Unit 2 – verb patterns

Language is full of patterns.

Let’s look at:
1. Fixed verb patterns.
2. Verb patterns with both -ing and to + infinitive forms.
3. Common uses of -ing and to + infinitive patterns.
4. Other uses of the to + infinitive form.

Fixed forms first...

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 1. Fixed verb patterns
My project partner is Mine insisted on
so annoying! She working with me and I
always avoids doing ended up working on
her homework if she my own because he
can, and usually didn’t help at all. I
makes me finish the hope to change
whole thing by myself! partners next time!

verb + -ing verb + (object) verb + verb + object +

Look at the conversations
to + infinitive preposition + - bare infinitive
and try to find examples of
ing
these verb patterns.
avoid doing hope to change insist on working makes me finish
end up working

There are many verbs in English that fit

these fixed patterns.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 1. Fixed verb patterns
There are many types of verb patterns. This is when the 2nd verb in a sentence depends
on the first.
verb + -ing verb + (object) to + verb + preposition + verb + object + bare
infinitive -ing infinitive
avoid, enjoy, want, hope, would like, end up, put off, give up, make someone do, let
recommend, suggest vote, tempt, tend, fail, go on someone do
appear, seem insist on, object to

Here are some very common

verb patterns. It’s important to
record all new ones when you
discover them. Verb patterns with
both -ing and to +
infinitive forms...

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 2. Verb patterns with both -ing and to
+ inf. forms Look at these pairs of examples.
A. I remembered to turn off the lights before we left.
B. I distinctly remember turning off the lights before we left.

A. He went on talking for so long that I fell asleep. Are the verbs Both
B. She went on to become a top neurosurgeon in New York. followed by -ing, to + .
infinitive, or both?
A. I need/want to go on holiday!
B. The dog needs/wants walking.

A. She regrets arguing with her brother.

B. We regret to tell you that you haven’t got the job.
Do the verbs have
A. I like playing football at the weekends. the same or different
meanings in
B. I like to speak to my teacher before doing exams. sentences A and B?
A. They meant to call me, but they forgot.
B. Learning a language means putting in years of dedication.
Differen Look at the examples
A. She stopped to talk to the man.
t. again and try to work
B. They stopped talking to each other after the argument. out the difference in
meaning.
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
 2. Verb patterns with both -ing and to
+ inf. forms
There are some verbs which can be followed by -ing and to + infinitive, but the
meaning changes.
A. I remembered to turn off the lights before we left. Remember that you HAVE to do something
B. I distinctly remember turning off the lights before we left. Remember that you DID something in the past

A. He went on talking for so long that I fell asleep. Continue doing something for a period of time
B. She went on to become a top neurosurgeon in New York. Did something and then moved onto something
else

A. I need/want to go on holiday! It is a desire or plan.

B. The dog needs/wants walking. Passive: something needs/wants to be...

A. She regrets arguing with her brother. I regret something from the past I cannot change.
B. We regret to tell you that you haven’t got the job. Formal: I’m sorry to tell you that...

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 2. Verb patterns with both -ing and to
+ inf. forms
There are some verbs which can be followed by -ing and to + infinitive, but the
meaning changes.
A. I tried to do the exercise, but it was too difficult. Make the effort
B. If you feel dizzy, try getting some fresh air. Experiment (perhaps it will help?)

A. My parents don’t allow smoking at home. Nobody is allowed to do it.

B. My mom would never allow me to smoke at my age. (+object) A particular person can’t do it.

A. Don’t forget to buy milk. Please buy it (in the future).

B. What do you mean you have forgotten meeting Brad Forget something that happened (in the past)
Pitt?

A. I prefer walking to driving. It’s my general preference.

B. I prefer to drive today. It’s freezing cold! It’s my choice in the particular situation.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 2. Verb patterns with both -ing and to
+ inf. forms
There are some verbs which can be followed by -ing and to + infinitive, but the
meaning changes.
A. I like playing football at the weekends. I enjoy doing something.
B. I like to speak to my teacher before doing exams. I think it’s a good idea that...

A. They meant to call me, but they forgot. To have the intention to do something
B. Learning a language means putting in years of dedication. The activity involves a lot of energy

A. She stopped to talk to the man. Stop in order to do something

B. They stopped talking to each other after the argument. To no longer do something

There are some verbs which

can be used with -ing and to +
infinitive with little or no change What are the common
in meaning. E.g. begin, start, uses of -ing and to +
continue, hate, love, intend. infinitive forms?
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
 3. Common uses of -ing and to +
infinitive patterns
Since school, being the centre of attention has petrified me, and I’ve always been
really afraid of speaking in public. I can’t stand being in front of a crowd and avoid
it if I can. We had a conference at work the other day, and I asked for permission not to
do a talk. I was happy to help with everything else, but not that. On the day of the
conference, I came prepared to make the coffee, only to discover that I had to
introduce all the speakers. I didn’t like that either!
after after as a after after to show
Look above. Match prepositio phrases subject nouns adjectives result
the examples to the ns
verb patterns.
afraid of can’t stand being the ask for happy to help …, only to
speaking being... centre of permission discover...
attention not to do...
has...

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 3. Common uses of -ing and to +
infinitive patterns
+ -ing + to + infinitive

After prepositions After nouns

After certain phrases After adjectives

As a subject With only, to show result

I’ve always been really afraid of speaking in public. I was happy to help with everything else.

Being the centre of attention has petrified me. I asked for permission not to do a talk.

I can’t stand being in front of a crowd. I came prepared to make the coffee, only to
discover that I had to introduce all the
speakers.

Notice how the negative infinitive is not Other uses of to +

+ to + infinitive. infinitive...
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
perfect infinitive
I would like to
I’m so happy to
have gone, but
have seen Maria
I had to revise
again at the party.
for my exams.

Is girl 1 happy in the So, is the situation real or

present or the past? unreal?

Unreal
Presen Did girl 2 go to the party in
When did she see Maria?
t the past?
Present or past?

Past
No
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
perfect infinitive
I would like to
I’m so happy to
have gone, but I
have seen Maria
had to revise for
again at the party.
my exams.

To talk about past events from the To talk about unreal past situations
perspective of the present which are the opposite of what actually
happened

to + have + past participle

She didn’t go to the

Look at these two This means the same as
party, so it’s the
different uses of the ‘I’m happy that I saw
opposite of what
perfect infinitive. Maria…’.
happened.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1

 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
passive infinitive
I want to be chosen for the new TV show.
Diana needs to be told off more!
Notice how in all these
Tom and Jack asked to be moved to the front of the plane. examples, someone else is
the agent (the doer) of the
infinitive part of the
sentence. That makes it a
In example one, does the passive infinitive.
boy who is talking choose
or someone else?

In example three, who

In example two, should probably moved Jack and
Someone
Diana tell herself off or Tom?
else
someone else do it?
Someone
else – The flight
probably her attendant
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1 parents! s
 4. Other uses of the to + inf. form: the
passive infinitive
The passive infinitive: to + be + past participle

I want to be chosen for the new TV show.

Means the same as I want that [the director] chooses me for the TV show.

Diana needs to be told off more!

Means the same as [Diana’s parents] need to tell her off more.

Tom and Jack asked to be moved to the front of the plane.

Means the same as Tom and Jack asked [the flight attendant] to move them.

Let’s practise!
Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1
 Practice activities
Fill the gaps with the correct verb form.

to read up
1. Thomas likes ……………………. on the places he visits before travelling. READ
UP
breaking down
2. My car keeps …………………….; fixing
it really needs ……………….. . BREAK DOWN,
FIX
to book
3. Fred meant …………………….. the tickets, but he got held up at work. BOOK

go
4. My parents can’t make me ……………… to university if I don’t want to. GO

to have met your cousin from Australia, but we were away when he
5. I would like ………………….. MEET

was visiting.

Living
6. ……………………. in a big city can be really stressful. I moved to New York 3 years ago LIVE, FIND

to find
only ………………… this out.

Copyright © 2018 by Pearson Education Gold Experience 2nd Edition C1