VERB PATTERNS

Sometimes in a sentence, one verb follows another.

For example: I want to buy a car.
The first verb is 'want', the second verb is 'buy'.
In sentences like this, there are different possible patterns. For
example:
(a) I want to buy a car.
(b) I hate driving.
In sentence A, the first verb is followed by an infinitive.
In sentence B, the first verb is followed by a gerund (-ing) form.
The verb patterns are dependent on the first verb. There are some
different types of pattern. When you learn a verb, you need to learn
the verb pattern. Some verbs have more than one possible pattern.
Sometimes, if a verb has two patterns, each pattern can have a
different meaning or use.
VERB + TO + VERB
Want, Hope, Decide, Agree
I want to work with Dr. Laver.
Tim hopes to leave the stockroom soon.
Helen decided to go out with Michal.
Alice might agree to change wards.
VERB + VERB + ING
Enjoy, Mind, Consider
I enjoy working on the emergency ward.
Alice doesn't mind working with children.
Tim is considering changing his job.
VERB + PREPOSITION + VERB + ING
Specialise, Think
He specialises in helping children.
Michal is thinking about cooking dinner.

CONJUGATION FOR THE PASSIVE VOICE

present simple: It is made

present continuous: It is being made
present perfect: It has been made
Infinitive
Simple

Continuous

Perfect Simple

Perfect
Continuous

present
past
future
conditional
present
past
future
conditional
present
past
future
conditional
present
past
future
conditional

to be washed
It is washed.
It was washed.
It will be washed.
It would be washed.
It is being washed.
It was being washed.
It will be being washed.
It would be being washed.
It has been washed.
It had been washed.
It will have been washed.
It would have been washed.
It has been being washed.
It had been being washed.
It will have been being washed.
It would have been being
washed.

MODALS (DEDUCTION)
MUSTWe use must when we feel sure that something is true.
Come inside and get warm you must be freezing out there.
Youre a zookeeper? That must be very interesting.
MIGHT/ MAY/ COULDWe use might, may or could to say that we
think something is possible but were not sure.
Did you hear that? I think there might be a burglar downstairs.
Dont put it up there. It could fall off and hit someone.
CANTWe use cant when we feel sure something is not true.
It cant be a burglar. All the doors and windows are locked.
It cant be far away now.

PAST PERFECT

Subject

Auxiliary
Verb

Main
Verb

had

finished

my work.

You

had

stopped

before me.

She

had

not

gone

to school.

We

had

not

left.

Had

you

arrived?

Had

they

eaten

INDIRECT QUESTIONS
Direct question:
Where's the nearest bank please?
When is the last train on a Saturday night?
How much do two tickets cost?
Why can't you come in to work?
Indirect question:
Could you tell me where's the nearest bank please?
Do you know when is the last train on a Saturday night?
Have you any ideahow much do two tickets cost?
Would you mind telling me why can't you come in to work?

dinner?