VERB PATTERNS
There are 3 kinds of verb patterns:
1. Verb + to infinitive
2. Verb + gerund
3. Verb + infinitive
1. TO INFINITIVES
They can be used for the following purposes:
a) To complete the meaning of a verb: The child started to cry
b) To complete the meaning of adjectives: John seem anxious to leave
c) To show purpose: He works overtime to earn extra money
d) After too and enough: He arrived too late to see the first act
She wasn’t strong enough to lift the box
e) To describe ability to do sth. with how: Celia has learnt how to read
f) After what, which, whose, how…: I don’t know which road to take
g) As an object in sentences with It as subject (“it” refers to the infinitive)
It is not always possible to get 8 hours’ sleep each night.
We can find two structures for the infinitive:
V + SOMEONE + TO INFINITIVE: Myron taught his daughter to play the violin
#advise convince hire persuade urge
#allow dare instruct #prefer want
ask encourage invite #recomme warn
beg expect need nd
cause #forbid order remind
challenge force #permit require
teach
NOTE: # These verbs can also be followed by a gerund without change in meaning
V + TO INFINITIVE: John refused to sign the contract
afford decide manage *regret want
agree demand mean *remember wish
appear deserve need seem
arrange expect offer *stop
ask fail plan struggle
beg *forget prepare swear
care hesitate pretend threaten
claim hope promise volunteer
consent learn refuse wait
NOTE: * These verbs can also be followed by a gerund with a change in meaning.
2. GERUNDS
They can be used as:
1. Subject: Fishing is a pleasant activity
2. Object: My husband enjoys fishing
3. Object of a preposition: My family is interested in fishing
Since a gerund functions as a noun, the possessive form of a noun or a pronoun
must be used with a gerund:
Unfortunately, we missed his speech about Early Man
Unfortunately, we missed his speaking about Early Man
List of verbs followed by Gerund
admit discuss mind resist
#advise dislike miss *remember
#allow enjoy postpone risk
anticipate finish #permit suggest
appreciate #forbid practice tolerate
avoid *forget quit *regret
complete imagine recall understand
continue keep #recommend *stop
delay *mean regret
deny mention resent
NOTE: # also followed by an infinitive without change in meaning.
* also followed by an infinitive with change in meaning
After the following expressions:
can’t stand/ can’t bear spend money/ spend time
can’t help be used to/ get used to
have a good / hard time sit + expression of place + ING
have a problem / difficulty stand + expression of place + ING
have trouble lie + expression of place + ING
mind/ never mind look forward to
make money feel like
be no use go
VERBS FOLLOWED EITHER BY AN INFINITIVE OR A GERUND WITH NO CHANGE IN
MEANING
Advise: + noun / pronoun + TO INFINITIVE: The teacher advised me to read the book
+ ING: The teacher advised reading the book
Prefer: + TO INFINITIVE + rather than + TO INFINITIVE: I prefer to drive rather
than to walk
+ GERUND + to + GERUND: I prefer driving to walking
VERBS FOLLOWED EITHER BY AN INFINITIVE OR A GERUND WITH CHANGE IN
MEANING
Stop: + INFINITIVE= “to interrupt, to halt”. It has the idea of purpose: He stopped to talk to
him
+ GERUND = “give up, quit”: The baby suddenly stopped crying.
Remember / Forget: + INFINITIVE= what you have to do. These verbs express the earlier
action
Regret Don’t worry I will remember to feed the cat
1º 2º
+ GERUND= what you have done in the past. The gerund is the earlier
action
I remember seeing the Alps when I was 7
2ª 1º
Mean: + INFINITIVE = “intend”: I mean to get the top by sunrise
+ GERUND = “involve”: He is determined to get a seat even if it means standing in a
queue
3. INFINITIVES WITHOUT TO
They follow MAKE, LET, modal verbs and certain expressions.
Can may
Could might
Will must
Would had better
Shall would rather/sooner* (=prefer)
should would you please
PREFER + to infinitive + RATHER THAN+ infinitive
PREFER+ gerund + TO+ gerund
*I’D RATHER + bare infinitive + THAN + bare infinitive
I prefer to swim rather than to run
I prefer swimming to running
I’d rather swim than run
PADLET con ejemplos de gerundios e infinitivos en canciones
