Verb Patterns

Different verbs are followed by different grammatical patterns.
Some verbs are followed by:

• a gerund (-ing)
• an infinitive (to + verb)
• an object + infinitive
• a preposition + gerund

It is important to:

• recognise common patterns
• use them accurately
• understand how meaning can change

1. What Is a Verb Pattern?

A verb pattern is the grammatical structure that follows a verb.
Compare:

• “She enjoys reading.”
• “She decided to leave.”

Both sentences are correct, but the structure after the verb is different.

2. Verb + Gerund (-ing)

Some verbs are followed by a gerund.

Structure

verb + gerund (-ing)

Common Verbs

• enjoy
• avoid
• consider
• suggest
• finish
• mind
• admit
• deny
• practise
• risk
• imagine
• can’t help
• keep on

Examples

• “I enjoy reading.”
• “She avoided answering the question.”
• “They suggested going earlier.”
• “Do you mind opening the window?”

3. Verb + Infinitive (to + verb)

Some verbs are followed by an infinitive.

Structure

verb + to + base verb

Common Verbs

• decide
• hope
• plan
• promise
• agree
• refuse
• afford
• manage
• offer
• pretend
• seem
• arrange

Examples

• “We decided to stay home.”
• “She hopes to study abroad.”
• “He refused to answer.”
• “They agreed to help us.”

4. Verb + Object + Infinitive

Some verbs are followed by:

• an object
• then an infinitive

Structure

verb + object + to + verb

Common Verbs

• ask
• tell
• want
• advise
• encourage
• invite

Examples

• “She asked me to help.”
• “They told us to wait.”
• “I want you to listen carefully.”
• “He encouraged her to apply.”

No Object: -ing; Object: To-Infinitive

With advise, allow, and permit, use a gerund when there is no object, but use an object + to-infinitive when you say who does the action:

• “The doctor advised taking the medicine.” / “The doctor advised me to take the medicine.”
• “They allow smoking outside.” / “They allow visitors to smoke outside.”
• “The rules permit parking here.” / “The rules permit residents to park here.”

With recommend, use a gerund without an object or a that clause: “I recommend taking the bus.” / “I recommend that you take the bus.” Do not use recommend someone to do something.

5. Preposition + Gerund

After a preposition, use -ing. Common patterns include apologise for, insist on, succeed in, accuse someone of, look forward to, and object to.

• “She apologised for being late.”
• “They insisted on paying.”
• “He succeeded in finding a job.”
• “They accused him of cheating.”
• “I look forward to seeing you.”
• “She objected to working late.”

6. Start, Begin, and Continue

Some verbs can be followed by both forms with little or no difference in meaning.

Common Verbs

• start
• begin
• continue

Examples

• “It started raining.”
• “It started to rain.”

These verbs usually allow both forms without an important meaning change.

With a continuous form, use the to-infinitive: “It’s starting to rain,” not “It’s starting raining.” With stative verbs, begin/start + to-infinitive is usually more natural: “I began to understand the problem.”

7. Like, Love, and Hate

With like/love/hate, both forms are possible, but -ing often emphasises enjoyment and to + verb a habit or choice: “I like swimming” (the activity) / “I like to swim before work” (a routine). American English often prefers the to-infinitive in this pattern. After would, use only the infinitive: “I’d love to come,” not “I’d love coming.”

8. Verb + Gerund OR Infinitive (Meaning Changes)

Some verbs change meaning depending on the pattern.

Verb	+ -ing	+ to-infinitive
stop	“He stopped smoking.” (quit)	“He stopped to smoke.” (paused in order to smoke)
remember	“I remember meeting her.” (memory)	“Remember to call me.” (do not forget)
forget	“I’ll never forget meeting her.” (memory)	“I forgot to call.” (failed to do it)
try	“Try restarting it.” (experiment)	“She tried to open it.” (made an effort)
regret	“I regret telling him.” (sorry about past action)	“We regret to inform you...” (formal bad news)
mean	“It means working late.” (involve)	“I meant to call.” (intend)
go on	“He went on talking.” (continued)	“He went on to explain.” (next action)
need	“The car needs washing.” (needs to be washed)	“I need to wash the car.” (I must wash it)

9. Verb + Bare Infinitive

Some verbs are followed by the base verb without “to”.
This often happens after:

• modal verbs
• let
• make
• had better
• would rather
• why not

Structure: Modals

modal + base verb

Examples

• “You must leave now.”
• “She can speak French.”
• “You had better leave now.”
• “I would rather stay at home.”
• “Why not take the bus?”

Structure: Causative and Permission Verbs

make/let/have + object + base verb

Examples

• “She made me apologise.”
• “Let him speak.”
• “I had the mechanic check the brakes.”

In the passive, make takes to: “I was made to apologise.” We do not normally make a passive with let; say “I was allowed to leave.”

Perception Verbs and Help

With see, hear, watch, and feel, use a bare infinitive for a complete action and -ing for an action in progress: “I saw him cross the road.” / “I saw him crossing the road.” Help takes both: “He helped me carry / to carry it.”

10. Common Errors

11. Easy Way to Remember

Different verbs “choose” different grammar patterns.

• verb + -ing: enjoy, avoid → “I enjoy reading.”
• verb + to-infinitive: decide, hope → “We decided to stay.”
• verb + object + to-infinitive: tell, encourage → “They told us to wait.”
• verb + preposition + -ing: apologise for, insist on → “She apologised for being late.”
• modal + base verb: must/can → “You must leave now.”
• make/let/have + object + base verb: make/let/have → “She made me apologise.”