VERB PATTERNS

GROUP #1: Verbs followed by the gerund

(verbs in italics may also be followed by s clause introduced by that)

acknowledge fancy propose(=suggest)

admit favour recall
advocate finish recollect
anticipate foresee repent
appreciate forgive report
avoid grudge resent
celebrate imagine resist
consider(=think about) include resume
contemplate involve risk
defer justify stop
delay keep(=persist in) suffer
deny mean(=entail) suggest
detest mention tolerate
dislike mind(=object to) understand
dispute miss can’t help(=have no
doubt necessitate control over)
endanger pardon can’t endure
enjoy postpone can’t stand
entail practise It’s no good
envisage prevent It’s no use
escape prohibit It’s (not) worth
excuse

GROUP #2: Verbs followed by the infinitive

group #2a: Verbs followed by the infinitive without preceding noun

(verbs in italics may also be followed by s clause introduced by that)

afford get(=reach the stage of) promise

agree guarantee propose(=intend)
aim happen prove(=turn out)
appear hasten refuse
arrange have(=be obliged to) resolve
bother hesitate seek
care hope seem
chance learn(how to) strive

1
claim long swear
condescend manage tend
consent offer threaten
decide prepare trouble
demand presume(=take the liberty undertake
determine pretend volunteer
endeavour proceed vow
fail profess

group #2b: Verbs followed by a noun + infinitive

(verbs in italics may also be followed by s clause introduced by that)

accustom entice order

aid entitle persuade
appoint entreat press
assist force press
cause get(‘causative’) prompt
challenge impel provoke
command implore remind
commission incite require
compel induce stimulate
defy inspire summon
direct instruct teach(how to)
drive invite tell(=instruct, order)
empower lead tempt
enable oblige trust
encourage leave(=put responsibility warn
on)

group #2c: Verbs followed by the infinitive, with or without preceding noun
(verbs in italics may also be followed by s clause introduced by that)

ask desire mean(=intend)

beg elect request
choose expect want
dare help wish

GROUP #3: Verbs followed by the gerund or the infinitive

(letter a, b or c indicate which infinitive pattern is possible; verbs in italics may also be
followed by s clause introduced by that)

2
advise b fear a omit a
allow b forbear a permit b
attempt a forbid b plan a
authorise b forget a prefer c
begin a go on a recommend b
can’t bear c hate c regret a
cease a intend c remember a
continue a like c require b
decline a loathe c start a
deserve a love c try a
disdain a need c urge b
dread a neglect a venture a

GROUP #4: Verbs followed by a noun + present participle or bare infinitive

(verbs in italics may also be followed by s clause introduced by that)

feel notice perceive sense

hear observe see watch

GROUP #5: Verbs followed by a ‘that’ clause

(these verbs may also be followed by an object (very often it) + to be or to have)

allow(=admit) feel(=think) reckon

assume guess recognise
believe hear(=be informed) report
calculate hold(=maintain the reveal
confess opinion) see(=realize)
confirm indicate sense(=be aware of)
consider(=be of the know show
opinion) learn(=be informed, state
declare discover) suppose
demonstrate maintain suspect
disclose presume(=assume) think
estimate prove(=show conclusively)

prepared by sharotqa