Verb patterns

Verb patterns verb + ing, verb + infinitive, verb + that clause The tables show the main patterns used for over 400 of the most common verbs when one verb follows another They also list verbs which can commonly be followed by a that clause, as well as one or two other patterns  o verb + to-infinitive verb + to-infinitive o verb + obj + to-infinitive o Verb + obj + bare infinitive  verb + -ing form o o verb + -ing form verb + obj (or possessive) + -ing form o verb + obj + -ing form  verb + to-infinitive or -ing form o o o  o o o  with no difference in meaning with little difference in meaning with a difference in meaning infinitive variations verb + for + obj + to-infinitive verb + infinitive / perfect infinitive verb + bare infinitive verbs that take a that clause o o verb + that + clause verb + obj + that + clause o verb + that + obj + (should) + bare infinitive  verbs that can take a wh-word + to-infinitive or clause o verb + wh-word + to-infinitive / clause o o verb + verb + obj + wh-word + to-infinitive / clause verb + whether + to-infinitive / clause  constructions with prepositions o verb + preposition + -ing o o verb + preposition + subj + -ing verb + obj + preposition + -ing Update 4/1/2015 - I've added a couple of extra categories :  Verb + object + to be sth (to have done sth)  Verb + object + sb/sth (object complement)  Verb + two objects - indirect object + direct object You can also look at individual verbs to see the different ways they can be used Verbs that take an infinitive verb + to-infinitive verb + obj + to-infinitive verb + obj + bare infinitive afford to sth persuade sb to sth make sb sth plans and decisions aim arrange choose decide intend plan prepare propose vote Many of these are causative verbs advise allow ask beg cause command convince dare enable expectations encourage demand entreat deserve expect expect forbid hope force reckon get want implore wish intend would like invite yearn leave need promises and refusals nominate fail oblige guarantee order offer pay pledge permit promise persuade refuse prefer resolve press swear recommend threaten remind undertake request vow require teach other verbs tell afford train agree trust allow (passive only) urge appear want apply warn ask would like beg have let make have sb sth is mainly used in American English I'll have my secretary call you In passive structures makeneeds to He was made to take the test again verb + obj + (to-)infinitive help help can be used with or withoutto claim consent dare desire forget get happen help learn know manage mean need negociate plead pretend seek seem tend train volunteer wait Verbs that take an -ing form verb + -ing form verb + obj + -ing verb + obj + -ing form admit doing sth imagine sb('s) doing sth see sb doing sth saying and thinking admit advocate anticipate consider describe deny discuss envisage imagine mention propose suggest In more formal language we can use a possessive with these verbs when talking about a person or group of people I appreciate you(r) helping me advocate anticipate appreciate detest dislike dread envisage forbid forget forgive foresee hate We can't use possessive forms after any of these verbs, only object forms liking and disliking adore appreciate detest dislike verbs of perception followed by an ing-form or a bare infinitive An -ing form suggests we see the event in progress He heard her closing the door a bare infinitive suggests that we see the completed action She saw him leave the house feel hear listen to enjoy fancy feel like mind (neg and Qs) phrasal verbs carry on give up keep on put off can't can't face can't help can't stand other verbs advise allow avoid delay encourage finish go skiing, jogging etc involve keep miss postpone practise quit recall recommend resent resist risk spend time tolerate imagine involve like love mind (neg and Qs) miss prevent recall recommend recollect regret remember resent risk start stop can't stand tolerate look at notice observe overhear see sense watch can only be followed by aningform catch They caught him stealing related verbs discover find smell other verbs keep leave They kept us waiting She left him sleeping Verbs that take an infinitive or an -ing form no difference little difference difference attempt doing sth/to sth like doing sth/to sth remember doing sth/to sth attempt begin cease can't bear dread hate forget go on mean continue intend start like love prefer regret remember stop try Verbs + infinitive variations verb + for + obj + toinfinitive verb + infinitive or perfect infinitive verb + bare infinitive wait for sb to sth claim to be sth / have done should sth / have done sth sth appeal apply arrange ask call clamour long opt pay plead press vote wait wish yearn appear claim happen pretend prove seem tend reporting verbs Modal auxiliaries can could will would shall should may might must ought to semi-modals dare (in negs and Qs) need (in negs and Qs) other constructions have to be going to Verbs which take a that clause verb + that + clause verb + obj + that + clause verb + that + obj + (should) + bare infinitive admit that + clause persuade sb that + clause insist that sb (should) sth Reporting verbs advise assure convince guarantee inform persuade promise In standard British English the version with should is usually used insist that sb should sth admit anticipate answer believe boast In more formal British English and standard American English, brag calculate claim complain confess confirm consider declare demand deny disclose explain indicate mention order pretend profess recall recollect realise say state suggest threaten warn Other verbs (many of these can also be used for reporting) acknowledge advise advocate agree allow (admit) appreciate argue arrange assume check command decide demonstrate determine direct doubt dream envisage estimate remind tell threaten warn the subjunctive form with the bare infinitive (without should) is preferred insist that sb sth In informal British English normal tenses are also sometimes used insist that sb does sth advise agree ask beg command demand desire insist instruct intend order propose recommend request require stipulate suggest urge warn establish expect fancy fear feel foresee forget guarantee guess hear hold hope imagine instruct joke know learn maintain mean notice observe plan presume promise propose prove reckon recognise regret remember reply report require resolve reveal see seem sense show suppose suspect swear think trust understand vow wish Verbs + object + to be sth / to have done sth / sth verb + obj + to be + sth verb + obj + to be/have verb + obj + sth imagine sb/sth to be sth presume sb/sth to be sth / to have done sth consider sb/sth sth I imagined him to be older than that He presumed her to have forgotten They appointed him chairman.(object complement - noun) allow appoint assume believe cause certify choose confess consider declare deem elect estimate expect find get hold imagine intend judge know mean need perceive presume proclaim project prove repute rumour report say see show suppose think want wish believe presume understand She considers him very helpful.(object complement adjective) appoint baptise believe call certify choose christen confess consider crown declare elect find hold imagine judge make name nominate paint presume proclaim profess prove rate suppose think vote wish Passive structures with reporting verbs Many reporting verbs can be used in passive structures to distance the information being reported The two main patterns are: Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive He is believed to be hiding in a local forest It + passive reporting verb + that + clause It is thought that he had help from the outside The first type has several variations: we use a perfect infinitive for past reference He is understood to have escaped in a stolen car We can use continuous and past continuous forms He is considered to be managing quite well He is reported to have been living off wild plants and sometimes a passive infinitive is used He is presumed to have been given food by local people The reporting verb can also be in the past He was seen to enter the forest early in the morning Verbs which can take a wh- word + to-infinitive or a wh-clause wh-words include - what, when, where, which, who, why and how (or the way) verb + wh-word + toinfinitive / clause verb + obj + wh-word + to- verb + whether + to-infinitive / infinitive / clause clause discuss what to / what + clause tell sb how to / how + discuss whether to sth / clause (or other wh- word) whether + clause arrange calculate check choose consider debate decide describe demonstrate determine discover discuss establish explain find out forget foresee guess imagine advise inform instruct remind teach tell choose consider debate decide determine discuss find out These two verbs can be forget used with or without an know object - ask (sb) when to remember sth wonder ask show ask can be used with or without an object - ask (sb) whether to sth ask know learn notice plan realise remember say see talk about think (about) understand wonder Verbs which take special constructions verb + sth done sth needs doing verb + sth (to be)done have something done something needs doing want sth (to be) done have get need need want Constructions with prepositions After prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs with a preposition particle and verbs which take dependent prepositions we use an -ing form verb + preposition + ing verb + preposition + subj + verb + obj + preposition + -ing -ing dream about doing sth object to sb('s) doing sth forgive sb for doing sth abstain from aim at appeal to apologize for approve of argue against argue for bargain on believe in beware of boast about brag about choose between complain about concentrate on approve of begin with disapprove of insist on object to accuse sb of acquit sb of advise sb against arrest sb for blame sb for charge sb with compensate sb for condemn sb for congratulate sb on excuse sb for fine sb for forbid sb from forgive sb for involve sb in praise sb for decide on disapprove of dream about escape from get out of excel at hold off insist on joke about look into object to participate in persist in reckon on see about set about succeed in take part in think of / about win by put sb up to press sb into prevent sb from prohibit sb from punish sb for stop sb from suspect sb of thank sb for Verbs that take two objects Some verbs can take an indirect object as well as a direct object Using an indirect object is an alternative to using a prepositional phrase with to or for verb + ind obj + dir obj (=to) verb + ind obj + dir obj (=for) give sb sth / sth to sb make sb sth / sth for sb She read him a story (= She read a story to him) He poured her a drink (= He poured a drink for her) award give grant hand lend offer pass pay play post promise read sell send show book build buy bring catch choose cook (bake etc) find fetch get keep leave make order pour sing take teach tell throw write prepare reserve save Infinitive of purpose After many verbs or verb + object we can use an infinitive of purpose I've come to help you He's taking her to see the fireworks After phrasal verbs with an adverb particle we can also use an infinitive of purpose She's gone out to buy some vegetables She went up to greet him [...]... sb into prevent sb from prohibit sb from punish sb for stop sb from suspect sb of thank sb for Verbs that take two objects Some verbs can take an indirect object as well as a direct object Using an indirect object is an alternative to using a prepositional phrase with to or for verb + ind obj + dir obj (=to) verb + ind obj + dir obj (=for) give sb sth / sth to sb make sb sth / sth for sb She read him... find fetch get keep leave make order pour sing take teach tell throw write prepare reserve save Infinitive of purpose After many verbs or verb + object we can use an infinitive of purpose I've come to help you He's taking her to see the fireworks After phrasal verbs with an adverb particle we can also use an infinitive of purpose She's gone out to buy some vegetables She went up to greet him