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Verb Patterns

The document outlines various verb patterns, including the use of gerunds and infinitives with specific verbs. It highlights the subtle differences in meaning between using the -ing form and the to-infinitive, particularly with verbs like hate, like, love, and prefer. Additionally, it notes that American English tends to favor the to-infinitive form more than the -ing form.

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38 views2 pages

Verb Patterns

The document outlines various verb patterns, including the use of gerunds and infinitives with specific verbs. It highlights the subtle differences in meaning between using the -ing form and the to-infinitive, particularly with verbs like hate, like, love, and prefer. Additionally, it notes that American English tends to favor the to-infinitive form more than the -ing form.

Uploaded by

illa1488g
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Verb Patterns

Verb + gerund Verb + to + Verb + object Verb + object +


Infinitive +to + Infinitive Infinitive
without to

admit doing agree to do advise her to make me do


avoid doing arrange to do do let him do
can’t help can’t afford allow me to help
can’t stand decide do
enjoy intend cause
fancy learn enable
imagine manage encourage
keep offer expect
miss refuse force
practise seem remind
spend/waste tend urge
time warn

Hate, like, love and prefer


We can use hate, like, love and prefer with an -ing form or with a to-
infinitive:

I hate to see food being thrown away. I love going to the


cinema.

I prefer listening to the news on radio than watching it on TV.

He prefers not to wear a tie to work.

In American English, the forms with to-infinitive are much more common
than the -ing form.

There is a very small difference in meaning between the two forms. The -
ing form emphasises the action or experience. The to-infinitive gives
more emphasis to the results of the action or event. We often use the -
ing form to suggest enjoyment (or lack of it), and the to-infinitive form to
express habits or preferences.
Compare

I like making jam.


emphasis on the
He likes telling jokes. experience/action
They don’t like sitting for too long.

a habit or preference
We have a lot of fruit in the
garden. I like to make jam
every year.

I prefer to sort out a problem


as soon as I can.

If you prefer not to go camping


there are youth hostels nearby.

The -ing form is more common than the to-infinitive form after hate and
love:

I hate decorating. I’d rather pay a professional to do it.

Would + hate, like, love, prefer


When we use would or ’d with hate, like, love, prefer, we use the to-
infinitive:

We would love to hear you sing.

They’d hate to cause a problem.

I’d prefer not to give you my name.

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