Verb Patterns in English Verb Pattern 1 l

Verb Patterns in English

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

Examples of VP 1 Subject + BE 1. This is 2. This suitcase is 3. The children are 4. This book is 5. This is Subject complement/adverbial a book. mine. asleep. for you. where I work.

VP 1 Continued There are variations with introductory there/it. 1. 2. There/It + BE There was It was impossible Subject a large crowd. to go further. 3. It was a pity the weather was so bad.

Examples of VP 2 A Subject 1. We all 2. The moon 3. A period of political unrest vi breath, drink and eat. rose. followed.

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

Verb Pattern 2 A (cont) l 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 wife.

Verb Pattern 2 B 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.

Examples of VP 2 B Subject + vi (for) + adverbial adjunct 1. We walked (for) five minutes. 2. The meeting lasted (for) two hours. 3. The book costs (me) $1. 20. 4. This book weighs five kilos.

Verb Pattern 2 C 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.

Examples of VP 2 C Subject + vi adverbial adjunct 1. Go away! 2. Please come in. 3. I’ll soon catch up with you. 4. It’s getting on for midnight. 5. It looks like rain/as if it were going to rain.

Verb Pattern 2 D 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, 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.

Examples of VP 2 D Subject + vi adjective/noun/pronoun 1. Her dreams have come 2. The fire has burnt 3. She married 4. He died 5. Later he became 6. You’re not looking true. low. young. a millionaire. an acrobat. yourself.

Verb Pattern 2 E In this pattern the predicative adjunct is a present participle. Subject + vi 1. She lay 2. Do you like to go 3. The children came present participle smiling at me. dancing? running to meet us.

Verb Pattern 3 A l 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.

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

Verb Pattern 3 A (cont) l An infinitive phase may follow the noun/pronoun. 1. We’re waiting 2. I rely 3. She pleaded for our new cat to be delivered. on you to be discreet. with the judge to have mercy.

Verb Pattern 3 B The preposition is omitted before a thatclause, thus producing the same word order as in [VP 9] (for transitive verbs). He insisted on his innocence. [VP 3 A] He insisted that he was innocent. [VP 3 B] Cf He declared that he was innocent. [VP 9]

Verb Pattern 3 B (cont) l 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.

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

Verb Pattern 4 A In this pattern the verb is followed by a toinfinitive of purpose, outcome, or result. Subject + vi 1. We stopped 2. How did you come 3. Will he live 4. Someone has called to-infinitive to rest / to have a rest. to know her? to be ninety? to see you.

Verb Pattern 4 B The infinitive may be equivalent to a ordinate clause. Subject + vi 1. He awoke 2. The good old days have gone 3. Electronic music has clearly come 4. He looked round co- to-infinitive to find the house on fire. never to return. to stay. to see the door slowly opening.

Verb Pattern 4 C The infinitive adjunct is used after some verbs which, in [VP 3 A], are used with prepositions. Don’t trouble / bother about that. Don’t trouble / bother to meet me. Subject + vi 1. She hesitated 2. She was longing 3. He agreed to-infinitive to tell anyone. to see her family again. to come at once.

Verb Pattern 4 D 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 [VP 4 E]). Subject + seem/appear 1. He seemed 2. This seems 3. I seem (to be)+ adjective/noun (to be) surprised at the news. (to be) a serious matter. (to be) unable to enjoy myself.

Verb Pattern 4 D (cont) There is a variation of this pattern with introductory it, when the subject is an infinitive or gerund, or a clause. adjective/ It + seem/appear noun subject 1. It seemed reasonable to try again. 2. It seems a pity to waste all that food. 3. It doesn’t seem much use going on. 4. It appears unlikely that we’ll arrive on time.

Verb Pattern 4 E 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.

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

Verb Pattern 4 F The finites of be are used with a to-infinitive to convey a variety of meanings → be* (3) Subject + BE 1. We’re 2. At what time am I 3. How am I to-infinitive to be married in May. to come? to pay my debt?

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.

Examples of VP 5 Subject + anomalous finite 1. You may 2. You needn’t 3. You’ll 4. I didn’t dare 5. You’d better infinitive leave now. wait. find it in that box. tell anyone. start at once.

Verb Pattern 6 A 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.

Examples of VP 6 A Subject + vt noun/pronoun 1. Did you enjoy 2. We all had 3. Everyone likes the film? a good time. her.

Verb Pattern 6 B 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.

Examples of VP 6 B Subject + vt noun/pronoun 1. Have you had 2. She has 3. Have you hurt 4. She smiled 5. He dreamed breakfast yet? green eyes. yourself? her thanks. a very odd dream.

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

Verb Pattern 6 D 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 [VP 6 D] in Guide to Patterns and Usage. Subject + vt gerund 1. She loves 2. I’ll continue 3. He began going to the cinema. working while my health is good. talking about his clever children.

Verb Pattern 6 E 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).

Verb Pattern 7 A In this pattern the object of the verb is a toinfinitive. (For intransitive verbs with the same word order, see [VP 4]. ) Subject + vt (not) + to-infinitive 1. Do they want 2. He pretended 3. We hope/expect/intend 4. I forgot/remembered to go? not to see me. to climb Mount Everest. to post you letters.

Verb Pattern 7 B 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 1. Do you often have 2. You don’t have 3. You ought to work overtime? to leave yet, do you? not to waste you money there.

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. Subject + vt Interrogative pronoun adverb + to-infinitive 1. Do you know/see 2. I couldn’t decide 3. I’ve discovered 4. You must learn how to do it? what to do next. where to find him. when to give advice and when to be silent.

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 1. I suppose 2. I wish 3. Do you think 4. The workers decided 5. We intended you’ll be leaving soon. you wouldn’t interrupt. it’ll rain? that they would go on strike. that John should be invited.

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 1. Does anyone know 2. Come and see 3. I wonder 4. She asked how it happened? what I’ve done! whether / if he’ll come. why I was late.

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 2. I convinced 3. We satisfied us that the roads were icy. the policeman that I was innocent. ourselves that the plan would work.

Verb Pattern 12 A 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 [VP 13 A] Subject + vt 1. Won’t you lend 2. He doesn’t owe 3. He denied/grudged IO him me her DO your car? anything. nothing.

Verb Pattern 12 B In this pattern, the indirect object is equivalent to a prepositional object with for. As in [VP 13 B] Subject + vt IO 1. She made 2. Will you do 3. She cooked herself me her husband DO a new dress. a favour? some sausages.

Verb Pattern 12 C Verbs in this pattern are rarely or never convertible to [VP 13]. The labels IO and DO are not used. Subject + vt 1. Ask 2. I envy 3. He struck noun/pronoun him you the door noun/pronoun his name. your fine garden. a heave blow.

Verb Pattern 13 A In this pattern, the verb is followed by a direct object, the preposition to, and the prepositional object. It is convertible to [VP 12 A]. Subject + vt DO 1. She told 2. He sold 3. I’ve sent the news his old car presents to + noun/pronoun to everyone in the village. to one of his neighbours. to everyone in my family.

Verb Pattern 13 B In this pattern the preposition is for. It is convertible to [VP 12 B]. Subject + vt DO for + noun/pronoun 1. She made a new dress for her daughter. 2. Will you do a favour for a friend of mine? 3. Can you cash this cheque for me?

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 [VP 12], as are [VP 13 A] and [VP 13 B], ‘Give something to somebody’ [VP 12 A] may be converted to ‘Give somebody something’ [VP 13 A]. ‘Explain something to somebody’ cannot be converted to ‘*Explain somebody something’.

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 [VP 15] however the prepositional phrase is variable, e. g. ‘put something on/under the table, in the drawer’.

Verb Pattern 14 Subject + vt DO prep noun 1. We congratulated him on his success. 2. Compare the copy with the original. 3. He compared the heart to a pump. 4. I explained my difficulty to him.

Verb Pattern 14 Variations are possible. If the DO is long, the prepositional phrase may precede it. Introductory it may be used when there is an infinitive phrase or a clause.

Verb Pattern 14 Subject + vt 1. I explained Prep + noun DO to him 2. I must leave it to your own judgment the impossibility of granting his request. to decide whether you should offer your resignation. Compare: Subject + vt DO prep + noun 1. I explainedthe problem to him. 2. I must leave the decision to you.

Verb Pattern 15 A l In [VP 15 A] the DO is followed by an adverbial phrase of place, duration, distance, etc which is obligatory. ‘I read the book’ [VP 6] is a complete sentence, but ‘*I put the book’ is not. Put needs an adjunct. Eg ‘I put the book down/away/on the shelf’ with verbs marked [VP 15 A] the adverbial is a prepositional phrase, which is variable (unlike [VP 14]).

VP 15 A (cont) l Subject + vt 1. Don’t let the child put 2. The secretary showed 3. Please put DO adverbial phrase his head me out of the card window to the door/into the reception room these papers on that desk/in that file

Verb Pattern 15 B l In this pattern adverbial particles are used. When the Do is a personal pronoun, the adverbial particle follows. When the Do is a noun or noun phrase, the adverbial particle may either follow or precede. If the DO is long, the adverbial particle usually precedes. Click here to see examples.

Examples of VP 15 B l Subject + vt 1. Take 2. Don’t throw 3. Did you wind l Subject + vt 1. Lock 2. She gave 3. Don’t Forget to switch DO them/your shoes it/ that old hat it/ the clock adverbial particle off. away. up? adverbial particle up away off DO all your valuables. all her old clothes. the lights in all rooms downstairs

Verb Pattern 16 A l In this pattern there is an adverbial adjunct which is an infinitive phrase. This may be introduced by in order to or so as to. [VP 16 A] is to be distinguished from [VP 17 A] (with the same word order). Cf: I sent I want Tom to buy some fruit. [VP 16 A] to buy some fruit. [VP 17 A]

VP 16 A (cont) l In [VP 16 A] the infinitive is one of purpose or intended result. In [VP 17] the infinitive is part of the direct object. Subject + vt DO to-infinitive 1. He brought his brother to see me. 2. He opened the door to let the cat out. 3. They left me to do all the dirty work.

Verb Pattern 16 B l The DO is followed by a noun introduced by as or like, or a clause introduced by as if or as though. Subject + vt DO 1. I can’t see 2. Her parents spoilt 3. He carries 4. You mustn’t treat my self her himself your wife as/like + noun as if/though + clause as a pop singer. as a child. as soldier. as if she were as servant.

Verb Pattern 17 l In this pattern, the verb is followed by a noun or pronoun and a to-infinitive. The noun/pronoun + to-infinitive is the object of the verb. noun/ Subject + vt pronoun (not) + to-infinitive 1. He likes his wife 2. They warned us 3. Do you want/wish me to dress colorfully. not to be late. to stay?

Verb Pattern 18 A l In this pattern the verb is used with a noun or pronoun and a bare infinitive. The verbs indicate physical perceptions. These verbs are also used in [VP 19]. [VP 18] indicates completed activity and [VP 19] activity in progress. Click here to see some examples.

Examples of VP 18 A Subject + vt noun/ pronoun infinitive 1. Did you see/notice anyone leave the house? 2. We felt the house shake. 3. I once heard her sing the part of Aida.

Verb Pattern 18 B l A small number of verbs which do not indicate physical perceptions are used in this pattern. Make and let are examples. Compare force/compel and allow/permit, which are used in [VP 17]. Please let me go. [VP 18 B] Please allow/permit me to go. [VP 17]

Examples of VP 18 B Subject + vt noun/ pronoun infinitive 1. What makes us 2. Let me 3. I’ve never known him think so? go! behave so badly before.

Verb Pattern 18 C l Have is used in this pattern when it means ‘wish’, ‘experience’, or ‘cause’. Subject + HAVE noun/ pronoun infinitive 1. What would you have me do? 2. Have the visitors shown in, please. 3. I had a frightening thing happen to me yesterday. 4. We often have our friends visit us on Sundays.

Verb Pattern 19 A l The verb is followed by a noun or pronoun and a present participle. The verbs indicate physical perceptions and are those used in [VP 18 A]. noun/ Subject + vt pronoun present participle 1. Can you smell 2. She could feel 3. Did you notice 4. Didn’t you hear something her heart anyone me burning? beating wildly. standing at the gate? knocking?

Verb Pattern 19 B l This pattern is used for some verbs which do not indicate physical perceptions. noun/ Subject + vt pronoun present participle 1. I found 2. They left 3. This set 4. Please start 5. He soon had John me me the clock them all working at his desk. waiting outside. thinking. going. laughing.

Verb Pattern 19 C l In this pattern the noun or pronoun is followed by the –ing form of a verb, and this may be either the present participle or the gerund, depending upon whether it is preceded by a noun or pronoun, or a possessives. For fuller notes, see [VP 19 C] in Guide to patterns and Usage. Click here to see some examples.

Examples of VP 19 C Subject + vt noun/pronoun/ -ing form possessive of the verb 1. I can’t understand 2. Can you image 3. Does this justify 4. I can’t remember 5. I admire him/his behaving so foolishly. me/my being so stupid? you/your taking legal action? my parents/their ever being unkind to me. Tom(’s) him/his standing his ground.

Verb Pattern 20 l In this pattern the verb is followed by a noun or pronoun, an interrogative adverb (except why) or pronoun, and a to-infinitive. The pattern may be compared to [VP 12 A]. Tell me me your name. [VP 12 A] what to call you. [VP 20]

Examples of VP 20 noun/ Subject + vt pronoun 1. I showed 2. Tell 3. Ask interrogative + to-infinitive them how to do it. him where to put it. your teacher how to pronounce the word.

Verb Pattern 21 l This pattern is similar to [VP 20]. An interrogative clause follows the noun or pronoun/ Subject + vt pronoun interrogative clause 1. Tell 2. Ask 3. Show me him me what your name is. where he put it. what you have in your pockets.

Verb Pattern 22 l The DO is followed by an adjective which indicates result or manner. Subject + vt DO 1. We painted the ceiling 2. The sun keeps us 3. The mud made walking adjective green. warm. difficult.

Verb Pattern 23 l The DO is followed by a noun (the object complement). Subject + vt DO noun 1. They made Newton President of Royal Society. 2. They named the baby Richard. 3. They usually call him Dick.

Verb Pattern 24 A l The DO is followed by a past participle. Subject + vt DO past participle 1. You must make your views known. 2. Have you ever heard this opera sung in Italian? 3. We want the work finished by Saturdays.

Verb Pattern 24 B l Have is used in this pattern to indicate what the subject of the sentence experiences, undergoes, or suffers (as in Nos 1 and 2), or what is held or possessed (as in No 3). Click here to see some examples.

Examples of VP 24 B Subject + HAVE DO past participle 1. King Charles had his head cut off. 2. I’ve recently had my appendix removed. 3. They have scarcely any money saved for their old age.

Verb Pattern 24 C l Have and get are used in this pattern meaning ‘cause to be’. GET/ Subject + HAVE DO past participle 1. Can we have/get the program changed? 2. Please have/get these letters translated into English. 3. I’ll have/get the matter seen to.

Verb Pattern 25 l The DO is followed by to be (often omitted) and an adjective or a noun. In spoken English [VP 9] (ie with a that-clause) is preferred. Subject + vt 1. Most people considered 2. They all felt 3. I’ve always found 4. In Britain we presume DO (to be) + adjective/noun him (to be) innocent. the plan to be unwise. Jonathan friendly/a good friend. a man (to be) innocent until he is proved guilty.

Verb Pattern 25 (cont) l For 1, Most people considered that he was innocent [VP 9] is more usual. Introductory it is used if, instead of a noun, there is a clause, infinitive phrase, etc. Do you consider long hair for men strange? Do you consider it strange for men to let their hair grow long?

Acknowledgements: Materials adapted by Yang Ying from Oxford Advanced Learner’s English Chinese Dictionary. Power. Point Slides jointly put together by SELF student helpers: Xuan, Jordan, Yiwei, Dong Hao and Aik Hong in 2008