Unit 2 – verb patterns

Language is full of patterns.

Let’s look at:

1. Fixed verb patterns.
2. Common uses of -ing and to + infinitive patterns.
3. Verb patterns with both -ing and to + infinitive forms.
4. Other uses of the to + infinitive form.

Fixed forms first...

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 1. Fixed verb patterns
My project partner is so
annoying! She always
avoids doing her
homework if she can,
and usually makes me
finish the whole thing by
myself!
Mine too! I ended up
working on ours all
weekend because he
didn’t help at all. I hope
to change partners next
semester!

Look at the conversations verb + -ing verb + (object) to verb + preposition verb + object +
and try to find examples of + infinitive + -ing bare infinitive
these verb patterns.
avoid doing hope to change end up working makes me finish

There are many verbs in English that fit

these fixed patterns.

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 1. Fixed verb patterns
There are many types of verb patterns. This is when the 2nd verb in a sentence depends on the
first.
verb + -ing verb + (object) to + verb + preposition + -ing verb + object + bare
infinitive infinitive
avoid, enjoy, recommend, want, hope, would, like, end up, put off, give up, make someone do, let
suggest vote, tempt, tend, fail, go on someone do
appear, seem

Here are some very common verb

patterns. It’s important to record
all new ones when you discover
them. What are the common
uses of -ing and to +
infinitive forms?

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 2. Common uses of -ing and to + infinitive
patterns
Since school, being the centre of attention has petrified me, and I’ve always been really afraid
of speaking in public. I can’t stand being in front of a crowd and avoid it if I can. We had a
conference at work the other day, and I asked for permission not to do a talk. I was happy to
help with everything else, but not that. On the day of the conference, I came prepared to make
the coffee, only to discover that I had to introduce all the speakers. I didn’t like that either!

after after as a subject after nouns after to show

Look above. Match the prepositions phrases adjectives result
examples to the verb
patterns.
afraid of can’t stand being the ask for happy to help …, only to
speaking being... centre of permission discover...
attention not to do...
has...

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 2. Common uses of -ing and to + infinitive
patterns
+ -ing + to + infinitive

After prepositions After nouns

After certain phrases After adjectives

As a subject With only, to show result

I’ve always been really afraid of speaking in public. I was happy to help with everything else.

Being the centre of attention has petrified me. I asked for permission not to do a talk.

I can’t stand being in front of a crowd. I came prepared to make the coffee, only to
discover that I had to introduce all the speakers.

Verb patterns with both

Notice how the negative infinitive is not +
-ing and to + infinitive
to + infinitive.
forms...
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 3. Verb patterns with both -ing and to + inf.
forms Look at these pairs of examples.
A. I remembered to turn off the lights before we left.
B. I distinctly remember turning off the lights before we left.

A. He went on talking for so long that I fell asleep. Are the verbs followed Both.
B. She went on to become a top neurosurgeon in New York. by -ing, to + infinitive, or
both?
A. I need/want to go on holiday!
B. The dog needs/wants walking.

A. She regrets arguing with her brother.

B. We regret to tell you that you haven’t got the job.
Do the verbs have the
A. I like playing football at the weekends. same or different
meanings in sentences
B. I like to speak to my teacher before doing exams. A and B?
A. They meant to call me, but they forgot.
B. Learning a language means putting in years of dedication.
Different. Look at the examples
A. She stopped to talk to the man.
again and try to work
B. They stopped talking to each other after the argument. out the difference in
meaning.
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 3. Verb patterns with both -ing and to + inf.
forms
There are some verbs which can be followed by -ing and to + infinitive, but the meaning
changes.
A. I remembered to turn off the lights before we left. Remember that you HAVE to do something
B. I distinctly remember turning off the lights before we left. Remember that you DID something in the past

A. He went on talking for so long that I fell asleep. Continue doing something for a period of time
B. She went on to become a top neurosurgeon in New York. Did something and then moved onto something else

A. I need/want to go on holiday! It is a desire or plan.

B. The dog needs/wants walking. Passive: something needs/wants to be...

A. She regrets arguing with her brother. I regret something from the past I cannot change.
B. We regret to tell you that you haven’t got the job. Formal: I’m sorry to tell you that...

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 3. Verb patterns with both -ing and to + inf.
forms
There are some verbs which can be followed by -ing and to + infinitive, but the meaning
changes.
A. I like playing football at the weekends. I enjoy doing something.
B. I like to speak to my teacher before doing exams. I think it’s a good idea that...

A. They meant to call me, but they forgot. To have the intention to do something
B. Learning a language means putting in years of dedication. An activity involves a lot of energy

A. She stopped to talk to the man. Stop in order to do something

B. They stopped talking to each other after the argument. To no longer do something

There are some verbs which can

Forget works in the same
way as remember.
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be used with -ing and to +
infinitive with little or no change in
meaning. E.g. begin, start, continue, Other uses of to +
prefer, hate, love, intend. infinitive...
 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
perfect infinitive
I would like to
I’m so happy to
have gone, but I
have seen Maria
had to revise for
again at the party.
my exams.

Is girl 1 happy in the present So, is the situation real or

or the past? unreal?

Unreal
Did girl 2 go to the party in
Present When did she see Maria?
the past?
Present or past?

Past
No
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 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
perfect infinitive
I would like to
I’m so happy to
have gone, but I
have seen Maria
had to revise for
again at the party.
my exams.

To talk about past events from the To talk about unreal past situations which are
perspective of the present the opposite of what actually happened

to + have + past participle

Look at these two This means the same as She didn’t go to the party,
different uses of the ‘I’m happy that I saw so it’s the opposite of
perfect infinitive. Maria…’. what happened.

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 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
passive infinitive
I want to be chosen for the new TV show.
Diana needs to be told off more!
Notice how in all these
Tom and Jack asked to be moved to the front of the plane. examples, someone else is the
agent (the doer) of the
infinitive part of the sentence.
That makes it a passive
In example one, does the infinitive.
boy who is talking choose or
someone else?

In example three, who

In example two, should probably moved Jack and
Someone
Diana tell herself off or Tom?
else
someone else do it?
Someone else
– probably her The flight
parents! attendants
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 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
passive infinitive
The passive infinitive: to + be + past participle

I want to be chosen for the new TV show.

Means the same as I want that [the director] chooses me for the TV show.

Diana needs to be told off more!

Means the same as [Diana’s parents] need to tell her off more.

Tom and Jack asked to be moved to the front of the plane.

Means the same as Tom and Jack asked [the flight attendant] to move them.

Let’s practise!
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 Practice activities
Fill the gaps with the correct verb form.

to read up
1. Thomas likes ……………………. on the places he visits before travelling. READ UP

breaking down
2. My car keeps …………………….; fixing
it really needs ……………….. . BREAK DOWN, FIX

to book
3. Fred meant …………………….. the tickets, but he got held up at work. BOOK

go
4. My parents can’t make me ……………… to university if I don’t want to. GO

to have met your cousin from Australia, but we were away when he
5. I would like ………………….. MEET

was visiting.

Living
6. ……………………. in a big city can be really stressful. I moved to New York 3 years ago LIVE, FIND

to find this out.

only …………………

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