VERB PATTERNS
When we put two verbs together, the second verb is usually in the infinitive or in -ing form.
Sometimes it is an infinitive without TO or a past participle. Which pattern we use depends on
the first verb.
VERB + TO INFINITIVE
agree, arrange, ask, beg , dare, decide, expect, fail, happen, hope, manage, mean, offer,
prepare, pretend, promise, refuse, seem, want, wish, would like, would prefer, help (can also be
infinitive without to)
VERB+ -ING FORM
admit, advise, avoid, can’t bear, can’t help, can’t stand, carry on, consider, delay, dislike, deny,
enjoy, envisage, fancy, feel like, finish, give up, have difficulty, like, imagine, intend, it’s no
good, it’s not worth, justify, keep(on), mind, miss, postpone, practise, propose, put off,
recollect, recommend, risk, stop, spend(time), suggest
- Some verbs can be followed by an -ing form or an infinitive with little or no
change in meaning: begin, continue, hate, intend, like, love, prefer, start.
- A few verbs (forget, go on, regret, remember, stop, try) change their meaning
depending on whether they are followed by an infinitive or an -ing form :
I won’t forget meeting the President /I forgot to ask.
I went on singing / He went on to become a teacher.
I regret to inform you that your application was unsuccessful / I regret not telling him
how I feel.
I remember locking the door / Please remember to lock the door.
She stopped singing. / She stopped to tie her shoes.
We tried shouting for help, but nobody Heard / I tried to speak but no sound came out.
- The verbs see, hear, watch and feel can be followed by an object + infinitve
without TO to talk about a completed action, or object + -ing form to talk about
an action in progress.
I heard Ben answer his phone, then laugh.
I saw Danny playing basketball in the garden.
VERB + OBJECT +TO INFINITIVE
allow, ask, command, dare, enable, encourage, expect, forbid, force, get, inspire, invite, order,
permit, persuade, remind, request, teach, tell, trust, urge, warn, want, wish, would like, would
prefer
VERB + OBJECT + INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO
have, make, let, help (can also be infinitive with to)
VERB + OBJECT + PAST PARTICIPLE
get, have, need, want
STATE AND DYNAMIC VERBS
- Dynamic verbs describe actions and can be used in simple or continuous tenses
Dad makes dinner every Friday.
Dad can’t come to the phone; he’s making dinner.
- State verbs describe states, not actions. They are often connected with abstract
ideas:
o Emotion : care, envy, fear, hate, like, love, mind, prefer, want
o Possession: belong, own, possess
o Thought: agree, believe, disagree, doubt, know, mean, recognise,
understand
o Others: contain, cost, depend, fit, matter, need, seem, weigh
State vebs cannot be used in continuous tenses:
I hate cheese. I hate this song. (NOT I’m hating)
I’ve known Eva for years.
I’ve never understood baseball.
(NOT I’m knowing understanding…)
Some verbs can be state or dynamic depending on the meaning. Only the dynamic
sense can be used in continuous tenses:
Dynamic Verb State Verb
THINK I’m thinking about work I think she’s at work
FEEL I’m not feeling confident He feels I’m selfish
HAVE He’s having a shower/lunch She has three cats
LOOK What are you looking at? He looks very calm
SEE I’m seeing Dan later I see what you mean
SMELL Why are you smelling that Does the sandwich smell all
sandwich? right?
TASTE She’s tasting the soup The soup tastes great!
APPEAR He’s been appearing on She appears to be quite
stage in London assertive
