VERB PATTERNS

TO + INFINITIVE To express a purpose: They follow a special diet to live longer. After certain verbs: agree, appear, decide, expect, hope, plan, promise, refuse, would like, would prefer, would love... They've decided to exclude animal products from their diet. They would like to be vegetarians After adjectives which describes feelings/emotions (happy, sad...), willingness/unwillingness (willing, eager, reluctant...), refer to a person's character (clever, kind...)and the adjectives lucky and fortunate. Everybody was glad to see Peter again. After too/enough: She isn't tall enough to reach the cupboard. To talk about an unexpected event, usually with only I went out only to find out it was snowing With it + be + adjectives/noun: It wasn't easy to find good places at this price. After be + first/second/next/last...: Lou was the first one to see the play. After ask, learn, explain, decide, find out, want, want to know + a question word: She hasn't decided what to do yet In the expressions to tell you the truth, to be honest, to sum up, to begin with To be honest, she was no ready. Note: If two to-infinitives are linked by and or or, the to of the second infinitive can be omitted. Everybody wanted to go and enjoy the perfomance.

REMEMBER + ing form: when you did something and now you remember it; after you did sth. I don t know how the burglar got in. I clearly remember locking the door. + to infinitive: you remembered that you had to do sth, so you did it; before you did it I remembered to lock the door but I forgot to shut the windows. TRY + ing form: try sth to see if it works or solves the problem I've got a terrible headache. Why don't you try taking a pill? + to infinitive: attempt to do, make an effort to do sth. I tried to keep my open but I couldn t. STOP + ing form: to give up, finish with sth completely I stopped smoking two years ago. (I don t do it anymore) + to infinitive: stop doing what you are doing at the moment in order to do sth else I was reading a book. The phone started to ring. I stopped to answer it NEED + ing form: sth. needs to be done about sth else (the meaning is passive) Look at this room. It needs painting. + to infinitive: it is necessary for me to do it He put on weight. He needs to take more exercise. I need to do the shopping today.

MEAN + ing form: an impersonal subject, refers to what is involved . If we catch an early train, it will mean getting up at 6.00. to infinitive: to intend Sorry, I meant to tell you about the party.

REGRET + ing form: I did sth and now I am sorry about it. I now regret saying what I said. + to infinitive: regret to say/tell/inform you = I m sorry I have to say... I regret to tell you that you have failed the test.
HELP Can be followed by to-infinitives or infinitive without to I help her (to) swim ashore

INFINITIVE WITHOUT TO After modal verbs. I can run. After the verbs: let, make, see, hear, feel BUT we use to-infinitives after: be made, be heard, be seen (passive forms) The officer made the driver stop the car He was made to stop the car After had better and would rather They had better call a doctor - ING FORM As a noun: Speeding is dangerous After certain verbs: admit, appreciate,avoid, continue, deny, fancy, go (for activities), imagine, mind, miss, quit, save, suggest, practise, consider, prevent, love, like, enjoy, prefer, dislike, hate Children prefer playing outside After expressions such as: be busy, it's no use, it's (no)good, it's (not) worth, what's the use of, can't help, there's no point in, can't stand, have difficulty (in), have trouble... It's no use calling him. He's not at home After spend, waste or lose (time, money...) He wasted a lot energy fixing the old car After the preposition to in look forward to, be used to, in addition to, object to, prefer (doing sth to sth else) I prefer diving in the open sea to diving in the bay After others prepositions: There are many ways of saving time and money at home After hear, listen to, notice, see, watch, and feel to describe an incomplete action: I heard my parents talking to the doctor BUT to describe complete action we use infinitive without to: I heard my parents talk about his health condition (I heard the whole conversation)