Verb Structures and Patterns Guidelines

Verb Type Explanation Examples

They're sleeping.
Intransitive An intransitive verb does not take a direct object
They arrived late.
They bought the
A transitive verb takes a direct object. The direct object
Transitive sweater.
can be a noun, a pronoun or a clause.
He watched them.
The meal looked
A linking verb is followed by a noun or adjective which
Linking wonderful.
refers to the subject of the verb.
He felt embarrassed.

Verb Patterns

There are also many verb patterns which are common in English. When two verbs are used,
it is especially important to notice which form the second verb takes (infinitive - to do -
base form - do - verb ing - doing).

Verb Pattern Structure Examples

I waited to begin dinner.
This is one of the most common verb
verb infinitive They wanted to come to the
combination forms.
party.
They enjoyed listening to the
This is one of the most common verb music.
verb verb ing
combination forms. They regretted spending so
much time on the project.
Some verbs can combine with other
verb verb ing OR
verbs using both forms without She started to eat dinner. OR
verb infinitive - no
changing the basic meaning of the She started eating dinner.
change in meaning
sentence.
They stopped speaking to each
other. => They don't speak to
Some verbs can combine with other
verb verb ing OR each other anymore.
verbs using both forms. However, with
verb infinitive - They stopped to speak to each
these verbs, there is a change in the
change in meaning other. => They stopped
basic meaning of the sentence.
walking in order to speak to
each other.
An indirect object is usually placed
verb indirect object I bought her a book.
before a direct object when a verb takes
direct object She asked him the question.
both an indirect and direct object.
She asked her to find a place
This is the most common form when a
verb object to stay.
verb is followed by both an object and a
infinitive They instructed them to open
verb.
the envelope.
 She made her finish her
verb object base homework.
This form is used with a few verbs (let,
form (infinitive They let him go to the concert.
help and make).
without 'to') He helped him paint the
house.
I observed them painting the
This form is less common than verb house.
verb object verb ing
object infinitive. I heard her singing in the
living room.
She told him that she would
verb object clause Use this form for a clause beginning worker harder.
with 'that' with 'that'. He informed him that he was
going to resign.
They were instructed where to
verb object clause Use this form for a clause beginning go.
with 'wh-' with wh- (why, when, where) She told me why she had done
it.
He had his car washed.
verb object past This form is often used when someone
They want the report finished
participle does something for someone else.
immediately.