Verb + verb or that clause patterns
- 1. Verb + verb/that clause patterns verb + ing, verb + infinitive, verb + that clause This table shows the main patterns used when one verb follows another for over 400 of the most common verbs. It also lists verbs which can commonly be followed by a that clause. 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 do sth persuade sb to do sth make sb do sth plans and decisions aim arrange choose decide intend plan prepare propose vote expectations demand deserve expect hope reckon want wish would like yearn promises and refusals fail guarantee offer pledge promise refuse resolve swear Many of these are causative verbs advise allow ask beg cause command convince dare enable encourage entreat expect forbid force get implore intend invite leave need oblige order pay permit persuade prefer press recommend remind have let make verb + obj + (to-)infinitive help help can be used with or withoutto
- 2. threaten undertake vow other verbs afford agree allow (passive only) appear apply ask beg claim consent dare desire forget get happen help learn know manage mean need negociate plead pretend seek seem tend train volunteer wait request require teach tell train trust urge want warn would like 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 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 We can't use possessive forms after any of these verbs, only object forms verbs of perception followed by an ing-form or a bare infinitive
- 3. discuss envisage imagine mention propose suggest liking and disliking adore appreciate detest dislike 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 involve keep miss postpone practise quit recall recommend resent resist risk appreciate detest dislike dread envisage forbid forget forgive foresee hate imagine involve like love mind (neg and Qs) miss prevent recall recommend recollect regret remember resent risk start stop can't stand tolerate An -ing form suggests we see the event in progress, a bare infinitive suggests that we see the completed action. feel hear listen to look at notice observe overhear see sense watch can only be followed by aning-form catch related verbs discover find smell other verbs keep leave
- 4. spend time tolerate Verbs that take an infinitive or an -ing form no difference little difference difference attempt doing sth/to do sth like doing sth/to do sth remember doing sth/to do sth attempt begin cease continue intend start can't bear dread hate like love prefer come forget go on mean regret remember stop try Verbs + infinitive variations verb + for + obj + to- infinitive verb + infinitive or perfect infinitive verb + bare infinitive wait for sb to do sth claim to be sth / have done sth should do sth / have done 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 + subj + (should) + bare infinitive
- 5. admit that + clause persuade sb that + clause insist that sb (should) do sth Reporting verbs admit anticipate answer believe boast 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 advise assure convince guarantee inform persuade promise remind tell threaten warn In standard British English the version with should is usually used. In more formal British English and standard American English, the subjunctive form with the bare infinitive is preferred. In informal British English normal tenses are often used. advise agree ask beg command demand desire insist instruct intend order propose recommend request require stipulate suggest urge warn
- 7. see seem sense show suppose suspect swear think trust understand vow 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 + to- infinitive / clause verb + obj + wh-word + to- infinitive / clause verb + whether + to- infinitive / clause discuss what to do / what + clause tell sb how to do ... / how + clause (or other wh- word) discuss whether to do sth / whether + clause arrange calculate check choose consider debate advise inform instruct remind teach tell choose consider debate decide determine discuss
- 8. decide describe demonstrate determine discover discuss establish explain find out forget foresee guess imagine know learn notice plan realise remember say see talk about think (about) understand wonder These two verbs can be used with or without an object - ask (sb) when to do sth ask show find out forget know remember wonder ask can be used with or without an object - ask (sb) whether to do sth ask 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 + - ing verb + obj + preposition + - 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 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
- 9. argue for bargain on believe in beware of boast about brag about choose between complain about concentrate on 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 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 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 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 Sources These lists have been compiled from various sources: from the following books and from the links below Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency Side and Wellman (Longman) Advanced Grammar in Use - Martin Hewings (Cambridge) Practical English Usage Michael Swan (Oxford)
- 10. Business Grammar Builder Advanced English Practice BD Graver (Oxford)