Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.

A English)

Grammar for IELTS

Verb Patterns

1. Verb + -ing (gerund) Most children enjoy learning to play a sport or a musical
instrument.

2. Verb + to-infinitive Many people cannot afford to go to university.

3. Verb + -ing or + to - The government has started funding research on the link
infinitive between air pollution and health.
The government has started to fund research on the link
between air pollution and health.

4. Verb + Object + to - Parents need to encourage their children to take up a sport or

infinitive an outdoor physical activity.

5. Verb + Object + I think it is irresponsible to let children play in the street after
infinitive (without to) dark.

6. Verb + that-clause Some economists have suggested that the government should
renationalize certain industries.

1. Verb + -ing (gerund)

A number of verbs are followed by an – ing form. They cannot be followed by to-infinitive or to-infinitive.
Here is a selection of some of the commonest ones:

admit * consider * Enjoy imagine* (not) mind* practise resent

avoid delay fancy keep (on) miss put off risk
carry on deny* give up mention* postpone recall * suggest*

➢ Over-exploiting natural resources risks damaging the environment.

(risks to damage / risks damage are WRONG)

➢ It is rarely a good idea to postpone dealing with a problem.

(postpone to deal / postpone deal is WRONG)

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

Note the negative form:

➢ It may well be that an increasing number of cancer patients will consider not taking chemotherapy
and will turn to natural remedies instead.
➢ Home-schooled children might miss not having the opportunity to do team sports.
The verbs marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above (as well as in all tables henceforth) can also be
followed by a that-clause.
➢ Parents rarely admit treating their sons and daughter differently.
Parents rarely admit that they treat their sons and daughters differently.

➢ If you have always had a garden, it is hard to imagine living in a flat.

If you have always had a garden, it is hard to imagine that you could live in a flat.
Most of the verbs in the table above can also be followed by a noun or a noun phrase.
➢ More should be done to encourage people to give up smoking.
More should be done to encourage people to give up cigarettes.

➢ Most children would practice playing a musical instrument if they had the opportunity.
Most children would practice a musical instrument if they had the opportunity.
The verbs come and go + -ing are often used to talk about sports and outdoor activities.
➢ One way to reduce one’s carbon footprint is to go shopping only once a week.
➢ The water is so polluted in many places that if you go swimming, you risk picking up an infection.
Remember that some verbs have to as a preposition, and that prepositions are followed by an -ing form.
Verbs in this category include be used to / get used to / object to / look forward to.
➢ Children may not enjoy school every day, but most of them actually look forward to going to school.
(to go is WRONG)

➢ People have got used to doing several things at the same time, and as a result do not do anything
whole-heartedly.
(have got used to do is WRONG)
Some of the verbs in this category can be used in pattern Verb + Object + -ing.
➢ In many cultures, it is considered rude to keep people waiting.
➢ Most parents would not contemplate their children growing up without them.
The verbs in this category form the passive with being + Past Participle.
➢ Some children do not seem to mind being disciplined in front of others.
➢ Authoritarian people usually resent being criticized.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

2. Verb + to-infinitive
A number of verbs are followed by to-infinitive. Here is a selection of some of the commonest ones:

afford attempt expect* offer refuse

agree* choose fail plan tend
aim decide* hope * pretend * threaten
arrange deserve manage promise * want

➢ Several countries have already decided to ban single-use plastic bags.

(decided banning is WRONG)

➢ Some students tend to worry too much about future earnings when they decide which subjects to
specialize in.
(tend worrying is WRONG)
Note the negative form:
➢ Celebrities sometimes pretend not to enjoy being in the limelight.
➢ Thanks to an international treaty, many countries have chosen not to try to acquire nuclear
weapons.
The verbs marked with an asterisk (*) in the table above can be followed by a that-clause.
➢ Environmentalists expect to see most sea life extinct in one or two decades.
Environmentalists expect that most sea life will be extinct in one or two decades.

➢ Scores of government leaders have agreed to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
Scores of government leaders have agreed that they would reduce their dependence on fossil fuels.
Some verbs in this category can be followed by a ‘wh’ -word + to-infinitive.
➢ Students sometimes cannot decide where to go for their gap year abroad.
➢ It is often said that scientists do not know how to talk to ordinary people.
The verbs in this category form the passive with to be + Past Participle.
➢ Teenagers usually want to be given their own space and freedom.
➢ Every human being deserves to be treated with dignity and respects.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

3. Verb + -ing or + to- infinitive

A small number of verbs can be followed by -ing or to-infinitive with almost no difference in meaning.
Some other verbs can also be followed by -ing or to-infinitive but with a difference in meaning.
Here is a selection of some of the commonest verbs which can be followed by -ing or to-infinitive with
little change in meaning:

Begin bother continue intend* start

➢ Too many people still do not bother to dispose of their rubbish properly.
Too many people still do not bother disposing of their rubbish properly.

➢ Students who intend to go to university sometimes have difficulty choosing their main subjects.
Students who intend going to university sometimes have difficulty choosing their main subject.
If the verb is in a continuous tense, use to-infinitive as it is unusual to have two consecutive -ing forms.
➢ More people than ever before are beginning to understand that a complete change of lifestyle is
necessary to safeguard the environment in the long term.
(are beginning understanding is WRONG)
The verbs like / love / hate / prefer can also be followed by -ing or to-infinitive, often with little change
in meaning. However, we tend to use the -ing form when we want to express our feelings, and the to-
infinitive when we want to say that something is (or is not) a good idea.
➢ Japanese businessmen like going to karaoke bars after work.
This simply means that they enjoy going to karaoke bars, that it makes them happy. (Note that in this
sense it is not a mistake to write ‘Japanese businessmen like to go to karaoke bars after work.’)
➢ Japanese people like to bow in order to communicate respect.
This means that they consider it a good idea to bow (… even if they do not always necessarily enjoy it).
➢ Many people like to start the day with some stretching exercise.
This means that they think it is a good idea to start the day this way, although they might not particularly
enjoy it.
Remember that the expressions would like / would love / would hate / would prefer can only be followed
by a to-infinitive.
➢ In many countries, young people from rural areas would like to move to the city.
(would like moving is WRONG)
Here are some of the verbs which can be followed by a to-infinitive or the -ing form, but with a change in
meaning:

forget * mean * regret * stop

go on need remember * try

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

You use remember / forget / regret with an -ing clause if you are writing about an event after it has
happened. If you are writing about an event before it happens, you use a to-infinitive.
remember
➢ Quite a few people remember crying on their first day at school.
They remember now that they cried then, presumably in this case a long time ago.

➢ All children need to develop positive self-esteem, so parents and teachers should remember to
praise them for whatever they can achieve.
Patents and teachers should remember now to praise children later, at some point in the future.

Forget
➢ Most people never forget getting on a plane for the first time.
This sentence is about not forgetting something that happened in the past.
➢ People who work from home should not forget to take regular breaks.
This sentence is about not forgetting something that should happen in the future.
regret
➢ Governments probably regret ignoring the advice climate experts began to offer two decades ago.
The regretting is now; the ignoring happened in the past.
➢ I regret to say that those who govern us have lost the confidence of a large segment of the
population.
The verb regret is used with to-infinitive in just a few set expressions such as I (we) regret to inform you
that … / I (we) regret to say that … / I (we) regret to announce that … / I (we) regret to tell you that … .
mean
We use the verb mean + -ing when we want to say that one thing involves another or that one results in
another. It is often possible to use mean + that instead.
➢ A healthy diet means eating a wide variety of nutritious foods.
A healthy diet means that we should eat a wide variety of nutritious foods.
We use the verb mean + to-infinitive when we want to express an intention.
➢ If we are not aware of cultural differences, we may appear distant or rude even though we mean
to be friendly and polite.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

try
We use the verb try + -ing when we want to say that something is done as an experiment, in order to see
what happens.
➢ Instead of going everywhere by car and complaining that we are out of shape, we should try
walking to work or the shops.
We use the verb try + to-infinitive when we want to say that someone makes an effort to do something,
even though it is difficult and may not be successful.
➢ Westerners who try to learn Chinese often find the tone system extremely difficult to learn.

4. Verb + Object + to-infinitive

Some of the verbs in the Verb + to-infinitive category can also be used with the pattern Verb + Object +
to-infinitive. Here are some of the commonest ones:

ask expect * want would like would prefer

➢ It is sometimes argued that it is not fair to ask children to do the housework.

➢ Parents generally expect their children to learn to fend for themselves.
➢ We all want our dreams to come true.
➢ The public would like the media to make a clear difference between facts and opinions.
➢ It is often wrongly assumed that students would prefer their teachers to be very permissive.
Other verbs always require an object between them and the to-infinitive. Here are some of the
commonest ones:

advise * enable force order * teach *

allow encourage help persuade * tell *
cause forbid invite remind * warn *

➢ Art museum curators should not allow very large groups to visit an exhibition all at the same time.
➢ Widespread deforestation for agriculture and urban development is causing greenhouse gases to
accumulate in the atmosphere, and these then cause the planet to warm.
➢ Good teachers enable students to become independent learners.
➢ More initiatives should be introduced to encourage holidaymakers to travel by train rather than by
plane.
➢ Some dishonest companies try to persuade job seekers to pay for a training course before they
apply for a position.
➢ Parents sometimes have a hard time trying to persuade their children not to take up smoking.
➢ Climatologists have long warned governments not to ignore the effects of global warming.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

Remember that all the verbs marked with an asterisk (*) can also be followed by a that-clause:
➢ Some dishonest companies try to persuade job seekers that they should pay for a training course
before they apply for a position.
➢ Climatologist have long warned governments that they should not ignore the effects of global
warming.
The verb help is the only one in the list that can be used with or without to:
➢ The aim of most humanitarian organisations is to help people to help themselves.
➢ The aim of most humanitarian organisations is to help people help themselves.
5. Verb + Object + infinitive (without to)
Only two high-frequency verbs can be followed by an object and a bare infinitive, namely make and let.
make
➢ It is extremely unfair to make taxpayers pay for members of parliament’s personal expenses.
(make taxpayers to pay is WRONG)
➢ A number of European countries made immigrants feel very welcome.
(made immigrants to feel is WRONG)
However, note that a to-infinitive is necessary when the passive form is used:
➢ It is extremely unfair that taxpayers should be made to pay for members of parliament’s personal
expenses.
➢ Immigrants have been made to feel very welcome in a number of European countries.
➢ Some cities have become so unsafe that parents no longer dare to let their children play outdoors
on their own.
➢ Elderly people resent being patronized, so their careers should let them make their own decisions
whenever possible.

6. Verb + that-clause
All the verbs marked with an asterisk (*) in the preceding sections of this chapter can be used with a that-
clause.
Reporting verbs
Reporting verbs are so called because we use them to repeat or report on what other people have said or
written. Some of those verbs can be found among the asterisked verbs in the preceding sections, to which
the following can be added:

Claim doubt Insist repeat

complain explain realize say
confirm feel reckon suppose

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

➢ Several tour operators have confirmed that climate change is affecting bookings.
➢ Psychologists explain that we tend to believe what others think of us, and that we then shape our
lives on the basis of those opinions.
Verb + Object + that-clause
A number of high-frequency verbs are commonly used with the pattern Verb + Object + that-clause. These
verbs too are frequently used for reporting. Here are some of the commonest ones:

assure inform promise tell

convince persuade remind warn

➢ Employers try very hard to persuade job seekers that their company is the place to be.
➢ Teachers need to tell students that asking questions is usually a sign of intelligence rather than
ignorance.
(Teachers need to tell that asking questions … is WRONG)
Common errors: advise / recommend / suggest
These three high-frequency verbs are a source of common errors partly because they can be used with
several different patterns and cannot be used with some others. We look at each one in turn.
advise
First, we look at this verb when it means “to tell people what you think they should do”.
The most common pattern is Verb + Object + to-infinitive:
➢ Nutritionists advise parents to control what and how much their children eat.
➢ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelers not to visit conflict areas.
The patterns Verb + that-clause is also possible:
➢ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs advises that travelers should not visit conflict areas.
Note that the patterns Verb + Object + that-clause can NOT be used in this sense:
Parents should advise their children to avoid fast foods.
If you want to say that you think someone should not do something, you can use the expression advise
somebody against doing something:
➢ The ministry of Foreign Affairs advises travelers against visiting conflict areas.
➢ Parents should advise their children against consuming fast foods and energy drinks.
The verb advise can also be used with the pattern Verb + Object + ‘wh’-word:
➢ The Ministry of Foreign Affairs can advise tourists what they should do if they lose their passport
while travelling.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

The second meaning of advise is “to inform”, “to tell someone about something”. In this sense, advise can
be used with two patterns:

• Verb + Object + that-clause

• Verb + Object + of (something)
➢ Meteorologists have already advised the public that temperatures were likely to reach record highs
in the summer.
➢ Meteorologists have already advised the public of the likelihood of record high temperatures in the
summer.
recommend
First, we look at this verb when it means “to say that somebody or something is good.”
Verb + Noun (or Noun phrase):
➢ Websites that recommend hotels and restaurants have become hugely popular.
Verb + Object + to (somebody) / for (something):
➢ I firmly believer that literature plays an important part in our emotional and cognitive development,
and I therefore thoroughly recommend stories and folk tales to children and adults alike.
(both … recommend children and adults … / … recommend to children and adults… are WRONG)

➢ Many travel agencies hugely recommend travel insurance for any trip.
The second meaning of recommend is related to the first. However, it is more similar to “advise somebody
to do something”. In this sense, the person who recommends usually has special authority or special
knowledge of the subject.
Verb + that-clause
➢ Most doctors recommend that people eat meat two or three times a week.
Note that the verb (eat) in the that-clause is in the infinitive form. This is called ‘the subjunctive mood’
and is used in formal writing. In the subjunctive, the infinitive form is used for all six persons, so we would
have ‘The doctor recommended that my friend eat meat two or three times a week.’
Instead of that + Subject + Subjunctive, we often use that + Subject + should + Infinitive:
➢ Most doctors recommend that people should eat meat two or three times a week.
➢ In some countries, doctors recommend that the father be present in his child’s birth.
In some countries, doctors recommend that the father should be present at his child’s birth.
(… recommend the father to be present … is WRONG)

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

Verb + -ing:
➢ In order to avoid contamination by pesticides, experts recommend soaking all fruit and vegetables
in cold tap water for a few minutes.
➢ In order to avoid contamination by pesticides, experts recommend that all fruit and vegetables
should be soaked in cold tap water for a few minutes.

Important point to remember:

Never use the following forms; they are WRONG:
recommend to do something
recommend someone to do something
recommend someone something
suggest
The verb suggest has several different, though related meanings, and can be used with a number of
patterns.
First, we look at the verb suggest when it means “to indicate”. It is frequently used in this sense in
academic writing.
If you say that X suggests Y, you mean that Y is likely to be true, or that X shows Y in an indirect way.
Verb + Noun (or Noun phrase):
➢ Recent studies conducted in Western Europe seem to suggest a gradual decline in labour supply.
Verb + that-clause:
➢ The results of a recent survey suggest that a large proportion of nurses are at risk of burnout.
The second meaning of suggest is “to propose”, “to put forward an idea for someone to consider”.
Verb + that-clause:
➢ Environmentalists have suggested that the government should spend a much higher percentage of
the transport budget on walking and cycling paths.
(… have suggested the government to spend … is WRONG)

➢ Health experts suggest that we walk 10,000 steps a day in order to keep fit.
(… suggest us to walk … is WRONG)

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

Verb + -ing:
➢ Environmentalists have suggested spending a much higher percentage of the transport budget on
walking and cycling paths:
➢ Health experts suggest walking 10,000 steps a day in order to keep fit.
Verb + ‘wh’-word:
➢ Some websites suggest how we could overcome our addiction to social media.
➢ A good teacher not only points out a student’s mistakes, but also suggests what to do about them.
Important point to remember:
Never use the following forms; they are WRONG:
suggest to do something
suggest someone to do something
suggest someone something
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Verb Patterns: Exercises

1. Underline the correct option in italics.

1 A number of leaders have claimed that climate change is / climate change being a hoax.
2 Good teachers never forget to put / putting themselves in their students’ shoes.
3 I firmly believe it is morally wrong to let animals to suffer / suffer in cages.
4 In an election campaign, candidates routinely promise citizens / to citizens that things will get
better.
5 In my opinion, young children should not be allowed to watch / that they watch violent films.
6 Large corporations can no longer avoid to deal / dealing with social issues.
7 Local people expect tourists to behave / that they behave decently.
8 Most adults remember to be / being punished or scolded at school.
9 Parents should attempt to instill / instilling values such as selflessness and generosity in their
children.
10 Understandably, young graduates would prefer to find / finding a job that matches their
qualifications.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

2. Paraphrase these sentences using an -ing clause instead of the reporting clause.

1 We can no longer deny that we have wasted a lot of natural resources.

We can no longer deny_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a lot of natural resources.

2 Several scientists have already admitted that they do not know how to solve the problem of global
warming.
Several scientists have already admitted_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ how to solve the problem of global
warming.

3 People find it hard to imagine that they will have to buy bottled drinking water.
People find it hard to imagine_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ bottled drinking water.

4 Juvenile delinquents often recall that they were treated badly when they were at home or at
school.
Juvenile delinquents often recall_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ badly when they were at home or at school.

5 Even people who know each other well rarely mention that they take all sorts of dietary
supplements and vitamins.
Even people who know each other well rarely_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ all sorts of dietary supplements
and vitamins.

6 As a simple way of reducing our carbon footprint, I suggest that we cut down on air travel.
As a simple way of reducing our carbon footprint, I suggest_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ on air travel.

3. Complete these sentences with the -ing form of the to-infinitive of the verbs from the box.

be deal endanger lose meet play reduce show stop work

1) All children should have the opportunity to practice _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a musical instrument.

2) Elderly people generally resent _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ dependent on others.
3) It is often believed that short prison sentences fail _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ offenders from returning
to a life of crime.
4) Ministerial candidates often pretend _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ interest in ordinary people.
5) People who go on a strict slimming diet often risk _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ their health.
6) Several countries have signed an agreement which aims _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ carbon emissions.
7) The war on fake news and propaganda is one that democracies cannot afford _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.
8) Tourists often expect _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ local people.
9) Unfortunately, too few young teachers enjoy _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in rural areas.
10) World leaders should not delay _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with the current environmental problems.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

4. Paraphrase these sentences replacing the underlined noun phrase with an -ing clause as the object
of the verb.

1. The introduction of new technology in the workplace sometimes involves the dismissal of many
employees.
The introduction of new technology in the workplace sometimes involves_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

2. Several countries are considering a ban on e-cigarettes in public places.

Several countries are considering_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ in public places.

3. Many people do not mind long hours of work as long as they get proper recognition for their effort.
Many people do not mind_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ as long as they get proper recognition for their
effort.

4. Great moral leaders such as Nelson Mandela never give up the fight for human rights and dignity.
Great moral leaders such as Nelson Mandela never give up_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

5. Both young and elderly people should carry on with their struggle for a fairer and more equal
society.
Both young and elderly people should carry on_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _.

6. As the economy might go into recession, young graduates should not postpone the search for a
worthwhile job.
As the economy might go into recession, young graduates should not postpone_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _.

5. Complete these sentences with being or to be.

1 A person should work hard because they enjoy what they do, not because they hope _ _ _ _ _ _ _
_ _ _ _ _ _ given a raise or a promotion.
2 Couples may decide _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ childfree for a host of different reasons.
3 Historic buildings deserve _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ cared for and protected.
4 I do not think it is wise to shirk one’s responsibilities and put off _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ an adult.
5 If a student keeps on _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ late for school, there is usually a problem at home.
6 Most people need moments of solitude, but nobody fancies _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ lonely.
7 Overseas students often miss _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ with their families on festive occasions.
8 Some companies that promise _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ ethical only do so because they think it may
win them more customers.
9 Some people manage _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ happy despite a life full of adversity and sorrow.
10 When you travel in unsafe areas, it is a good idea to arrange _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ picked up and
dropped off close to your hotel.

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Grammar for IELTS Daw Thuzar Latt (M.A English)

6. Complete the second sentence in each pair so that it expresses the same idea as the first in a more
tentative way. You only need two, three or four words each time.

1 Many large cities have a crime problem.

Many large cities seem _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a crime problem.

2 Air pollution is getting worse.

Air pollution seems _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ worse.

3 Vegetarianism has become a fashion.

Vegetarianism seems _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ a fashion.

4 Governments have not listened to the advice of climate experts.

Governments appears _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ to the advice of climate experts.

5 Knife crime is increasing among inner-city teenagers.

Knife crime appears_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ among inner-city teenagers.

6 Social media’s plans to tackle fake news have not had much effect.
Social media’s plans to tackle fake news appears_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ much effect.

7 Many governments neglect the issue of poverty.

Many governments tend _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ the issue of poverty.

8 Although we live in a more inclusive society, employers do not hire people with a mental illness of
disability.
Although we live in a more inclusive society, employers tend _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ people with a
mental illness of disability.

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