Mastering English Verb Patterns and Grammar

Verb Patterns: Infinitives and Gerunds

Infinitive with 'to'

Used after certain verbs and expressions:

• Verbs followed by 'to' + infinitive: afford, agree, decide, expect, forget, help, learn, manage, need, plan, prepare, promise, want, wish.
• Verb + object + 'to' + infinitive: advise, allow, ask, encourage, expect, help, invite, order, permit, prefer, recommend, tell, want, remind.

Infinitive without 'to'

Used in specific cases:

• After modal verbs.
• After 'had better'.
• After 'but' and 'except'.
• After verbs of perception.

Gerund (-ing form)

Used in the following situations:

• As a subject in general statements.
• As a direct object.
• For prohibitions.
• After prepositions.
• Verbs followed by gerund: avoid, consider, continue, deny, dislike, enjoy, feel, forbid, give up, help, imagine, keep, like, mind, permit, resist, risk, stop, suggest.
• Common expressions: don't mind, can't stand, feel like, it's no use.

Verbs Followed by Either Infinitive or Gerund

Some verbs can be followed by either form, sometimes with a change in meaning:

• attempt, continue, begin, dislike, hate, like, love, prefer, start.

Verbs with Significant Meaning Differences

• Stop:
  • Stop + to infinitive: To interrupt an action to do something else.
  • Stop + gerund: To cease a habitual action.
• Remember:
  • Remember + to infinitive: To recall a future obligation.
  • Remember + gerund: To recall a past event.
• Regret:
  • Regret + to infinitive: To be sorry to give bad news.
  • Regret + gerund: To be sorry for having done something wrong.
• Forget:
  • Forget + to infinitive: To fail to do something.
  • Forget + gerund: To forget having done something in the past.
• Mean:
  • Mean + to infinitive: To intend to do something.
  • Mean + gerund: To imply or involve.
• Try:
  • Try + to infinitive: To make an effort.
  • Try + gerund: To experiment.
• Go on:
  • Go on + to infinitive: To move on to a different action.
  • Go on + gerund: To continue.

Modal Verbs

• Ability: can, could, be able to
• Prohibition: mustn't, can't
• Permission: can, could
• Offers: would, shall
• Requests: can, could
• Advice: should, shall
• Possibility: can, could
• Criticism: should
• Deduction: must (certainty), couldn't (certainty)
• Obligation: must, have to, ought to
• Lack of Necessity: don't have to, needn't

Passive Voice

Commonly used with verbs like: believe, expect, feel, hope, know, say, think.

• Personal construction: Subject + Passive Verb + To Infinitive.
• Impersonal construction: It + Passive Verb + That Clause.
• Have + Noun + Past Participle.

Relative Clauses

• Prepositions can appear at the end of the relative clause (informal) or before the relative pronoun (formal).
• Defining relative clauses: No commas. 'That' is possible. The relative pronoun can be omitted if it is the object of the verb.
• Non-defining relative clauses: Commas are used. 'That' is not possible. The relative pronoun cannot be omitted.

Reported Speech

Common reporting verbs:

• say to, tell, answer, admit (+ gerund), agree (+ gerund), apologize for (+ gerund), deny (+ gerund), offer (+ to infinitive), promise (+ to infinitive).

Reporting questions:

• Yes/No questions: Asked if/whether + subject + verb + complement.
• Wh- questions: Asked + wh-word + subject + verb + complement.

Reporting orders and suggestions:

• Orders: Verb + to infinitive / not to infinitive.
• Suggestions: If the verb 'suggest' is followed by a gerund, use the structure: suggest + verb-ing. Otherwise, use: suggest that + subject + should + verb + complement.

Conditional Sentences

• Zero Conditional: If + Present Simple, Present Simple (general truths).
• First Conditional: If + Present Simple, Future Simple/may (possible situations).
• Second Conditional: If + Past Simple, would/could/might + infinitive (unlikely situations).
• Third Conditional: If + Past Perfect, would/could/might + have + past participle (hypothetical past situations).

'Wish' Clauses

• To express a wish for improvement in the present: wish + past simple.
• To express regret about the past: wish + past perfect.
• To express a desire for an unlikely future event: wish + would/could + infinitive.