Grammar

B2
verb patterns: -ing and
infinitives
Recommended for:
Gold Experience
Focus
High Note

2019 1
 Language is full of patterns.
Let’s look at:
1. Fixed verb patterns with –ing, to + infinitive and the bare infinitive.
2. Common uses of –ing and infinitive patterns.
3. Verb patterns with would rather, had better and it’s time.
4. Verb patterns with both –ing and infinitives.

What are the fixed

patterns?

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 1. fixed verb patterns
I really hate missing the If your parents let you
rock concert tonight, go, I can help you to
but I can’t afford to buy get one. You can pay
the ticket right now. me back next week.

Look at the verb + to + verb + –ing verb + object + verb + object +

conversation and infinitive to + infinitive bare infinitive
find examples of
these fixed can’t afford to hate missing help you to get let you go
patterns. buy

help
can’t
letyou
hate you
afford
to
goget
missingto
buy

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 1. fixed verb patterns
verb + to + infinitive verb + –ing verb + object + to + verb + object + bare
infinitive infinitive
Afford, arrange, agree, Hate, admit, avoid, Help, advise, allow, Let, make.
prepare, would like, discuss, enjoy, force, instruct, prefer,
decide, hope, intend, recommend, mention, request, remind, teach,
learn, manage, need, miss, include, feel like, warn, forbid, persuade,
offer, refuse. spend time, delay, order, encourage.
consider.

With these fixed Careful! In the

verb patterns, the passive voice, we
2nd verb depends use to + infinitive
on the first. after make. E.g.
He was made to
go home early.
There are many Some verbs can be
verbs in English followed by to +
It’s important
that are followed infinitive or –ing with
to record all
by these common no or very little
new ones
patterns. change in meaning.
when you
E.g. begin, start,
discover them. Common uses of –ing
continue, dread,
propose. and infinitive patterns.
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 2. common uses of –ing and
infinitive patterns
Being the youngest child was always the best. I never had to ask permission to do anything
because my parents were much more relaxed. It’s hard to believe they were the same
people! My older sister was afraid to ask to go out because she knew they would want to
know every detail. She was very good at making up stories! When she left to go to
university, she finally found freedom.
preposition + – as a subject noun + to + adjective + to + infinitive of
ing infinitive infinitive purpose

Good at Being the Permission to Afraid to ask Leave to go

making up youngest child do Hard to believe

Look at the story above.

Can you find examples
of these common uses of Hard
Afraid
Leave
Being
to to
believe
to
the
Permission
Good ask
go
at to
–ing and infinitive
patterns?
youngest
do child
making up

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 2. common uses of –ing and infinitive
patterns
Being the youngest child was always the best. I never had to ask permission to do anything
because my parents were much more relaxed. It’s hard to believe they were the same
people! My older sister was afraid to ask to go out because she knew they would want to
know every detail. She was very good at making up stories! When she left to go to
university, she finally found freedom.
+ -ing + to + infinitive
preposition + –ing as a subject noun + to + adjective + to + infinitive of
infinitive infinitive purpose
She was very good Being the I never had to ask My older sister was She left to go to
at making up youngest child was for permission to afraid to ask. university.
stories! always the best. do anything. It’s hard to believe
they were the same
people!

When and how do we

All phrasal verbs are also You can also use the
use the expressions
followed by –ing. E.g. He phrases in order to
would rather, had
gave up smoking. or so as to here.
better and it’s time?
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 3. verb patterns with would
rather, had better and it’s time
I’d rather watch the comedy
What do you want than the horror film. We had
to watch at the better call Jimmy to make sure
cinema? he’s ready because it’s nearly
time to go!

Look at the three Look at the patterns

phrases in bold. which follow the three
Which one do we use phrases. Do we use –ing,
to express a to + infinitive, or a bare
preference? infinitive?

I’d
rather 1. would
Look at the three Look at the three rather/had
watch… phrases in bold. Which phrases in bold. Which better +
one do we use to give one do we use to talk bare
We had
advice or talk about a about the appropriate infinitive
better
personal obligation? It’s time to do something? 2. It’s time +
call…
time to +
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go…
 3. verb patterns with would
rather, had better and it’s time
would rather + bare infinitive had better + bare infinitive It’s time + to + infinitive
(than)
To express preferences. To give advice and express personal To talk about the favourable or
obligation. appropriate time to do something.

I’d rather watch the comedy than the We had better call Jimmy. It’s (nearly) time to leave.
horror film.
We can also use would rather +
person + past tense to talk about We can also use It’s time + person
something you would prefer + past tense to talk about
someone else to do. something we should do.

would rather + person + past It’s time + person + past tense

tense
Remember. To talk about something you think
To talk about something you would These don’t In all 3 you or someone else should do.
prefer another person to do. refer to the expressions,
past. The you can use It’s time (that) you went to bed!
I’d rather you arrived the day before the sentences contractions.
wedding. still refer to E.g. I’d
now or the rather... Verbs with –ing and
future. infinitives?
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 4. verb patterns with –ing and
infinitives
Remember
A. I remembered to turn off the lights before we left.
B. I remember turning off the lights before we left. Look at these sentence
pairs.
Forget
A. He forgot to call his mother.
B. I will never forget going on a plane for the first time. Sentences A are
followed by to +
Stop infinitive whereas
A. Mary stopped at the bank to take out some money. sentences B are Different.
B. Tim stopped working here last week. followed by –ing. Are the
meanings of the verbs
Regret in bold the same of
different in both
A. I regret to inform you that you didn’t get the job.
examples?
B. I regret eating all that cake!
Try
Look at the sentence
A. They tried to call, but I had already left. pairs and try to work out
B. I tried staying up late to study, but felt too tired. the difference in
meaning.
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 4. verb patterns with –ing and
infinitives
remember
A. I remembered to turn off the lights before we left. Remember that you have to do
B. I remember turning off the lights before we left. something.
Remember that you did something.
forget
Forget that you have to do something.
A. He forgot to call his mother.
Forget that you did something in the
B. I will never forget going on a plane for the first time.
past. Some verbs
stop can be
Stop in order to do something followed by to
A. Mary stopped at the bank to take out some money.(purpose). + infinitive or
B. Tim stopped working here last week. –ing, but the
No longer do something. meaning of
regret Formal meaning ‘I’m sorry to tell you the verb
changes.
A. I regret to inform you that you didn’t get the job. that’.
B. I regret eating all that cake! Regret something from the past you
can’t change.
try
Attempt to do something.
A. They tried to call, but I had already left.
Experiment with something to see if it
B. I tried staying up late to study, but felt too tired.
works.
Let’s
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practise!
 Practice activities
Use the correct form of the verbs in bold to complete the gaps.
speaking
1. I really miss ……………………………… to my best friend every day.
speak
putting
2. A: I can’t find my keys anywhere! B: Do you remember …………………… them in your bag?
put
didn’t bring
3. I’d rather you …………………………… your dog to the party. There will be too many people. not bring

clean
4. Do your parents make you …………………………. after dinner or not?
up
clean up to
5. I saw Cecilia by the pet shop and she stopped ……………………….. hello.
say say
to
6. Sophie didn’t have enough information ………………………………. the book.
write
write makin
7. Patrick is excellent at ……………………… people laugh.
g
make to be
8. My parents always taught me …………………. patient.

be
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