VERB PATTERNS

Pattern 1
Subject+Verb.
This is the simplest of verb patterns. The subject is followed by an intransitive verb,
which expresses complete sense without the help of any other words.
Subject -- Verb
1. Birds -- fly.
2. Fire -- burns.
3. The moon -- is shining.
4. The baby -- is crying.
5. Kamala -- was singing.
6. The bell -- has rung.
7. The sun -- rose.

Pattern 2
Subject+verb+subject complement
The complement usually consists of a noun (examples 1&2), a pronoun (3 & 4), or an
adjective (5,6, 7 & 8).
Subject -- Verb -- Subject Complement
1. This -- is -- a pen.
2. His brother – became -- a soldier.
3. It -- is -- I me
4. That book -- is-- mine.
5. Gopal -- looks -- sad.
6. My father -- grew -- angry.
7. The children -- kept -- quiet.
8. The milk -- has turned -- sour.

Pattern 3
Subject + verb + direct object
1. I -- know -- his address.
2. The boy -- has lost -- his pen.
3. Mohan -- opened -- the door.
4. Who -- broke -- the jug?
5. Mr, Pill -- has bought -- a car.
6. You -- must wash -- yourself.
7. We -- should help -- the poor.

Pattern 4
Subject + verb + indirect object + direct object
1. I -- lent -- her -- my pen.
2. The teacher -- gave -- us -- homework.
3. We --have paid -- him -- the money.
4. The old man -- told --us -- the whole story.
5. You -- must tell -- the police -- the truth.
6. I -- have bought --my sister --a watch.
7. He -- didn't leave -- us -- any.
8. - -- Show -- me -- your hands.

Pattern 5
Subject + verb + direct objects preposition + prepositional object
1. I -- lent -- my pen -- to -- a friend of mine.
2. The teacher -- gave -- homework -- to -- all of us.
3. We -- have paid -- the money -- to -- the proprietor.
4. He -- told -- the news -- to -- everybody in the village.
5. He -- promised -- the money -- to -- me (not to you).
6. I -- have bought -- a watch -- for -- my sister.
7. Mr. Raman -- sold -- his car -- to-- a man from Mumbai.
8. She -- made -- coffee -- for -- all of us.
Many verbs can be used both in Pattern 4 and in Pattern 5. Pattern 5 is preferred when
the
direct object is less important or when the indirect object is longer than the direct
object.

Pattern 6
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + adjective
1. The boy -- pushed -- the door -- open.
2. The smith -- beat -- it --flat.
3. She -- washed -- the -- plates -- clean.
4. The -- thief -- broke -- the safe --open.
5. He -- turned -- the -- lamp -- low.
6. You -- have made -- your shirt -- dirty.
7. I -- like -- my coffee -- strong.
8. We -- found -- the trunk -- empty.
In examples 1-6, the adjective denotes a state that results from the action expressed by
the
verb. In the last two examples the noun and the adjective combine to be the object of
the
verb. The chief verbs used in this pattern include, keep, beat, drive,make, paint, leave,
turn,
find, like, wish.

Pattern 7
Subject + verb + preposition + prepositional object
1. We -- are waiting -- for -- Suresh.
2. He -- agreed -- to -- our proposal.
3. You -- can't count -- on -- his help.
4. These -- books -- belong -- to -- me.
5. His uncle -- met -- with -- an accident.
6. She -- complained -- of -- his rudeness.
7. He -- failed -- in -- his attempt.

Pattern 8
Subject + verb + to-infinitive (as object of the verb)
Subject --Verb -- to-infinitive, etc. (object of the verb)
1. She -- wants -- to go.
2. I -- forgot -- to post the letter.
3. He -- fears -- to speak in public.
4. They -- intend -- to postpone the trip.
5. Ramesh -- proposes -- to go into business.
6. We -- would like -- to visit the museum.
7. I -- hoped -- to get a first class.
8. He -- decided -- not to go there.
The commonest verbs used in this pattern are: like, love, prefer, begin, start, agree, try,
attempt, choose, continue, intend, propose, desire, wish, want, hate, dislike, hope,
expect,
promise, refuse, fear, remember, forget, offer, learn.

Pattern 9
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + to-infinitive.
1. I -- would like -- you -- to stay.
2. We -- asked -- him -- to go.
3. He -- helped -- me -- to carry the box.
4. She -- advised -- him -- to study medicine.
5. The doctor -- ordered -- Gopi -- to stay in bed.
6. They -- warned -- us -- not to be late.
7. I -- can't allow -- you -- to smoke.
8. Who -- taught -- you -- to swim?
The chief verbs used in this pattern include ask, tell, order, command, persuade,
encourage, urge, want, wish, request, intend, expect, force, tempt, teach, invite, help,
warn, like, love, hate, allow, permit, remind, cause, mean, dare.

Pattern 10
Subject + verb + gerund.
1. She -- began -- singing.
2. He -- has finished -- talking.
3. I -- hate -- borrowing money.
4. You -- mustn't miss -- seeing him.
5. Mr Bannerjee -- loves -- teaching.
6. My brother -- enjoys -- playing cricket.
7. I -- suggest -- burning that letter.
8. - -- Don't keep -- saying that.
In this pattern the gerund is the object of the verb. The chief verbs used in this pattern
include begin, start, love, like, hate, stop, finish, enjoy, prefer, fear, remember, forget,
mind, miss, suggest, practise, try, understand, keep, help, advise, admit, avoid,
consider,
intend, delay, deny.
Pattern 11
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + present participle
1. I -- saw -- him -- crossing the bridge.
2. We -- smell -- something -- burning.
3. We -- noticed -- the boy -- walking down the street.
4. She -- caught -- him -- opening your letters.
5. They -- found -- him -- playing cards.
6. She -- kept -- the fire -- burning.
7. - -- (Please) start -- the clock -- going.
The verbs used in this pattern include see, hear, smell, feel, watch, notice, find,
observe,
listen, get, catch, keep, leave, set, start

Pattern 12
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + plain infinitive
1. I -- saw -- him -- go out.
2. She -- watched -- him -- steal the watch.
3. We --Heard -- her -- sing.
4. The thief -- felt -- someone -- touch his arm,
5. - -- Let -- me -- go.
6. We -- made -- Tom -- behave well.
7. He -- bade -- them -- leave the house.
The chief verbs used in this pattern are: see, watch, notice, observe, hear, feel, make,
let,
help, bid

Pattern 13
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + past participle.
1. I -- heard -- my name -- called.
2. I -- want -- this letter -- typed.
3. She -- felt -- herself -- lifted up.
4. You -- should get -- that tooth -- pulled out.
5. He -- had -- his suit -- cleaned.
6. We -- found -- the house -- deserted.
The verbs used in this pattern are: see, hear, find, feel, want, wish, like, make, prefer,
get,
have.

Pattern 14
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + (to be + ) complement
The complement may be an adjective, adjective phrase or noun.
1. I -- consider -- the plan -- (to be) unwise.
2. We -- thought -- him -- (to be) foolish.
3. People -- supposed -- him -- (to be) a patriot.
4. They -- reported -- Robert -- (to be) a reliable person.
5. The court -- appointed -- her -- guardian of the orphan child.
6. The club -- chose -- Mr Sunder -- treasurer.
7. She -- called -- him -- a fool.
The chief verbs used in this pattern are: appoint, choose, elect, make, call, name,
nominate, crown, christen.

Pattern 15
Subject + verb + that-clause (object of the verb)
1. I -- suppose -- (that) he it not at home.
2. I -- expect -- (that) it will rain.
3. We -- hoped -- (that) you would succeed.
4. He -- says -- (that) he has met your uncle.
5. The teacher -- said -- he was very busy.
6. Padma -- suggested -- that we should go to the park.
7. He -- admitted -- that he had written the letter,
8. They -- complained -- that they had not been fairly treated.
That is often omitted, especially after say, think, suppose, hope, expect.
Among the important verbs used in this pattern are say, think, suppose, imagine, know,
believe, admit, confess, declare, suggest, complain, hope, expect, fear, feel, hear,
intend,
notice, propose, show, understand, wonder.

Pattern 16
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + that-clause.
1. He -- told -- me -- (that) he was coming on Sunday.
2. I -- warned -- him -- that there were pickpockets in the crowd.
3. She -- has assured -- me -- that she is ready to help.
4. Venu -- promised -- us -- that he would be here at five.
5. -- We -- have informed -- him -- that we are leaving this afternoon.
6. -- He -- satisfied -- me -- that he could do the work well.
The chief verbs used in this pattern are tell, inform, promise, warn, remind, teach,
assure,
satisfy.

Pattern 17
Subject + verb + interrogative + clause
1. I -- asked -- where he was going.
2. Nobody -- knows -- when he will arrive.
3. I -- wonder -- what he wants.
4. She -- showed -- how annoyed she was.
5. Tom -- could not decide -- what he should do next.
6. I -- can't imagine -- why she has behaved like that.
7. - -- Find out -- when the train is due.
The important verbs used in this pattern are say, ask, wonder, know, believe, imagine,
decide, discuss, understand, show, reveal, find out, suggest, tell (especially in the
interrogative and negative).

Pattern 18
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + interrogative + clause
1. She -- asked -- me -- when you had gone.
2. - -- Tell -- us -- what it is.
3. I -- showed -- them -- how they should do it.
4. - -- (Please) advise -- me -- what I should do.
5. - -- (Please) inform -- me -- where I should turn off the road.
6. Can -- you tell -- me -- where he lives?
The chief verbs used in this pattern are tell, ask, show, teach, advise, inform.

Pattern 19
Subject + verb + interrogative + to-infinitive
1. I -- don't know -- how to do it.
2. I -- wonder -- where to spend the weekend.
3. She -- knows -- how to drive a car.
4. He -- forgot -- when to turn.
5. Tom -- couldn't decide -- what to do next.
6. We -- must find out -- where to put it.
7. - -- Remember -- how to do it.
The commonest verbs used in this pattern are know, understand, wonder, remember,
forget, decide, settle, find out, enquire, see, explain, guess, learn, consider.

Pattern 20
Subject + verb + noun/pronoun + (interrogative + to-infinitive.)
1. I -- shall show -- you -- how to operate it.
2. He -- has taught -- me -- how to play chess.
3. They -- informed -- us -- where to turn off the road.
4. - -- (Please) advise -- me -- what to do.
5. - -- (Please) tell -- us -- how to get there.
6. We -- asked -- him -- where to get tickets.