VERB PATTERNS

1. V+Ving: like, love, enjoy, hate, can’t stand, mind, avoid, stop, finish, etc

2. V+to+infinitive: decide, expect, want, would like, manage, etc

3. V+ to+infinitive or V+Ving: begin, start, continue. It is starting to rain. Incorrect: It is starting raining.

But: I am considering going on vacation.

4. Modal verb+bare infinitive (infinitive without ‘to’): must, can, will, etc

5. V+smb+to+infinitive: tell smb to do smth; ask smb to do smth; want smb to do smth, etc

I want you to help your teammate. I expect you to do it BTD.

6. V+smb+bare infinitive: make smb do smth; let smb do smth; help smb do smth.
My teacher made us learn 100 words. She let me skip the test.

7. Preposition +Ving: be good at doing smth; think of doing smth; look forward to doing smth, etc

8. Adjective + to+infinitive: It is difficult to do; It is nice to do, etc

9. to+infinitive= purpose: I am studying English (why?) because I want to earn more.

I am studying English (why?) to earn more.
I did this in order not to be late.

10. STOP+Ving=do not do it any more: I stopped smoking 3 years ago. (give up+Ving)
STOP+to+infinitive= stop doing one thing (why?) to start doing something else: I stopped to talk to
my neighbour. (I had been walking for some time, then I stopped walking because I wanted to talk to
my neighbour).
I stopped (to eat/eating) when I saw a fly in my soup.
11. Try+to+infinitive=attempt: I tried to learn Chinese, but I failed.

12. Try+Ving=method: I could’t get to sleep last night. I tried counting sheep. I tried reading a boring book.
I tried taking sleeping pills.

13. Forget+Ving= first do smth, then forget: I will never forget meeting you (first I met you).

14. Forget+to+infinitive= first forget or do not forget and then do: Don’t forget to post my letter.

15. Remember+Ving= first do smth, then remember: I don’t remember meeting you. I don’t remember
borrowing any money from you.
 First: I met you. I borrowed some money from you.
Second: I don’t remember. I don’t remember.

16. Remember+to+infinitive= first remember and then do: I’ll remember to phone you tonight.

17. Need+Ving=passive structure: The house needs repairing=The house needs to be repaired. (Somebody
needs to repair this house). The room wants cleaning.

18. Verbs of perception: see, hear + bare infinitive: I saw him steal the money. (I saw the completed
action)

19. Verbs of perception: see, hear + Ving: I saw him stealing things from the shop. (I saw the activity in the
middle of happening)

20. Like+Ving=enjoy+Ving: I like swimming=I enjoy swimming

Would like+ to + infinitive= want +to+ infinitive
Like+to+infinitive=I think it’s a good idea/it’s my habit: I like to go to the dentist twice a year.

Like (love, prefer, hate)+Ving: I like reading – all time preference

I would like to+infinitive: I would like to read this book.- specific (future reference)