VERB PATTERN

S.S. Jain Subodh Law College

VERB PATTERN

Project Submission as the partial fulfilment of the periodic evaluation of

‘Verb Pattern’

Submission To: Submitted By:

MANDEEP SINGH NANDINI SHARMA

FACULTY OF ENGLISH ROLL NO: 40

SEMESTER II

S.S. JAIN SUBODH LAW COLLEGE

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CONTENTS

1. Acknowledgement
2. Research Methodology
3. Abstract
4. Introduction
5. Verbs followed by ING (Gerund)
6. Verbs followed by (to) infinitive
7. Other Verb Patterns
8. Transitive Verbs
9. Non-transitive Verbs
10. Finite Verb
11. Non- Finite Verb
12. Infinitive without ‘to’
13. To Infinitive
14. Gerund Participles
15. Uses of Gerund
16. Participles
17. Participles used for synthesis
18. Conclusion
19. Bibliography

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ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

I take this opportunity to express my humble regards to my teacher Mr. Mandeep

Singh for inspiring me and guiding me during the course of this project work and also
their cooperation and guidance from time to time during the course of this project
work on topic Verb Pattern.

Jaipur ( )

28th of February, 2015 NANDINI SHARMA

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RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

Aims and Objectives:

The aim of the project is to present a detailed study of the topic “Verb Pattern”
forming a concrete informative capsule of the same with an insight into its relevance
in the development of the English language in India.

RESEARCH PLAN:

The Researchers have followed Doctrinal Method.

SCOPE AND LIMITATION:

In this project the researcher has tried to include different aspects of the verb pattern
in our day to day life. In this project work the methodology of the use of verb patterns
influences its importance in practical use of English. It is more than important to
understand these uses for their proper implementation.

SOURCES OF DATA:

Books

Websites

METHOD OF WRITING AND MODE OF CITATION:

The method of writing followed in the course of this research project is primarily
analytical. The researcher has followed uniform method of citation throughout the
course of this research project.

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ABSTRACT

This project aims at introducing the concept of “Verb Pattern”. It is necessary for the
fluent use of English. The effective and correct use of verb patterns greatly assists
communication in English. The project has dealt with introducing different verb
patterns. Differentiation between transitive and intransitive verbs has been clearly
made. The uses of gerund and other participles are specified with wide amplitude of
understanding so that it may help the reader to understand the concepts and the
verb patterns could be used easily. Uses of Infinitive without To and To infinitive are
of greatest importance for us for proper use of English in our day to day life. Thus,
they are also properly classified along with suitable examples. The understanding of
verb pattern is very essential for absoluteness in English language.

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INTRODUCTION

What are Verb patterns?

In English we have many rules when it comes to using two verbs together in the
same phrase. Verb patterns are the way you are going to use the second verb when
it is dependent on the first verb. For example:

I like drinking green tea after dinner or I like to drink green tea after dinner

In this example you’ll see that in one of them I am using the “ing” form and in the
other I’m using the “to infinitive.” In this example both forms are correct and both
forms mean the exact same thing.

Sure, it seems quite easy so far, but the verb “like” is an example of a verb that can
be used with either of the form and the meaning doesn’t change. If we were to
change the first verb from “like” and use the verb “stop,” this same rule, or
pattern, would not be the same and the meaning would change. For example:

I stopped drinking water when exercising or I stopped to drink water when

exercising.

In this example, both phrases are correct but they have different meanings. In the
first, I have stopped the activity of “drinking water,” and in the second, I have stopped
what I was doing (exercising) to drink water.

So, now you can see that depending on the first verb that we use, we have to know
what form we will use with the verb that follows.

Verbs followed by ING (gerund)

Now that we know that these rules exist, let’s categorize them and explore all of our
options when making verb patterns.

The first category is we are going to look at are all the verbs that are followed by the
second verb being in the “ing form.” The first verb can be conjugated however you
like, as long as the second verb is in the ing form.

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Miss- I miss playing guitar on the weekend

Appreciate- I appreciated playing the guitar on the weekend
Practice- I’m going to practice playing the guitar on the weekend
Consider- I have considered playing the guitar on the weekend
Admit- I admitted playing the guitar on the weekend
Can’t stand- I can’t stand playing the guitar on the weekend

As you can see, all of these verbs when followed by another verb, independent of
how you conjugate them, will always have the “ing” conjugation in the second verb.

Verbs followed by (to) infinitive

As you saw above, verbs always followed with the ing form, we also have verbs that
are always followed by the (to) infinitive.

Exactly the same as above, these verbs can be conjugated however you like as long
as the second verb is in the (to) infinitive form. Let’s take a look at some of the most
common ones.

Demand- I demanded to pay the bill

Offer- I’m going to offer to pay the bill
Wait- I was waiting to pay the bill
Decide- I have decided to pay the bill
Hope- I hope to pay the bill (I have never said this)
Plan- I didn’t plan to pay the bill

As you can see, these verbs will always be followed by a verb in the (to) infinitive
form. Just like the verbs followed by ing, it doesn’t matter how we conjugate the first
verb as long as you follow the pattern of that first verb, whether it’s the “ing form” or
the “(to) infinitive.”

Other Verb Patterns

Some verbs can be used with both form and it doesn’t change meaning. Some of
these verbs include: Like- I like to eat / I like eating
Continue- I continued to eat / I continued eating
Start- I started to eat / I started eating

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And like the verb “stop,” some verbs can use both pattern but the meaning changes.
For example: Remember- I remembered to lock the door (I didn’t forget)
- I remember locking the door (I have that memory in my mind)

Forget- I forgot to lock the door (I didn’t remember)

- I forget telling you to lock the door (I don’t have that memory)

Try- I tried to tell you what happened (a failed attempt at something)

- Have you tried telling her (a suggested way fix a problem)

These ones tend to be the most difficult to understand, but it’s very important not to
get too stressed out about memorizing all of them because this is something that
tends to happen naturally with the more exposure to English we have.

TRANSITIVE VERBS

Verbs which must have a direct object are called as transitive verbs.
 I enjoyed the party (NOT:I enjoyed)
(The subject is 'I', the verb is 'enjoyed' and the direct object is 'the party'.)

 William likes chocolate (NOT: William likes)

(The subject is 'William', the verb is 'likes' and the direct object is 'chocolate'.)

INTRANSITIVE VERBS

Verbs which do not take an object are called intransitive verbs. Intransitive verbs
can't have a direct object. Intransitive verbs also can't make a passive.
 They arrived.
(The subject is 'they' and the verb is 'arrived'. There's no object.)

 The children are sleeping.

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(The subject is 'the children' and the verb is 'are sleeping'. There's no object.)

Many verbs have a transitive and an intransitive form:

 John ate the pizza (transitive).

 John ate (intransitive).

Also, some verbs that have more than one meaning can be transitive or intransitive
depending on which meaning is being used.

 I see the mountains (see = see with your eyes, transitive).

 I see (see = understand, intransitive).

“Verb is a word which tells what somebody or something is/ does, do / feels, etc.”

There are basically two types of verbs:

1. Finite Verb
2. Non-finite verb

FINITE VERB

A Verb Form which changes with the change of tense, person or number is called a
finite verb. For example:

He is playing Cricket.
They are playing Cricket.
She was playing Cricket.

NON-FINITE VERB

A Verb Form which doesn’t change with the change of tense, person or numbers is
called Non finite verb. For example:

I like swimming.
She likes swimming.

She likes to play.

I like to play.

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There are three forms of non-finite verbs.

1. ‘To’ Infinitive(to + VI)

2. ‘Ing’ form (gerund/ present participle)
3. ‘en’ form (past participle)

INFINITIVE WITHOUT ‘TO’

1) As an object compliment of the following verbs:

Let, Make, See, Hear, Feel, Watch, Find, Notice, Know, etc.

 He made us laugh. (laugh)

 I let her go. (go)
 We can use ‘ing’ form means present participle with some verbs. The ‘ing’
form describes the action in progress (like a continuous tense); the infinitive is
used for complete activity.
 I saw him cross the road. (from one side to another)
 I saw him crossing the road. (on the way to the other side)

2) With prefer _ rather than.

 I prefer to die rather than beg.
 Prefer takes a full infinitive while rather than takes a bare infinitive.

3) After better, had better, had rather, would rather, would sooner, than, as, like.
 He had better _ finish his work soon.
 It’s as easy to run as_ swim.

4) After ‘but and except’.

 He does nothing but _ watch TV all the time.
 She does nothing except _ talk all the time.

5) After model auxiliaries.

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 You can _ go and _ play.

 You must _ obey your parents.

TO INFINITIVE

1. As the subject of the verb.

 To swim is a good exercise.
 To tell a lie is wrong.

2. As the object of a verb.

 I like to collect stamps.
 I want to play Cricket.

3. As a compliment of a verb.
 His aim is to earn money.
 My hobby is to collect stamps.

4. An infinitive can be used after a noun and adjective to express purpose.

 He has hardly any food to eat.
 I am curious to know the results.
 He is not able to walk.

5. After superlatives and with first, second, only, etc, next, last.
 He is the first boy to do this.
 She is the only scientist to have won three noble prizes.

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GERUND PARTICIPLE

When ing forms are used as verbs or adjectives, they are often called present
participles. And when they are used more like nouns, they are often called gerunds.
Gerund functions as a noun, so it’s called a verbal noun. A participle functions as an
adjective, so it’s called a verbal adjective.

 He killed a flying bird. ( a bird that was flying) right

 This is a walking stick. ( a stick that is walking) wrong

If we can expand the ing form, it’s a present participle. If not, it’s a gerund.

USES OF GERUND

i. A gerund can be used just like an object or compliment of a verb..

 As a subject.
 Learning English is not difficult. (learn)
 Smoking is bad for health. (smoke)
 As an object.
 I love playing Violen.
 I hate packing suitcases.
 As a compliment.
 My hobby is playing Tennis.
ii. Some verbs can take either an infinitive or a gerund as an object, but usually
there is a slight difference of meaning.
The verbs are following:
Advice, allow, prefer, hate, love, like, permit, begin, continue, forget,
remember, require, try, want, etc.
 I prefer going by air. (a general preference)
 I prefer to go by air. ( on a particular journey)
 Verb + gerund usually indicates a normal activity, it means one’s choice or
preference.
 Verb + infinitive usually indicate a temporary or occasional activity.

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iii. Gerund is used after preposition, possessive adjective or possessive forms of

nouns.
 He prevented me from going there. (go)
 I don’t like Tom’s staying here. (stay)
iv. The following verbs always take a gerund.
Avoid, enjoy, mind, prevent, admit, involve, forgive, practice, dislike, rise,
consider, etc.
 I enjoy travelling.
 I don’t mind waiting here.
v. The following adjectives or expressions always take a gerund.
Busy, happy, worth, it’s no use, good, can’t help, etc.
 I can’t help laughing. (laugh)
 It’s no use repenting now. (repent)
 She is busy packing up. (pack)
vi. After deserve, want, need and require the ‘ing’ form has a passive sense.
 Your hair needs cutting. (cut)
 I don’t think his article deserves reading. (read)

PARTICIPLES

I. Present participle. (ing form)

II. Past participle. (en form)
III. Perfect participle. (having + VIII)
 Present participle is active in meaning while past participle is passive in
meaning.
 A participle (present/past) like an adjective can come before a noun to modify
it.
 He killed a flying bird.
 He is a retired teacher.
 A participle (present/past) can function as an adjective phrase to describe a
noun placed before it.
 The girl dancing on the stage is my sister. (dance)
 The car broken yesterday has been recovered. (break)

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PARTICIPLES USED FOR SYNTHESIS

A participle can be used to combine two simple sentences into a single simple
sentence. In this process, a finite verb is replaced by either:
a) Present participle.
b) Perfect participle.

Present Participle: The finite verb of the first sentence is replaced by a present
participle when two actions by the same subject occur at the same time
simultaneously.

 He opened the door. He came in.

 Opening the door, he came in.

Perfect Participle: It is used when the action is completed before the second action
begins.

 I finished my work. I went home.

 Having finished my work, I went home.

CONCLUSION

The correct use of verb patterns is very important for a perfect approach in English.
The level of perfection in any language depends upon how its each and every part of
speech is used. Verb has a wide scope in its own. These are not limited to transitive
and intransitive verbs only. Most of the Indians find it difficult to learn the rules of
using them so it makes the language more typical. Their rules need not to be
learned, they can be understood easily. The use of verb patterns like where to use
gerund form or participle is clearly specified in the above project work. A big
difference may occur if one doesn’t use these verb patterns wisely. The meaning of
the sentence is completely dependent on the correct use of verb patterns. In the
above project work, we have clearly described each and every verb pattern.

Infinitive without ‘to’ is used in certain specific situations like as an object compliment
of the verb and with certain verbs and phrases, while To infinitive can be used either
as a subject, object, compliment or as an object compliment of the verb. It is also
used with specific verbs and phrases which are described above. The difference

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between finite and non-finite verb is also mentioned for the clear understanding of
the reader. The wise use of these verb patterns is of greatest importance in today’s
Era where everything is based on English language whether it is an interview in a
company or argument in a Court of Law. So the correct uses of Verb patterns reflect
the fluency and perfection of the reader.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Books referred:

 Thomson and Martinet

 Rein and Martin
 Nepal Singh Tanwar

Websites referred:

 http://www.perfectenglishgrammar.com
 http://:dictionary.cambridge.org
 http://reallifeglobal.com
 http://enwikipedia.com

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