Verb Patterns
Verb Patterns
Verb Patterns
Some of these verbs (e.g. can’t stand, dislike, imagine, involve, mind, miss, put off and risk)
can be used with a new subject before the -ing form (underlined in the examples below). If
the new subject is a pronoun, it is in the object form (me, him, her, us, them):
Hate, like, love and prefer can be followed either by -ing or a to-infinitive. The difference
in meaning is often small. The -ing form emphasises the verb itself. The to-infinitive puts
the emphasis more on the preference for, or the results of, the action.
When hate, like, love and prefer are used with would or should, only the to-infinitive is
used, not the -ing form:
Let and make are followed by an infinitive without to in active voice sentences. They
always have an object (underlined) before the infinitive:
Let me show you this DVD I’ve got.
They made us wait while they checked our documents.
Not: They made us to wait …
Help
A group of verbs connected with feeling, hearing and seeing can be used with -ing or with
an infinitive without to:
When they are used with -ing, these verbs emphasise the action or event in progress.
When they are used with an infinitive without to, they emphasise the action or event seen
as a whole, or as completed.
She heard people shouting in the street I heard someone shout ‘Help!’, so I ran
below and looked out of the to the river. (emphasises the whole
window. (emphasises that the shouting event: the person probably shouted
probably continued or was repeated) only once)
forbid invite
To-infinitive or -ing form with a change in meaning
stop buying coffee- don’t
go on stop remember do it anymore
stopped to buy some
coffee
mean regret try went to the coffee shop for
some coffee
UEDE
R S TO DO
E
P B + VERB PATTERNS
M
S Task 1.
Which patterns are possible after these verbs? What can you say after
each verb?
LIKE
WANT
MUST
STOP
BEGIN
Task 2.
What's the mistake in each sentence? How can you correct it?
Task 4.
Complete the sentences with the correct form of the verb in brackets
(gerund or infinitive).
1. I enjoy _______ (read) books in my free time.
2. She decided _______ (move) to a new city next year.
3. He avoided _______ (talk) to his boss after the meeting.
4. We plan _______ (visit) our grandparents this weekend.
5. They can’t stand _______ (wait) in long lines at the airport.
6. I hope _______ (see) you at the party tomorrow.
7. She gave up _______ (smoke) last year.
Task 5.
Complete the sentences using the correct verb and form of the infinitive.
Task 6.
Complete the sentences using the correct verb and form of the infinitive.
_______________________________________________________________________
3.He made her to clean the room.
________________________________________________________________________
4.They enjoyed to watch the movie.
________________________________________________________________________
5.The boss expects that we finish the report by Friday.
________________________________________________________________________
Task 6.
Look at the verb patterns listed below. Write down your own
examples of verbs which can follow the patterns.
You can go now. I want to visit you. I'll avoid driving there.
REMIND
SMB + TO DO
T ’S
LE EAK
Task 7.
Speaking.
SP 1. One student begins by making a sentence to start the story using a verb
pattern. They can pick a verb from the list provided or think of their own. For
example:
"One day, Sarah decided to go to the park." (verb + infinitive)
2.The next student continues the story using a different verb pattern, connecting
their sentence to the previous one. For example:
"When she arrived, she saw some children playing football." (verb + gerund)
3.Ending the Story: The story continues until every student has contributed 2-3
sentences, or until the teacher decides to wrap it up. The last student should come
up with a sentence to conclude the story, using any verb pattern they like.
Task 8.
Look at the pictures and make sentences. Pay attention to verb patterns
see
HELP+ TO/DO
offer
My Weekend Plans
This weekend, I’ve decided ___________(spend) some time outdoors because the weather is
supposed to be great. On Saturday morning, I plan __________(go) hiking with my friends. I
always enjoy being in nature, so I’m really looking forward to it. I asked my brother______(join)
us, but he has to study for his exams, so he can’t ________ (come).
After the hike, I’ll probably relax at home and try ________ (avoid) ________(spend) too much
time on my phone. I need _________(make) myself ______(focus) on _______(read) the book
I’ve been trying _________ (finish) for weeks. In the afternoon, I’ll ask my friend _________ (help)
me with some work on a project we’re doing together. She usually feels enjoying these creative
tasks as we work on them, and it makes the process much easier.
On Sunday, my parents will make me_______ (clean) my room, which I always put off. I hope
________ (finish) it quickly so that I can meet up with my friends in the evening. We plan
_________(see) a new movie at the cinema. I know I’ll let myself_______ (enjoy) the rest of the
weekend once I’ve taken care of everything.
Task 10.
Write a short paragraph about what you plan to do this weekend. Use at
least one verb pattern from each category below. Try to be creative and
include as much detail as possible.
Verb + Gerund (e.g., enjoy doing, avoid going)
Verb + Infinitive (e.g., decide to go, hope to see)
Verb + Object + Infinitive (e.g., ask someone to help, tell someone to wait)
let /make + verb
verbs connected with feeling + gerund to show the progress
Keys
Exercise 1 Exercise 3 Exercise 5
1. Like doing / to do 1. to go 1. to help
2. want to do 2. laughing 2. to be
3. must do 3. to finish 3. to get
4. stop doing /to do 4. helping 4. tu buy
5. begin to do 5. to call 5. to come
Exercise 9
My Weekend Plans
This weekend, I’ve decided to spend some time outdoors because the weather is supposed to be
great. On Saturday morning, I plan to go hiking with my friends. I always enjoy being in nature, so I’m
really looking forward to it. I asked my brother to join us, but he has to study for his exams, so he
can’t come.
After the hike, I’ll probably relax at home and try to avoid spending too much time on my phone. I
need to make myself focus on reading the book I’ve been trying to finish for weeks. In the
afternoon, I’ll ask my friend to help me with some work on a project we’re doing together. She
usually feels enjoying these creative tasks as we work on them, and it makes the process much
easier.
On Sunday, my parents will make me clean my room, which I always put off. I hope to finish it
quickly so that I can meet up with my friends in the evening. We plan to see a new movie at the
cinema. I know I’ll let myself enjoy the rest of the weekend once I’ve taken care of everything.