Verb + verb/that clause patterns

verb + ing, verb + infinitive, verb + that clause

This table shows the main patterns used when one verb follows another for

over 400 of the most common verbs. It also lists verbs which can commonly be followed by a that clause.

You can also look at individual verbs to see the different ways they can be

used.

Verbs that take an infinitive

verb + to-infinitive verb + obj + to-infinitive verb + obj + bare infinitive

afford to do sth persuade sb to do sth make sb do sth

plans and decisions

aim arrange

choose decide intend

plan prepare

propose vote

expectations demand

deserve expect hope

reckon want

wish would like yearn

promises and refusals

fail guarantee offer

pledge promise

refuse resolve swear

Many of these are causative

verbs advise

allow ask beg

cause command

convince dare enable

encourage entreat

expect forbid force

get implore

intend invite leave

need oblige

order pay permit

persuade prefer

press recommend remind

have

let make

verb + obj + (to-)infinitive help

help can be used with or withoutto

threaten

undertake vow

other verbs afford

agree allow (passive only)

appear apply ask

beg claim

consent dare desire

forget get

happen help learn

know manage

mean need negociate

plead pretend

seek seem tend

train volunteer

wait

request

require teach

tell train trust

urge want

warn would like

Verbs that take an -ing form

verb + -ing form verb + obj + -ing verb + obj + -ing form

admit doing sth imagine sb('s) doing sth see sb doing sth

saying and thinking

admit advocate anticipate

consider describe

deny

In more formal language we

can use a possessive with these verbs when talking about a person or group of people -

I appreciate you(r) helping me advocate

anticipate

We can't use possessive forms

after any of these verbs, only object forms

verbs of perception followed by an ing-form or a

bare infinitive

discuss

envisage imagine

mention propose suggest

liking and disliking

adore appreciate detest

dislike enjoy

fancy feel like mind (neg and Qs)

phrasal verbs

carry on give up keep on

put off

can't can't face can't help

can't stand

other verbs advise allow

avoid delay

encourage finish involve

keep miss

postpone practise quit

recall recommend

resent resist risk

appreciate

detest dislike

dread envisage forbid

forget forgive

foresee hate imagine

involve like

love mind (neg and Qs) miss

prevent recall

recommend recollect regret

remember resent

risk start stop

can't stand tolerate

An -ing form suggests we see

the event in progress, a bare infinitive suggests that we see

the completed action. feel hear

listen to look at

notice observe overhear

see sense

watch can only be followed by

aning-form catch

related verbs discover find

smell

other verbs keep leave

spend time

tolerate

Verbs that take an infinitive or an -ing form

no difference little difference difference

attempt doing sth/to do sth

like doing sth/to do sth remember doing sth/to do sth

attempt begin

cease continue intend

start

can't bear dread

hate like love

prefer

come forget

go on mean regret

remember stop

try

Verbs + infinitive variations

verb + for + obj + to-

infinitive

verb + infinitive or perfect

infinitive

verb + bare infinitive

wait for sb to do sth claim to be sth / have done sth should do sth / have done sth

appeal apply arrange

ask call

clamour long opt

pay plead

press vote wait

wish yearn

appear claim happen

pretend prove

seem tend reporting verbs

Modal auxiliaries can could

will would

shall should may

might must

ought to semi-modals

dare (in negs and Qs) need (in negs and Qs)

other constructions have to

be going to

Verbs which take a that clause

verb + that + clause verb + obj + that + clause verb + that + subj + (should)

+ bare infinitive

admit that + clause persuade sb that + clause insist that sb (should) do sth

Reporting verbs

admit anticipate answer

believe boast

brag calculate claim

complain confess

confirm consider declare

demand deny

disclose explain indicate

mention order

pretend profess recall

recollect realise

say state suggest

threaten warn

Other verbs (many of these can also be used for

reporting)

acknowledge advise advocate

agree allow (admit)

appreciate argue arrange

advise assure

convince guarantee inform

persuade promise

remind tell threaten

warn

In standard British English the version with should is

usually used. In more formal British English and standard American English, the

subjunctive form with the bare infinitive is preferred. In

informal British English normal tenses are often used.

advise agree

ask beg command

demand desire

insist instruct intend

order propose

recommend request require

stipulate suggest

urge warn

assume

check command

decide demonstrate determine

direct doubt

dream envisage estimate

establish expect

fancy fear feel

foresee forget

guarantee guess hear

hold hope

imagine instruct joke

know learn

maintain mean notice

observe plan

presume promise propose

prove reckon

recognise regret remember

reply report

require resolve reveal

see

seem sense

show suppose suspect

swear think

trust understand vow

wish

Passive structures with reporting verbs

Many reporting verbs can be used in passive structures to distance the information being reported. The two main patterns are:

Subject + passive reporting verb + to-infinitive He is believed to be hiding in a local forest.

It + passive reporting verb + that + clause It is thought that he had help from the outside.

The first type has several variations: we use a perfect infinitive for past reference He is understood to have escaped in a stolen car.

We can use continuous and past continuous forms He is considered to be managing quite well. He is reported to have been living off wild plants.

and sometimes a passive infinitive is used He is presumed to have been given food by local people.

The reporting verb can also be in the past He was seen to enter the forest early in the morning.

Verbs which can take a wh- word + to-infinitive or a wh-clause

wh-words include - what, when, where, which, who, why and how (or the way)

verb + wh-word + to-

infinitive / clause

verb + obj + wh-word + to-

infinitive / clause

verb + whether + to-

infinitive / clause

discuss what to do / what + clause

tell sb how to do ... / how + clause (or other wh- word)

discuss whether to do sth / whether + clause

arrange calculate

check choose consider

debate

advise inform

instruct remind teach

tell

choose consider

debate decide determine

discuss

decide

describe demonstrate

determine discover discuss

establish explain

find out forget foresee

guess imagine

know learn notice

plan realise

remember say see

talk about think (about)

understand wonder

These two verbs can be used with or without an object - ask

(sb) when to do sth ask show

find out

forget know

remember wonder

ask can be used with or without an object - ask (sb)

whether to do sth ask

Verbs which take special constructions

verb + sth done sth needs doing verb + sth (to be)done

have something done something needs doing want sth (to be) done

have get

need need want

Constructions with prepositions

After prepositional verbs, phrasal verbs with a preposition particle and verbs which take dependent prepositions we use an -ing form

verb + preposition + ing verb + preposition + subj + -

ing

verb + obj + preposition + -

ing

dream about doing sth object to sb('s) doing sth forgive sb for doing sth

abstain from aim at

appeal to apologize for approve of

argue against

approve of begin with

disapprove of insist on object to

accuse sb of acquit sb of

advise sb against arrest sb for blame sb for

charge sb with

argue for

bargain on believe in

beware of boast about brag about

choose between complain about

concentrate on decide on disapprove of

dream about escape from

get out of excel at hold off

insist on joke about

look into object to participate in

persist in reckon on

see about set about succeed in

take part in think of / about

win by

compensate sb for

condemn sb for congratulate sb on

excuse sb for fine sb for forbid sb from

forgive sb for involve sb in

praise sb for put sb up to press sb into

prevent sb from prohibit sb from

punish sb for stop sb from suspect sb of

thank sb for

Infinitive of purpose

After many verbs or verb + object we can use an infinitive of purpose

I've come to help you He's taking her to see the fireworks.

After phrasal verbs with an adverb particle we can also use an infinitive of purpose She's gone out to buy some vegetables She went up to greet him

Sources

These lists have been compiled from various sources: from the following books and from the links below

Grammar and Vocabulary for Cambridge Advanced and Proficiency Side and Wellman (Longman)

Advanced Grammar in Use - Martin Hewings (Cambridge)

Practical English Usage Michael Swan (Oxford)

Business Grammar Builder

Advanced English Practice BD Graver (Oxford)