Verb Patterns

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Grammar
Grammar > Parts of Speech > Verbs

When we join two verbs we use different patterns. Some of the more common patterns are:

{verb} + {to} + {infinitive}

I managed to leave.

If you happen to see them, say 'Hello' for me.

Verbs that follow this pattern include: afford, agree, appear, arrange, ask, attempt, be, bear, beg, begin, care, choose, consent, dare, decide, determine, expect, fail, forget, happen, hate, have, help, hesitate, hope, intend, learn, like, love, manage, mean, need, neglect, offer, ought, plan, prefer, prepare, pretend, promise, propose, refuse, regret, remember, seem, start, swear, threaten, trouble, try, used, want, wish.

{verb} + [object] + {to} + {infinitive}

I would advise you to go.

I want you to leave.

Verbs that follow this pattern include: advise, allow, ask, bear, beg, cause, command, compel, encourage, expect, forbid, force, get, hate, help, instruct, intend, invite, leave, like, mean, need, oblige, order, permit, persuade, prefer, press, promise, recommend, request, remind, teach, tell, tempt, trouble, want, warn, wish.

{verb} + [object] + {infinitive}

I could feel him watch me.

I made them leave.

With the passive voice, we use the to + infinitive pattern:

{passive verb} + {to} + {infinitive}

He was made to feel unwelcome.

They were seen to enter the building after dark.

Verbs that follow this pattern include most (but not all) of the modal auxiliary verbs and verbs of senses: could, feel, hear, help, let, make, may, might, must, notice, see, shall, should, watch, will, would.

{verb} + {gerund}

I considered retiring.

I enjoy running first thing in the morning.

Verbs that follow this pattern include: admit, advise, appreciate, avoid, can't help, can't stand, consider, contemplate, delay, deny, detest, dislike, endure, enjoy, escape, excuse, face, feel like, finish, forgive, give up, go on, imagine, involve, keep, leave off, mention, mind, miss, postpone, practice, prefer, put off, resent, resist, risk, stop, suggest, understand.

Some verbs can take either the gerund or the infinitive.

I like skiing.

I like to ski.

There is very little difference between these two though, usually, the gerund refers to a general activity while the infinitive refers to a specific case.

There are some important exceptions though:

Remember to visit my mother.

Remember visiting my mother?

In this case, the gerund refers to what happened before the action expressed by the main verb and the infinitive what happened after the action expressed by main verb.

Remember to visit my mother. = don't forget to vist my mother; you must remember now that you will visit my mother in a while.

Remember visiting my mother? = you visited her in the past and now I am asking you to remember it.

Verbs in this category include: advise, allow, attemp t, begin, can't bear, continue, forbid, forget, go on, hate, hear, intend, like, love, permit, prefer, propose, regret, remember, see, start, stop, try, watch.

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