Verb Patterns I
Verb Patterns I
Verb Patterns I
(*) + NOUN (This verb can also be followed by a NOUN). This has to do with the fact that the GERUND (or -ING verbs)
and NOUNS function in a very SIMILAR way. // () This verb appears on more than one list.
In English, you...
VISIT sb/a place. Paul visited Mary when she was in hospital.
Many people say they were lovers.
ENTER a place When I entered the bathroom, I found Mary
lying unconscious on the floor.
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LEAVE a place
(See other patterns below ) She left the party at around 6 a.m.
HEAR sth/sb
I think I heard Peter singing. Is that possible?
HIT sb
Paul hit the dog.
SAVE sb
Superman saved her.
KISS sb
Susan kissed Peter on the cheek.
GO
WALK
TO A PLACE
RUN
DRIVE
HOME
RIDE
FLY
COME BACK
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2.3. VERB (+ "TO") + RECEIVER: "TO" or NO "TO"
(That is the question :P)
ARRIVE AT a place (home, school, university, the Susan arrived at the cinema at 1.
park)
IN a city, country or continent We arrived in London at 3.
ON an island, farm or coast Susan saw the thieves when she
Never "TO"!! arrived on the farm.
KNOCK ON/ AT the door/ the window. I knocked on the door three times but
there was no answer.
LOOK AT sth sb/sth He looked at me and smiled.
LISTEN TO sb/sth Listen to me, please!
WORRY ABOUT Sth Where have you been all this time? We
were all worried about you!
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4. VERB BY VERB – Examples
BEGIN sth I began this novel last month and I haven't finished it yet.
-ING Everyone began talking when she fell on stage.
CONTINUE -ING Even though the police told them to stop, they continued running.
Notice that all verbs expressing likes and dislikes have the same pattern (like, love, enjoy, hate,
not mind, prefer, dislike, etc.)
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SAY (to sb) THAT + clause She said to me that she would come at 6.
Wh-word + clause Did she say where she was heading for?
STOP sth Susan stopped the car, because it was running short of fuel.
-ING Stop making that horrible noise, please!
After hearing his comments, Mary stopped eating, stood up and left.
Wh- word. + clause She didn't tell me where shoe would go.
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PRACTICE ON VERB PATTERNS
1. Put these words into the correct order to make sentences with verb patterns. Add punctuation where
necessary.
1. both / at / we / galleries /art / to / enjoy / see / going / exhibitions
2. unless / like / really / necessary / don’t / going / to / the / it’s / dentist / I
3. should / job / an / take / your / new / that / girlfriend / accountant / as
4. you / mother / next / here / back / year / hopes / see / my / to
5. letters / she / home / finished / went / and / the / typing / then
6. can / o’clock / we / morning / the / in / hotel / leave / at / the / 9
7. the / in / I / brother / might / with / my / go / mountains / skiing
8. London / house / in / decided / they / the / buy / not / to
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct form of the verb in brackets.
1. If you don’t enjoy _________________ (study), why are you doing it?
2. I’m learning _________________ (cook) Japanese food, but it’s very difficult.
3. We can’t leave until Jeremy finishes _________________(pack) all his suitcases.
4. I don’t mind _________________ (go) on the bus, but I hate _________________(travel) by car.
5. Can you let me _________________(watch) the TV for an hour? There’s a film on.
6. Stop _________________(make) so much noise. I’m studying!
7. His mother promised _________________(buy) him a computer if he was good.
8. You shouldn’t _________________ (smoke) because you are too young.
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4. Use the correct pattern of the verbs in brackets. Add any necessary words but do not change the
tenses.
Some Annoying Events that may happen during the World Cup
1) People from your country .................................................. (enter / the stadium) by force, breaking down
walls in order to find a way into it, without paying.
2) You ..................................................... (want / watch) the most important match but you do not
....................................................... (arrive / home) on time.
3) Your mother-in-law may................................................................ (explain / the match / you) as if she was
a football expert!
4) Your girlfriend............................................................. (call / you) at the exact time in which Messi is about
to score a goal!
5) You .............................................................. (give / your Argentinian flag / your mum), for her to put it
away for the next match, but she washes it!
6) You ..................................................... (hate / miss) a second of the match, so you ask someone to do
things for you and they unplug the TV wire by mistake!
7) Your boss arranges to have a business meeting the day and time of the football match, so you miss the
match but your boss does not ...................................................... (attend / the meeting).
8) Your team is winning the game, the players are exhausted, the opponents threaten to score a goal and
the referee ........................................................................................ (say / one of the other referees /
the match has been extended). Even worse than that, the opponents score during those last minutes.
9) Your girlfriend paints her face in the colours of your country flag, she asks you what she looks like and
you ................................................................. (tell / the truth / her)!
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6. Complete the blanks with the corresponding verb pattern where necessary.
The Cool School
If you want fame…When people ask you what you want ______________ (1. be) in the future, they seem
to enjoy ____________ (2. hear) 'a doctor' or 'a financial consultant'. But if you say 'an actor' or 'a
dancer' or 'a DJ' they often laugh and tell ______________ (3) you it’s not a good idea. The Brit School
takes such ambitions seriously: everything is done to make sure talented kids fully explore their
passion for the creative arts.
What you study there. The Brit School centres its studies on the performing arts. Singing, dancing, acting,
music, theatre, TV and film production are all on the curriculum, as well as academic subjects like
Maths and English. The staff stresses the importance of continuing academic studies. Students enter
______________ (4) the school when they are 14 and 16. There is a strict selection process because
there is a lot of competition for each place. Entrants at 14 have _____________ (5. go through) an
interview, and at 16 there is also an audition. They must _____________ (6. undergo) such tough
procedure because the school is Britain's only non fee-paying entertainment school.
How the kids feel about it. Everyone who goes there is incredibly enthusiastic about it. Even though the
school's curriculum and hours make _______________ (7. students/work) hard, they don't mind
______________ (8. make) sacrifices. Monique, 18, said she loves ______________ (9. attend) this
school because it is so different from her old school. "Everyone seems so creative here so I don't stand
out much. Everyone's an individual, independent and single-minded and we are allowed
________________ (10. wear) the sort of clothes we like." Most of the students are outgoing, and shy
students say that being there makes them more confident.
7. Use the correct pattern of the verbs in brackets. Add any necessary words but do not change the
tenses.
Are Social Networking Sites Good for Our Society?
74% of American adults online use social networking sites such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter,
LinkedIn, and Pinterest. When deciding ___________ (1. use) social media sites like these, users may
develop biographical profiles, communicate with friends and strangers, do research, and share thoughts,
photos, music, links, and more.
Promoters of social networking sites _______________ (2. say) the online communities encourage
increased interaction with friends and family; and offer teachers, librarians, and students valuable access
to educational support and materials. Those in favour also report that they started ______________ (3.
access) these social websites because they facilitate social and political change. Another advantage is that
social networking sites help ___________ (4. students/ do) better at school. 59% of students with access
to the Internet report that they use social networking sites to discuss educational topics and 50% use the
sites to talk about school assignments. A study published in the Journal of Applied Developmental
Psychology _______________ (5.explained) first year college students that they should ______________
(6. use) social networking sites to build networks of new friends, feel socially integrated at their new
schools, and reduce their risk of dropping out. Another benefit is that social networking sites allow
__________ (7. people/ improve) their relationships and make new friends.
Opponents of social networking don’t want ______________ (8. the sites/prevent) face-to-face
communication and make ________________ (9. you/ waste) time on unnecessary activities. Moreover,
those who are against have stated that they dislike __________________ (10. publish) personal
information on social networks because there is very little privacy.