The English Corner

B2 GRAMMAR BANK: VERB PATTERNS

Redaccion

16 Ene, 2014
12:06 am

In the B2 level the learner must be able to combine verb chains (V+V) in the correct way. To be able to do so it is important to remember that depending on the first verb, the second one will be used in the infinitive or the gerund form. To have an accurate B2 level, you must master the following rules:

· Infinitive and Gerund form of the verbs:

The infinitive is the ‘to’ form of the verb. Examples: to do, to work, to drive.

The gerund is a noun made from a verb by adding –ing. Examples: doing, working, driving. That is why gerunds follow prepositions in many common expressions and after phrasal verbs. Example: I’m thinking of visiting the States next year. They are interested in studying French. You carry on doing his work. I’m looking forward to seeing you. She gave up smoking.

· V + ‘to’ infinitive:

The following verbs are followed by the ‘to’ infinitive and not by gerund:

agree	arrange	ask	can’t afford
choose	decide	demand	expect
fail	hope	learn	manage
offer	plan	pretend	promise
refuse	seem	threaten	want

Examples:

I agree to do the presentation if you prepare the survey.

They can’t afford to buy a new car, but they chose to do it anyway.

He manages to convince people quite easily and pretends not to influence them at all.

During the negotiation they promised to reduce the costs in 5%, but they refuse to do it now.

· V + object + ‘to’ infinitive:

The following verbs are followed by an object and the ‘to’ infinitive:

advise	assist	employ	encourage
invite	order	persuade	teach
tell	urge	want	warn

Examples:

I advise you to study in the afternoon and employ her to teach you.

You want him to write the speech but there is no way you can persuade him to do so.

· V + gerund:

The following verbs are followed by a gerund and not by infinitives:

avoid	can’t help	can’t stand	delay
deny	dislike	enjoy	face
finish	hate	involve	like
love	mind	miss	postpone
practise	risk	suggest	It’s no use

Examples:

When I finished writing the composition, she suggested changing the topic.

I really enjoy drinking coffee, but I hate preparing it.

We cannot risk losing more sales in that city. We’ll delay increasing the prices.

She loves reading and I can’t help buying new books for her in any occasion.

· V + infinitive or gerund:

Certain verbs can be followed by gerunds or infinitives, but their meaning changes. The most common ones are:

*stop*	+ infinitive	I stopped to write* the report*	I stopped what I was doing in order to write the report
*stop*	+ gerund	I stopped writing* the report*	I was writing the report, then I stopped
*remember*	+ infinitive	He must remember to buy* the presents*	He has the obligation of buying the presents in the future
*remember*	+ gerund	He remembers buying* the presents*	He bought the presents earlier and he remembers doing so
*forget*	+ infinitive	They forgot to book* the room*	They did not remember to do it and the room is not booked
*forget*	+ gerund	They forgot having* booked the room*	They booked the room but do not remember doing so
*try*	+ infinitive	He tried to study* for about 8 hours a day*	He made an effort to do so
*try*	+ gerund	He had even tried working* at weekends*	He tried as an experiment
*regret*	+ infinitive	I regret to tell* you that I cannot come*	I am sorry to have to tell you that I can’t come now
*regret*	+ gerund	I now regret being* so mean*	I regret something I have done
*mean*	+ infinitive	I only meant to tell* you about the party*	Synonym of intend
*mean*	+ gerund	If we leave at 6:00 it will mean getting* up at 4:15*	Synonym of involve
*consider*	+ infinitive	He is considered to be* the best tennis player*	Reporting an opinion
*consider*	+ gerund	At one point I considered emigrating.	Meaning ‘think about’
*like*	+ infinitive	We like to go* out to lunch on Sunday*	Habitual specific preferences
*not like*	+ infinitive	I don’t like to disturb* colleagues at home*	‘think it is wrong’