Verb Patterns in English

1. Verb Patterns in English

2. Verb Pattern 1: This pattern is for the verb “be”. The subject complement may be a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, an adjective phrase (e.g. a propositional group). There may be an adverbial or an infinitive “to”. Click here to see some examples.

3. Examples of VP1 Subject + BE Subjectcomplement/adverbial 1. This is a book. 2. This suitcase is mine. 3. The children areasleep. 4. This book is for you. 5. This is where I work.

4. VP1 Continued There are variations with introductory there/it. There/It + BE Subject There was a large crowd. It was impossible to go further. It was a pity the weather was so bad.

5. Examples of VP2A Subject vi • We all breath, drink and eat. • The moon rose. • A period of political unrest followed.

6. Verb Pattern 2A (cont) There are variations with introductory there/it 1. There followed a long period of political unrest. 2. It doesn’t matter whether we start now or later.

7. Verb Pattern 2A (cont) That-clauses are possible after seem, appear, happen, chance and follow. 1.It seemed (that) the day would never end. 2.It so chanced/happened (that) we were out when she called. 3. It doesn’t followed (that) they are husband and wife.

8. Verb Pattern 2B Verbs in this pattern are used with an adverbial adjunct of distance, duration, weight, cost, etc. For many occur before adverbials of distance and duration. An indirect object may occur after cost, last and take (meaning ‘require’). Click here for some examples.

9. Examples of VP2B Subject + vi (for) + adverbial adjunct • We walked (for) five minutes. • The meeting lasted (for) two hours. • The book costs (me) $1.20. • This book weighs five kilos.

10. Verb Pattern 2C Many intransitive verbs are used with an adverbial adjunct (including an adverbial particle alone, or an adverbial particle followed by a preposition). Click here to see some examples.

11. Examples of VP2C Subject + vi adverbial adjunct • Go away! • Please come in. • I’ll soon catch up with you. • It’s getting on for midnight. • It looks like rain/as if it were going to rain.

12. Verb Pattern 2D Verbs in this pattern are followed by an adjective, a noun or, in the case of a reflexive verb, a pronoun. Inchoative verbs (eg become, come, get) and verbs of the senses (eg smell, taste, feel) are among the many verbs used in this pattern. Click here to see some examples.

13. Examples of VP2D Subject + vi adjective/noun/pronoun • Her dreams have come true. • The fire has burnt low. • She married young. • He died a millionaire. • Later he became an acrobat. • You’re not looking yourself.

14. Verb Pattern 2E In this pattern the predicative adjunct is a present participle. Subject + vi present participle • She lay smiling at me. • Do you like to go dancing? • The children came running to meet us.

15. Verb Pattern 3A Verbs in this pattern are followed by a preposition and its object (which may be a noun, pronoun, gerund, phase, or clause). The verb and preposition function as a unit. Click here to see some examples.

16. Examples of VP3A Subject + vi preposition + noun/pronoun 1. You may rely on that man/his discretion/his being discreet. 2. Can I count on your help? 3. What has happened to them?

17. Verb Pattern 3A (cont) • An infinitive phase may follow the noun/pronoun. • We’re waiting for our new cat to be delivered. • I rely on you to be discreet. • She pleaded with the judge to have mercy.

18. Verb Pattern 3B The preposition is omitted before a that-clause, thus producing the same word order as in [VP9] (for transitive verbs). He insisted on his innocence. [VP3A] He insisted that he was innocent. [VP3B] Cf He declared that he was innocent. [VP9]

19. Verb Pattern 3B (cont) The preposition may be retained if its object is a dependent question, or if a preceding ‘preposition + it’ construction is used. Click here to see some examples.

20. Examples of VP3B Subject + vi (preposition (+it)) clause 1. I agree that it was a mistake. 2. You must see (to it) that this sort of thing never occurs again. 3. I hesitated (about) whether to accept your offer. 4. Have you decided (upon) where you will go for your holiday? 5. Don’t worry (about) how the money was lost.

21. Verb Pattern 4A In this pattern the verb is followed by a to-infinitive of purpose, outcome, or result. Subject + vito-infinitive • We stopped to rest / to have a rest. • How did you come to know her? • Will he live to be ninety? • Someone has called to see you.

22. Verb Pattern 4B The infinitive may be equivalent to a co-ordinate clause. Subject + vito-infinitive • He awoke to find the house on fire. • The good old days have gone never to return. • Electronic music has clearly come to stay. • He looked round to see the door slowly opening.

23. Verb Pattern 4C The infinitive adjunct is used after some verbs which, in [VP3A], are used with prepositions. Don’t trouble / bother about that. Don’t trouble / bother to meet me. Subject + vito-infinitive • She hesitated to tell anyone. • She was longing to see her family again. • He agreed to come at once.

24. Verb Pattern 4D The verbs seem and appear are used in this pattern. If the infinitive is be with an adjective or noun as complement, to be may be omitted (unless the adjective is one that is used only predicatively, as in [VP4E]). Subject + seem/appear (to be)+ adjective/noun • He seemed (to be) surprised at the news. • This seems (to be) a serious matter. • I seem (to be) unable to enjoy myself.

25. Verb Pattern 4D (cont) adjective/ There is a variation of this pattern with introductory it, when the subject is an infinitive or gerund, or a clause. It + seem/appear noun subject • It seemed reasonable to try again. • It seems a pity to waste all that food. • It doesn’t seem much use going on. • It appears unlikely that we’ll arrive on time.

26. Verb Pattern 4E If the adjective after seem/appear is used only predicatively (eg awake, asleep, afraid), to be is obligatory. Happen and chance are also used in this pattern. Click here to see some examples.

27. Examples of VP4E HAPPEN / CHANCE SEEM / APPEAR Subject + to-infinitive 1. The baby seems to be asleep/to be sleeping. 2. My enquiries seem to be have resented. 3. She happened to be out when I called. 4. We chanced to meet in the park. 5. There seems to have been some mistakes.

28. Verb Pattern 4F The finites of be are used with a to-infinitive to convey a variety of meanings → be* (3) Subject + BE to-infinitive • We’re to be married in May. • At what time am I to come? • How am I to pay my debt?

29. Verb Pattern 5 In this pattern the auxiliary verbs or anomalous finites will/would, shall/should, can/could, must, dare, need are followed by a bare infinitive (ie without to). The phrase had better, had/would rather and would sooner fit into this pattern. Click here to see some examples.

30. Examples of VP5 Subject + anomalous finite infinitive • You may leave now. • You needn’t wait. • You’ll find it in that box. • I didn’t dare tell anyone. • You’d better start at once.

31. Verb Pattern 6A The verbs in this pattern have a noun or pronoun as direct object. Conversion to the passive voice is possible. Click here to see some examples.

32. Examples of VP6A Subject + vt noun/pronoun 1. Did you enjoy the film? 2. We all had a good time. 3. Everyone likes her.

33. Verb Pattern 6B The verbs in this pattern have a noun or pronoun as direct object, but conversion to the passive voice is not possible. Have, meaning ‘possess/take/eat/drink’, follows this pattern. Reflexive verbs, and verbs with cognate objects, follow this pattern. Click here to see some examples.

34. Examples of VP6B Subject + vt noun/pronoun 1. Have you had breakfast yet? 2. She has green eyes. 3. Have you hurt yourself? 4. She smiled her thanks. 5. He dreamed a very odd dream.

35. Verb Pattern 6C In this pattern the object is a gerund, not replaceable by a to-infinitive. Subject + vt noun/pronoun 1. She enjoys playing tennis. 2. Have you finished talking? 3. I resent being spoken to so rudely.

36. Verb Pattern 6D In this pattern the object is a gerund. This may be replaced by a to-infinitive. For the difference between like swimming and like to swim, see the notes on [VP6D] in Guide to Patterns and Usage. Subject + vt gerund • She loves going to the cinema. • I’ll continue working while my health is good. • He began talking about his clever children.

37. Verb Pattern 6E After need, want (=need) and won’t/wouldn’t bear, the gerund is equivalent to a passive infinitive. Subject + NEED/WANT/BEAR gerund 1. He’ll need looking after (= to be looked after) 2. My shoes want mending (= to be mended). 3. His language wouldn’t bear repeating (= was too bad to be repeated).

38. Verb Pattern 7A In this pattern the object of the verb is a to-infinitive. (For intransitive verbs with the same word order, see [VP4].) Subject + vt (not) + to-infinitive • Do they want to go? • He pretended not to see me. • We hope/expect/intend to climb Mount Everest. • I forgot/remembered to post you letters.

39. Verb Pattern 7B Ought, and the finites of have in this pattern indicate obligation. In colloquial style have got to is more usual than have to. Subject + HAVE/OUGHT (not) + to-infinitive • Do you often have to work overtime? • You don’t have to leave yet, do you? • You ought not to waste you money there.

40. Verb Pattern 8 In this pattern the object of the verb is an interrogative pronoun or adverb (except why or whether), followed by a to-infinitive. Interrogative pronoun Subject + vt adverb + to-infinitive • Do you know/see how to do it? • I couldn’t decide what to do next. • I’ve discovered where to find him. • You must learn when to give advice and when to be silent.

41. Verb Pattern 9 The object of the verb is a that-clause. That is often omitted, except after more formal verbs (eg decide, intend). Subject + vt that-clause • I suppose you’ll be leaving soon. • I wish you wouldn’t interrupt. • Do you think it’ll rain? • The workers decided that they would go on strike. • We intended that John should be invited.

42. Verb Pattern 10 In this pattern, the object of the verb is a dependent clause. The clause is introduced by a relative adverb or pronoun, what, or whether / if. Subject + vt dependent clause/question • Does anyone know how it happened? • Come and see what I’ve done! • I wonder whether / if he’ll come. • She asked why I was late.

43. Verb Pattern 11 The verb is followed by a noun or pronoun and a that-clause. noun/ Subject + vt pronoun that-clause 1. He warned us that the roads were icy. 2. I convinced the policeman that I was innocent. 3. We satisfied ourselves that the plan would work.

44. Verb Pattern 12A The verb is followed by an indirect object (IO) and a direct object (DO). The indirect object is equivalent to a prepositional object with to. As in [VP13A] Subject + vt IO DO • Won’t you lend him your car? • He doesn’t owe me anything. • He denied/grudged her nothing.

45. Verb Pattern 12B In this pattern, the indirect object is equivalent to a prepositional object with for. As in [VP13B] Subject + vt IO DO • She made herself a new dress. • Will you do me a favour? • She cooked her husband some sausages.

46. Verb Pattern 12C Verbs in this pattern are rarely or never convertible to [VP13]. The labels IO and DO are not used. Subject + vt noun/pronoun noun/pronoun • Ask him his name. • I envy you your fine garden. • He struck the door a heave blow.

47. Verb Pattern 13A In this pattern, the verb is followed by a direct object, the preposition to, and the prepositional object. It is convertible to [VP12A]. Subject + vt DO to + noun/pronoun • She told the news to everyone in the village. • He sold his old car to one of his neighbours. • I’ve sent presents to everyone in my family.

48. Verb Pattern 13B In this pattern the preposition is for. It is convertible to [VP12B]. Subject + vt DO for + noun/pronoun • She made a new dress for her daughter. • Will you do a favour for a friend of mine? • Can you cash this cheque for me?

49. Verb Pattern 14 In this pattern the verb is followed by a direct object and a preposition and its object. This pattern is not convertible to [VP12], as are [VP13A] and [VP13B], ‘Give something to somebody’ [VP12A] may be converted to ‘Give somebody something’ [VP13A]. ‘Explain something to somebody’ cannot be converted to ‘*Explain somebody something’.

50. Verb Pattern 14 The preposition is linked to the verb and they must be learnt together, e.g. ‘congratulate somebody on something’, ‘compare one thing to/with another’. In [VP15] however the prepositional phrase is variable, e.g. ‘put something on/underthe table, in the drawer’.