Verb constructions In English, when two verbs come together (when a second verb is dependent on a preceding verb), the second verb can be: an infinitive (with or without the preposition 'to') © a gerund ('-ing') • part of a clause beginning with 'that...', 'if...', and so on Some verbs can take only one of these forms; others can take two or three forms. For example: You must go. He wants to go. Try to go tomorrow. Try going tomorrow. t We've decided on going next week. We've decided to go next week. We've decided that we'll go next week. There is no logical reason for many of these verb constructions, so there is no easy way of learning them. But there are some groups of similar verbs that you may be able to memorize. 1 The following verbs are followed by an infinitive without 'to': can could may might must should will would had better would rather 2 The following verbs already contain to, and are followed by an infinitive: have to ought to *used to * The verb used to, describing a habitual past action, which is followed by an infinitive, is not the same as the adjective used to in the expression T am used to ...' meaning T am accustomed to ...', which is followed by a gerund. 3 The verbs make and let are followed by an infinitive without 'to': to make someone do something I to let someone do something The verb help can be followed by an infinitive with or without 'to': She helped me do it. She helped me to do it. 4 In the passive form, the verbs allow, enable and permit are followed by an infinitive with 'to': You are not allowed to do that. In the active form, if the verbs allow, enable and permit are followed by another verb, they require an object (a noun or pronoun) plus an infinitive with 'to'. To allow/enable/permit someone to do something: This will allow us to expand into South East Asia. This will enable the company to raise more capital This will permit them to he more competitive in their retail operations. 5 You forget, remember, and regret doing something in the past. You forget, remember, and regret to do something that has to be done. I remember doing that in the first year at university. Did you remember to phone him this morning? No, I forgot to make a note of his number. I regret to inform you that you're fired! 6 Some English verbs are always followed by a preposition if used in a long clause. For example: I apologize. I apologize for being late. I insist. I insist on being consulted. If you do not know the preposition, it is impossible to use the verb correctly. On the other hand, if you do know a verb + preposition construction, you can be sure that if it is followed by a second verb, this will be a gerund. These verbs are followed by a preposition and a gerund: abstain from + -ing approve of *blame for ^confess to cope with * discourage from indulge in joke about participate in profit from *punish for *save from *warn about *accuse of assist in *complain about consist of / in *decide on / against * dissuade from enquire about look forward to persist in ^prohibit from refrain from succeed in worry about apologize for ^believe in concentrate on contribute to Meter from dream of / about insist on object to ^prevent from protest about / against rely on ^suspect of * These verbs usually have the construction: verb - person or pronoun (someone) - preposition - gerund (e.g. to accuse someone of doing something) * These verbs can also be followed by a 'that...' clause (without the preposition). The verb decide can also be followed by an infinitive with 'to'. It is necessary to distinguish between verbs followed by an infinitive with 'to' (1 want to go; I expect to win), and the verbal forms above which themselves include the preposition 'to' (and are therefore followed by a gerund). 7 Some adjectives, usually used with the verb to be, are also followed by a preposition and a gerund. These include: accustomed to annoyed about ashamed of aware of capable of doubtful about fed up with fond of frightened of guilty of interested in keen on proud of responsible for serious about tired of used to 8 The following verbs concerned with future plans and desires are followed by an infinitive with 'to' (I want to go): aim mean expect plan hope want intend would like * If mean has the sense of involve it is followed by a gerund, e.g. This will mean moving to a new house. 9 The verbs like, love and hate can be followed by either an infinitive with 'to' or a gerund. Other verbs concerning likes and dislikes are usually followed by a gerund: adore can't stand detest dislike enjoy fancy feel like loathe Many verbs involving encouraging or forcing another person to do something take the infinitive with 'to': cause command compel convince encourage force incite induce inspire oblige order persuade tempt urge However, equivalent negative verbs are often followed by a preposition and a gerund: to deter, discourage, dissuade someone from doing something The following verbs are difficult to classify into meaningful groups. These verbs are followed by an infinitive with 'to': ^advise afford *agree appear +arrange *ask attempt be able *bribe ^challenge *claim ^demand fail ^guarantee hesitate invite manage offer promise refuse seem stay struggle *teach (how) *tell (how) tend *train (how) ^understand (h ow) undertake volunteer *wish wonder (how) These verbs are followed by a gerund: acknowledge carry on defer give up *mind put off *admit (to) ^consider delay imagine miss resist t avoid contemplate deny involve practise *risk cannot help count on finish keep on postpone suggest * Indicates that the construction is often 'to (verb) someone to (infinitive) something'. * Indicates that the verb can also be followed by a 'that...' clause. These verbs can be followed by either an infinitive with 'to' or by a gerund: begin like propose continue love recommend forbid *need start hate prefer *stop * I need to repair this. The car needs repairing. * You can stop doing something in order to do something else. He stopped smoking last summer. He stopped [writing] to look up a word in the dictionary.