VERB PATTERNS
When one verb follows another, different patterns are possible.
Some verbs take an object, some dont.
Different verbs are followed by either infinitive, -ing form or a that clause.
There are no rules you have to consult grammar books to make sure which pattern a
certain verb follows.
Verbs which change their meaning depending on the pattern they follow
Some verbs can be followed by either infinitive or ing form with little or no difference in
meaning, e.g.
I started to scream. / I started screaming.
Other verbs like this include: begin, not bother, cease, continue, hate, love, like and prefer.
Some verbs can take both infinitive and ing form, but their meaning changes e.g.
remember, forget, try, mean, regret, go on, dread, stop etc.
REMEMBER / FORGET
Please, remember to pay the bills!
I dont remember doing that.
Dont forget to phone your parents!
Ill never forget meeting my wife.
The first sentence refers to the future.
The second sentence refers to the past.
TRY
I tried to open the window, but it was stuck.
Try taking a hot bath if you are tired.
Try + infinitive to make an effort to do something difficult.
Try + -ing to experiment, to do something in order to see if it works.
MEAN
I mean to study hard at university.
Being a hard-working student means not going out every night.
Mean + infinitive = intention
Mean + -ing = will result in
REGRET
I regret to tell you we have no more rooms available.
I regret not making more friends when I was at school.
Regret + infinitive = giving bad news.
Regret + -ing = to have regrets about past events.
GO ON
He went on talking even though nobody was listening to him.
The prime minister began by describing which measures had already been taken and went
on to outline new proposals.
Go on + infinitive = continue.
Go on + -ing = used to talk about the next in the series of events or actions.
DREAD
I dread to think how he will react.
I dread seeing him again.
Dread to think is a fixed phrase (the only infinitive form used with dread is to think).
Dread + -ing = to be afraid of something.
STOP
Please, stop shouting!
On my way home, I stopped to buy groceries.
Stop + -ing = not to do something any more.
Stop + infinitive = purpose
FORMS OF THE INFINITIVE
TO DO full infinitive
DO bare infinitive
TO BE DOING continuous infinitive
TO BE DONE passive infinitive
TO HAVE DONE perfect infinitive active (TO HAVE BEEN DONE passive)
Compare:
He pretended to be reading the book.
He pretended to have read the book.
The action of the perfect infinitive is an earlier action (it happens before the main verb).
PARTICIPLE FORMS
DOING present participle
DONE past participle
BEING DONE present participle passive
HAVING DONE perfect participle
HAVING BEEN DONE perfect participle passive
Using the perfect participle emphasizes that the action expressed by perfect participle was
completed before the action expressed by the main verb started e.g.
She denied having been involved in the robbery.
VERBS FOLLOWED BY BARE INFINITIVE
MAKE and LET are always followed by bare infinitive e.g.
She didnt let me go out.
You cant make me do it!
In Passive, they take full infinitive e.g.
I wasnt allowed to go out.
I was made to do it.
HELP can be followed by either full or bare infinitive:
I helped her carry / to carry the boxes upstairs.
SENSE VERBS (VERBS OF PERCEPTION)
Such verbs include: feel, hear, notice, observe, see, overhear, watch.
They follow two patterns (there is a change in meaning):
I sat on the beach and watched the sun setting. /I sat on the beach and watched the sun set.
I saw a woman slapping her child. / I saw a woman slap her child.
Sense verb + O + -ing = an action in progress or repeated action.
Sense verb + O + bare infinitive = a single or completed action.
