Verb Patterns (with Examples)
1. Verb + to + base form
(These verbs are followed by "to" and then the verb.)
- want to (I want to travel.)
- need to (She needs to study.)
- would like to (I would like to order a coffee.)
- plan to (They plan to move.)
- hope to (He hopes to get a job.)
- decide to (We decided to stay home.)
- learn to (I'm learning to drive.)
- promise to (She promised to help.)
2. Verb + -ing
(These verbs are followed by the -ing form.)
- enjoy (I enjoy reading.)
- like (She likes swimming.)
- love (They love dancing.)
- dislike (I dislike running.)
- hate (He hates waking up early.)
- avoid (We avoid eating junk food.)
- finish (She finished studying.)
3. Verb + (object) + base form (without 'to')
(Some verbs like let and make are followed by a base form.)
- let (My parents let me stay out late.)
- make (The teacher made us write an essay.)
4. Verb + object + to + base form
(Some verbs need an object + "to" + verb.)
- ask (She asked me to help.)
Verb Patterns (with Examples)
- tell (He told us to wait.)
- want (I want you to come with me.)
- invite (They invited us to join.)
Note
At this level, students are learning the difference between verbs followed by to + verb and verb + -ing.
Some verbs can take both:
- like doing / like to do
- love doing / love to do
5. Verb + preposition + -ing
(Verbs with a preposition like "about," "of," "for," then -ing form.)
- think about (I'm thinking about moving abroad.)
- talk about (We talked about going to the beach.)
- worry about (She worries about passing the test.)
- dream of (He dreams of becoming a singer.)
- apologize for (I apologize for being late.)
- succeed in (They succeeded in finding a solution.)
6. Verb + question word + to + base form
(Used with words like "what," "where," "how" + "to".)
- know how to (I know how to swim.)
- decide where to (We decided where to eat.)
- learn what to (She's learning what to say in interviews.)
- remember how to (Do you remember how to get there?)
7. Verb + object + bare infinitive (without 'to')
(Mainly with help, make, let.)
- help (He helped me carry the bags.)
Verb Patterns (with Examples)
- make (She made me laugh.)
- let (They let us leave early.)
8. Verbs followed by either -ing or to + verb (slight meaning difference)
- remember
- I remembered to lock the door. (you remembered first, then locked)
- I remember locking the door. (you have a memory of locking it)
- stop
- I stopped smoking. (I quit smoking.)
- I stopped to smoke. (I stopped what I was doing to smoke.)
- try
- Try to open the window. (make an effort)
- Try opening the window. (experiment/see if it works)
9. Verb + to + verb OR verb + -ing (same meaning)
- like (I like playing tennis. / I like to play tennis.)
- love (She loves dancing. / She loves to dance.)
- prefer (I prefer driving. / I prefer to drive.)
Quick Tip for Students
If the verb is about a choice, plan, or future action -> use to + verb.
If the verb is about an experience or feeling -> use verb + -ing.
