Verbs Patterns – part 2
Verb patterns
Verbs can follow different patterns and some verbs can be used with more than one pattern. These verbs and their patterns can be used with any tense and with any auxiliary verb following the established patterns + the rule of the tense and/or auxiliary verb.
Verb + to do
Verb + to do / that
Verb + object + to do (instructions)
Verbs + that
Verbs + object + that
Verb + (that) somebody/something (should) do something
Verbs + gerund / noun
Verb + ing / noun / that
Verb + preposition + gerund
Verb + object + to or Verb + ing
1) Verb + to do
afford, aim, agree, appear, ask, attempt, choose, claim, demand, deserve, fail, happen, hate, help, learn, love, manage, mean, neglect, offer, plan, prepare, promise, refuse, seem, tend, threaten, try, wait, want, wish
He claimed to be an expert on ghosts.
He refused to tell the truth.
2) Verb + to infinitive / that
agree, arrange, believe, decide, demand, desire, discover, expect, forget, hope, imagine, intend, learn, persuade, plan, pretend, promise, seem, suppose, threaten, wish
subject | verb (any tense) | that/to | Compliment |
He She John Sarah | agreed decided hoped threatened | that | travelling by car was a good idea. he would steal the diamond. |
to | travel by car. steal the diamond. |
3) Verb + object + to do (instructions)
advise, ask, beg, convince, enable, encourage, forbid, force, help, instruct, invite, get, leave, order, persuade, recommend, remind, show, teach, tell, urge, want, warn
subject | verb | object | to | verb + extra |
He She John Sarah | asked begged wanted urged | him you me | (not) to | go home. leave. get involved. |
Verbs + that clause
add, announce, assure, claim, complain, concede, conclude, confirm, deny, emphasize, estimate, explain, imply, point out, order, predict, remark, reassure, remind, repeat, say, state, stress, suggest, tell, urge, warn
subject | verb (any tense) | that | compliment |
He She John Sarah | admitted predicted estimated repeated | that | he stole the diamonds. the film would be a success. the prices would go up. it was important to study. |
5) Verb + object + that
assure / reassure / remind / tell
subject | verb | Object | that | compliment |
He She John Sarah | assured reassured reminded told | him you me | that | he want to go home. you should leave. he won’t get involved. |
6) Verb + (that) somebody/something (should) do something
These verbs express recommendations or suggestions:
advise, agree, ask, beg, demand, insist, plead, propose, recommend, request, suggest
subject | verb | (that) | somebody something | (should) | do something |
He She John Sarah | advised agreed demanded insisted | (that) | I you he we | (should) | leave the building. go home. resign. apply for the job. |
7) Verb + gerund/noun
advise, avoid, deny, dislike, enjoy, fancy, feel like, finish, help, give up, involve, keep, mind, miss, postpone, practice, recommend, risk, can’t stand, suggest
I enjoy reading books. I enjoy this party.
He practiced dancing. He practiced his dance moves.
I can’t stand smoking. I can’t stand cigarettes.
He denied stealing the money.
8) Verb + ing / noun / that
admit, appreciate, consider, confess, delay, deny, imagine, mention, recollect, report, regret, remember, suggest
subject | verb (any tense) | +ing/noun/that | Compliment |
He She John Sarah | admitted denied appreciate | stealing making having | the diamond. a mistake your advice. |
the mistake. your advice. | --- | ||
that |
he stole the diamond. he made a mistake. you help me. |
9) Verb + preposition + gerund
advise, argue, protest, warn + against
apologise, blame, forgive, sorry, tell off, thank + for
discourage, dissuade, prevent, stop + from
accuse, afraid, dream, get rid, speak, suspect + of
succeed + in
concentrate, congratulate, decide, insist, keen + on
admit, confess, consent, look forward, object + to
Note: ‘to’ can be a preposition followed by a gerund.
She admitted to feeling rather nervous.
He told me off for singing.
I insisted on him wearing a suit.
Jack apologised for breaking the vase.
Phil succeeded in swimming across the channel.
10) Verb + object + to / Verb + ing
a. Verb + gerund
b. Verb + object + to infinitive
advise, allow, encourage, permit, prohibit, recommend, suggest
He recommended travelling to Asia.
He recommended us to travel to Asia.
She forbade leaving the room.
She forbade the child to leave the room.
