Why do we enjoy reading but decide to read? Verb patterns are part grammar and part vocabulary. Learn them in useful families: and notice when the pattern changes the meaning.
About 23 minutes · Guided practice · 10-question mastery test
Learn each verb with its pattern. Spend a few extra minutes on the meaning pairs below, because the final check asks you to distinguish them.
By the end of this lesson, you can…
UnderstandRecognise common verb + -ing and verb + infinitive patterns.
ChooseUse infinitives after adjectives, purposes and selected objects.
UseExplain meaning changes after stop, remember, try and regret.
The essential rules
Verb + -ing
Common verbs include enjoy, avoid, finish, suggest, mind and consider. When a preposition is followed directly by a verb, use its -ing form.
She avoids driving. · Thank you for helping.
Verb + to-infinitive
Common verbs include decide, hope, plan, promise, refuse and want. Use it to express purpose.
We decided to wait. · I called to confirm.
Object and bare infinitive
Some verbs take object + to-infinitive. Modals and let/make normally take the bare infinitive.
They asked me to stay. · You must leave. · Let him speak.
Stopping an activity is different from stopping for a purpose
A habit ends
a coffee-drinking habit→I stopped drinking coffee.→that habit ended
The -ing activity is what I stopped.
A pause serves another action
another activity→I stopped to drink.→drinking is the purpose of the pause
The sentence does not name the first activity or guarantee that I resumed it.
Look at what stopped: drinking itself, or something else so that I could drink. The word drink alone does not tell us whether the drink was coffee.
When the pattern changes the meaning
Verb
To + base
-ing
Verbremember
To + baseRemember to lock it: do not forget the action still to do.
-ingI remember locking it: I recall the past action.
Verbtry
To + baseI tried to open it: I made an effort, perhaps unsuccessfully.
-ingTry restarting it: test this possible solution.
Verbstop
To + baseI stopped to drink: I paused another activity in order to drink.
-ingI stopped drinking coffee: I ended that activity or habit.
Verbregret
To + baseWe regret to inform you: a formal way to introduce bad news now.
-ingI regret sending it: I feel sorry about a past action.
I tried to open the file, but nothing happened.Try + to-infinitive describes an attempted action that did not succeed here.
See the pattern
Pattern
Typical verbs
Example
Patternverb + -ing
Typical verbsenjoy, avoid, finish, suggest
ExampleThey suggested taking a taxi.
Patternverb + to + base
Typical verbshope, decide, agree, learn
ExampleShe agreed to help.
Patternverb + object + to + base
Typical verbsask, tell, encourage, allow
ExampleHe reminded me to call.
Patternmodal + base
Typical verbscan, should, must, might
ExampleYou should check.
Teacher tip: Record a new verb together with its pattern: write avoid doing, not simply avoid. This turns grammar into retrievable vocabulary.
Three mistakes to avoid
✕ I suggested to leave.
✓ I suggested leaving.
Suggest takes -ing.
✕ She made me to apologise.
✓ She made me apologise.
Use a bare infinitive after active make + object.
✕ I look forward to meet you.
✓ I look forward to meeting you.
Here to is a preposition.
Guided practice
Try each item before opening the answer.
1. Complete: He promised ___ (call) after work.
to call: promise takes the to-infinitive.
2. Complete: Would you mind ___ (open) the window?
opening: mind takes -ing.
3. Explain: I stopped smoking.
I ended the habit of smoking.
4. Explain: I stopped to smoke.
I stopped another activity in order to smoke.
Try restarting the laptop.Try + -ing proposes an experiment to see whether it helps.
Final check
Check your understanding
Choose one answer for each question. Read the context carefully: a question may ask for a particular form, meaning or register. The explanations show why that answer fits.
