B2daily

Verb Patterns - Daily English

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In English, when one verb is followed by another, the second verb takes a fixed form set by the first verb. The four main patterns are: verb + -ing (the gerund), verb + to + infinitive, verb + bare infinitive (no "to"), and verb + object + infinitive. There is no shortcut rule, so the safest approach is to learn each verb with its pattern. Some verbs take the -ing form: "I enjoy working with this team", "We considered hiring a consultant", "She avoided answering the question". Others take to + infinitive: "We decided to postpone the launch", "They agreed to send a revised quote", "I'd like to schedule a call." After modal verbs and after "let" and "make", use the bare infinitive: "You should review the contract", "Let me check the figures", "The new policy made everyone work late." Many reporting and influencing verbs take an object first: "I want you to lead the meeting", "We expect them to deliver by Friday." A common pitfall is using to + infinitive after "enjoy", "avoid", "suggest" or "look forward to": say "I look forward to hearing from you" and "I suggest meeting on Tuesday", not "to hear" or "to meet". A few verbs (begin, start, continue, like, prefer) accept both forms with little change in meaning.

Let's practise. Type each answer and press Enter, I'll check it with you.

  1. I really enjoy (cook) Italian food for my friends on weekends.
  2. My brother promised (help) me move to my new apartment next week.
  3. We decided (take) a train instead of driving to the coast.
  4. Sarah suggested (go) to that new Italian restaurant downtown.
  5. He admitted (forget) to bring the snacks for the picnic.
  6. They managed (find) a great deal on flight tickets to Japan.
  7. I don't mind (wait) a few minutes for the bus to arrive.
  8. You should avoid (drive) through the city center during rush hour.
  9. She refused (accept) the apology from her roommate.
  10. My parents encouraged me (study) abroad next semester.
  11. We practiced (speak) English during our lunch break.
  12. Mark offered (carry) the heavy grocery bags for his grandmother.
  13. Do you fancy (watch) a movie at my place tonight?
  14. He finished (clean) the kitchen before lunch.
  15. I hope (see) you at the party on Friday night.
  16. They kept (talk) even though the teacher was speaking.
  17. She seems (be) very happy with her new hobby.
  18. We missed (catch) the last bus home last night.
  19. He intends (start) his own business next year.
  20. I can't afford (buy) a brand new car right now.
  21. They postponed (hold) the meeting until next Monday.
  22. My friend warned me (not/touch) the hot stove.
  23. I really miss (live) near the beach.
  24. She learned (play) the guitar when she was a teenager.
  25. We plan (visit) our relatives during the summer holidays.

Common questions

How do I know whether to use the -ing form or the to + infinitive after a verb?

There is no single rule; the first verb decides. Learn each verb with its pattern. Verbs like enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest and finish take -ing ("We finished reviewing the report"). Verbs like decide, agree, hope, plan and offer take to + infinitive ("They agreed to extend the deadline"). When unsure, check a dictionary, which marks the pattern.

What is the difference between "remember to do" and "remember doing"?

The two patterns carry different meanings. "Remember to do" means the action comes after the remembering: "Please remember to send the invoice" (send it now/later). "Remember doing" means recalling a past action: "I remember sending the invoice last week" (it already happened). The same split applies to forget, stop and regret, so choose the form that matches your timing.

Why is "I look forward to hearing from you" correct and not "to hear"?

Here "to" is a preposition, not part of an infinitive, and prepositions are always followed by the -ing form. So you say "look forward to hearing", "interested in applying", and "good at presenting". This is a frequent error in professional emails. Write "I look forward to meeting you" and "Thank you for confirming", never "to meet" or "for confirm".