Verb Patterns with "to"




Verb patterns are tricky.

There are verbs which are followed by the infinitive e.g. I want to go.

There are verbs which are followed by the -ing form e.g. I don't mind going.

There are verbs which are followed by objects e.g. I advised him to go.

There are verbs which are followed by a that clause e.g. I told you that I was going.


There are other combinations too.

Some verbs can take more than one form.

There can be a difference in meaning e.g. I stopped to go / I stopped going.


Let's concentrate on the verbs that are followed by the infinitive. Complete the following sentences in a suitable way.


A.
  1. The customer demanded to ...  
  2. Her boyfriend promised to ...
  3. I hope to ... before the end of the year.
  4. ... deserves to ... because ...
  5. The city hall is planning to ...
  6. I would love to ... one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.

B.
  1. The policeman refused to ...
  2. I wasn't allowed to ... when I was younger.
  3. I need to ... .     I should have done it ages ago.
  4. The Spanish tend to ...
  5. I can't afford to ... at the moment.
  6. My boss agreed to ... .      I was amazed.

C.
  1. I decided not to ... .     I ... instead.
  2. I pretended to ... because ...
  3. I managed to ... .   Thank God.
  4. I forgot to ... .   I'm so sorry.
  5. My teacher threatened to ... if I didn't ... .
  6. I expected to ... but ...


Comments

luciti said…
Hi!

This is my homework...


1. The customer demanded to pay with credit card.
2. Her boyfriend promised to go at the cinema
3. I hope to learn english... before the end of the year.
4. This weekend deserves to enjoy because has three days.
5. The city hall is planning to do a cultural tribute to Machado (can I write a Machado’s cultural tribute? )
6. I would love to do( or would love doing) a ballon tripone day. It's always been an ambition of mine.

B.

1. The policeman refused to pick up my car.
2. I wasn't allowed to go at demonstration when I was younger.
3. I need to travel. I should have done it ages ago.
4. The Spanish tend to deceive in theirs taxes.
5. I can't afford to expend this money . at the moment.
6. My boss agreed to differ and stopped the argument. I was amazed.

C.

1. I decided not to do these exercices. I preferred going to the cinema instead.
2. I pretended to be interested.. because I wanted to obtain job.
3. I managed to win the last match.. . Thank God.
4. I forgot to make the dinner. I'm so sorry.
5. My teacher threatened to ask me vocabulary.. if I didn't homework... .
6. I expected to pass my driving test. but I didn’t pass.

Thaks,
Lucía.
Graham said…
Lucía,

Here are my corrections:

1. The customer demanded to pay by credit card.

2. Her boyfriend promised to go to the cinema.

3. I hope to learn English before the end of the year. (LOL!)

4. He deserves to get away for the weekend because he has been working very hard lately.

5. The city hall is planning to do a cultural tribute to Machado. ( :$ I'm ashamed to say that I had to google Machado to find out who he was)

6. I would love to go on a ballon trip one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.

B.

1. The policeman refused to pick up my car. (I'm not sure what you mean here)

2. I wasn't allowed to go to demonstrations when I was younger.

4. The Spanish tend to deceive when doing their taxes.

5. I can't afford to spend this money at the moment.



C.

1. I decided not to do these exercisses. I went to the cinema instead.

2. I pretended to be interested because I wanted to get the job.

5. My teacher threatened to ask me about vocabulary if I didn't do my homework.

6. I expected to pass my driving test but I failed.


Some interesting examples. Well done!

Montse said…
Hi, Graham. I've done this exercise.
1. The customer demanded to ... see the person in charge of the shop
2. Her boyfriend promised to ...go to the party
3. I hope to ...learn how to play piano before the end of the year.
4. He... deserves to ... go to prison because ... he was found guilty of theft
5. The city hall is planning to ... raise the taxes
6. I would love to ... become in a member of your company one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.

B.

1. The policeman refused to ... shoot to the thief.
2. I wasn't allowed to ... have long hair when I was younger.
3. I need to .... lose some weight. I should have done it ages ago.
4. The Spanish tend to ... believe everything people say.
5. I can't afford to ... buy a new car at the moment.
6. My boss agreed to .... go out for a drink. I was amazed.

C.

1. I decided not to .... buy a new TV. I ...repaired the old one, instead.
2. I pretended to ... be deaf because ... I didn’t feel like speaking to anyone.
3. I managed to .... change my train ticket. Thank God.
4. I forgot to .... call you. I'm so sorry.
5. My teacher threatened to ... speak to my parents if I didn't ....stop talking in class.
6. I expected to ...win the race but ...I fell down.
Graham said…
Hi Montse,

This exercise contains some of the reporting verbs that we saw in class the other day.

The only problems I see is with:

A.
5. The city hall is planning to ... raise taxes.
6. I would love to ... become a member of / join your company one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.

B.
1. The policeman refused to ... shoot the thief.

C.
6. I expected to ...win the race but ...I fell over.


Well done!
Hi Graham, it's Ana. I have done this exercise:

A

1.The customer demanded to see the manager.
2.Her boyfriend promised her to go on holiday in May.
3.I hope to finish my project before the end of the year.
4. He deserves to give a special present because of his behaviour.
5.The city hall is planning to create a new financial area.
6.I would love to travel to USA one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.


B.

1.The policeman refused to give me an explanation.
2.I wasn't allowed to drive a car when I was younger.
3.I need to pass the First Exam. I should have done it ages ago.
4.The Spanish tend to talk loud.
5.I can't afford to buy a new house at the moment.
6.My boss agreed to increase our wage. I was amazed.


C.

1.I decided not to meet her on Friday . I didn't have new news instead.
2.I pretended to arrive early because I want to meet him alone.
3.I managed to find my car keys. Thank God.
4.I forgot to call you . I'm so sorry.
5.My teacher threatened to fail me if I didn't work tougher.
6.I expected to watch an amazing film but it was so dull that I fell asleep.
Graham said…
Hi Ana,

I'm finally getting round to answering you.


A

2.Her boyfriend promised to take her on holiday in May.
When "promise" is followed by a person, we can't use a second verb ie Her boyfriend promised her.

3.I hope to finish my project before / by the end of the year.

4. He deserves to get a special present for his good behaviour. He deserves to get a present because he was so well-behaved.

6.I would love to travel to the USA one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.


B.

6.My boss agreed to raise our wages /give us a pay rise. I was amazed.


C.

1.I decided not to meet her on Friday so I didn't get any news.

2.I tried to arrive early because I want to meet him alone.
"pretend" = "fingir":
I pretended to be listening.

5.My teacher threatened to fail me if I didn't work harder.
"tough" = "difficult": That was a really tough exam.


Well done!


María Rossignoli Montero said…
Hi Graham!

A.
The customer demanded to get a discount on the shoes.
Her boyfriend promised to tell her the truth.
I hope to go to Bahamas before the end of the year.
He deserves to pay the fine because he's guilty.
The city hall is planning to improve the summer festivals.
I would love to work abroad one day. It's always been an ambition of mine.

B.
The policeman refused to call the lawyer/attourney.
I wasn't allowed to watch terror movies when I was younger.
I need to learn english. I should have done it ages ago.
The Spanish tend to emancipate from their parents later than other countries.
I can't afford to pay a car at the moment.
My boss agreed to rise all the salaries/wages. I was amazed.

C.
I decided not to go to his birthday .I stayed at home instead.
I pretended to work hard because I wanted to buy the new Iphone.
I managed to work on it. Thank God.
I forgot to bring you the cake. I'm so sorry.
My teacher threatened to call my parents if I didn't change my behaviour.
I expected to get a good mark but I failed the exam.
Graham said…
A.
I hope to go to the Bahamas before the end of the year.

B.
... the lawyer/attorney.

I need to learn English. I should have done it ages ago.

I can't afford to pay for / buy a car at the moment.

My boss agreed to raise everyone's salaries/wages / give everyone a pay rise. I was amazed.

C.
I decided not to go to his birthday party. I stayed at home instead.

I was willing to work hard because I wanted to buy the new Iphone. (pretend = fingir)

I managed to work on it. (work on sth = try to improve sth) Thank God / Thank goodness.

Well done!