
to do sth.
- attempt to do, make an
effort to do sth.
Eg. I tried to keep my open
but I couldnt.
STOP
doing sth.
- to give up, finish with sth
completely
eg. I stopped smoking two
years ago. (I dont do it
anymore)
to do sth.
- stop doing what you are
doing at the moment in
order to do sth else
eg. I was reading a book. The
phone started to ring. I
stopped to answer it.
to do sth.
NEED - to start sth new
doing sth. eg. The minister talked about
- sth. needs to be done education and after a break he
about sth else (the went on to talk about health
meaning is passive care.
eg. Look at this room. It
needs painting.
to do sth
- it is necessary for me to do
it
eg. He put on weight. He
needs to take more exercise.
I need to do the shopping
today.
_______________________
FINAL NOTE!
REGRET
doing sth. HELP
- I did sth and now I am Help is followed by infinitive
sorry about it. with or without to:
Eg. I now regret saying what Everybody helped (to) clean
I said. up.
Everybody helped her (to)
to do sth. clean up.
- regret to say/tell/inform
you = Im sorry I have to BUT!
say I cant help doing sth = I
eg. I regret to tell you that cant stop myself from doing
you have failed the test. sth.
Eg. I tried to be serious but I
couldnt help laughing.
MEAN
doing sth.
- an impersonal subject,
refers to what is involved
eg. If we catch an early train,
it will mean getting up at
6.00.
to do sth
- to intend
eg. Sorry, I meant to tell you
about the party.
GO ON
doing sth.
- to continue doing the same
thing
eg. The minister paused for a
moment and then went on
talking about the education.