More Verb Patterns


Which of the following sentences are right?  Correct those that are wrong.

 1. A: He recommended us to take the train there.
     B: I wouldn't recommend eating there.
     C: I bought this mobile after a friend recommended it to me.
     D: Doctors recommend that we do thirty minutes of exercise every day.

 2. A: We would like that you come with us.
     B: I wouldn't mind to see his latest film.
     C: Would you prefer sitting outside?
     D: I'd much rather stay in bed than go to work today.

 3. A: She denied lying on her CV.
     B: They denied that they had broken any rules.
     C: He denied to have cheated in the exam.
     D: I refuse to fly with British Airways ever again. 
     
 4. A: Remind me to phone her tomorrow.
     B: Passengers are reminded that smoking is not permitted during the flight.
     C: Did you remember to lock the door?
     D: I don't remember seeing her at the party.
     E: I forgot to thank her for the flowers.

 5. A: She apologised me for arriving late.
     B: He couldn't forgive her for cheating on him.
     C: Don't blame me for missing the flight.
     D: My friends congratulated me for passing my test.
     E: They complained for having to work so late.
     
 6. A: You should consider to change job.
     B: Can you imagine to live there?
     C: My colleague asked to help him.
     D: I've promised to give her a lift home.

 7. A: We regret to inform you that you have not been selected for the position.
     B: I regret not telling you sooner.
     C: Try to think where you saw it last.
     D: I have tried calling her but she never answers.

 8. A: Did you let her to go with you?
     B: You are not allowed to talk during the exam.
     C: Tim's father made him to say sorry to his teacher,
     D: My teacher told me not to worry.


Comments

José said…
Hi Graham,



In my opinion, about the number 1, letters A, B and D are right, but the letter C would be:

I bought this mobile after a friend recommending it to me.



Number 2, letters A, B and C are wrong, I think they would be:



A: We would like you to come with us.

B: I wouldn't mind seeing his latest film.

C: Would you prefer to sit outside?



The letter D is correct.



Number 3, letters A, B and D are correct, but the letter C could be:



He denied having to cheat in the exam.



Number 4, I don’t know where the mistake is. In my opinion all are correct.



Number 5, I tell you the same that at the previous number, it may be a lot of mistakes but I don’t find them.



Number 6, in my opinion, letters A and B are wrong. They would be:



A: You should consider changing job.

B: Can you imagine living there?



Letters C and D seem correct.



Number 7, the first two letters are right, but letters C and D should be:



C: Try thinking where you saw it last.

D: I have tried to call her but she never answers.



Number 8, letters A, B and C are wrong. They could be:



A: Did you let her go with you?

B: You are not allowed talking during the exam.

C: Tim's father made him say sorry to his teacher.



The last letter D is correct.



See you



P. S. Couldn’t Her Majesty’s Government regulate this topic that is very difficult to foreign students? It’s desperately complicated.
Anonymous said…
Hi Graham

1. B and C are correct.
He recommended us to taking the train there.
Doctors recommend doing thirty minutes of exercise every day.

2.B and C are correct.
We would like that you coming with us.
I'd much rather stay in ben than to go to work today.

3.A,C and D are correct.
She denied having cheating on the exam.

4. A,C,D and E are correct.
Passengers are reminded that smoke is not permitted during the flight.

5.B,C,D and E are correct.
She apologised me to arrive late.

6.In my opinion all answer are ok.

7. A and C are correct.
B: I regret not to tell you sooner.
I have tried to call her her but she never answers.

8. B,C and D are correct.

Did you let her going with you?




Graham said…
Hi José,

This isn't an easy exercise but you are well on your way to mastering verb patterns.

Remember you don't use "the" before numbers or letters.



1. B, C and D are correct.
recommend + verbING
recommend that + subject + verb
C (after doING / after I did)



2. Well done!



3. Only C is wrong.

"He denied having to cheat in the exam" is not the same as "He denied having cheated"



4. Well done!



5. A: She apologised (to me) for arriving late.
D: My friends congratulated me on passing my test.
E: They complained about having to work so late.



6. C is also wrong.
My colleague asked me to help him.



7. You are right about A and B. Try is a difficult one. C and D are also correct.



8. You are right about A, C and D.

B is correct.
Talking isn't allowed / You aren't allowed to talk.
Graham said…
Hi María José,

Nice to see you using the blog. I hope it's not a case of your first and last comment.


1. B and C are correct. (D is also correct)
He recommended taking the train / He recommended that we take...



2. Only D is correct.
A: We would like you to come with us.
B: I wouldn't mind seeing ...
C: Would you prefer to sit outside?



3. A,C and D are correct.
She denied having cheated in the exam.



4. A,C,D and E are correct.
Actually, B is also correct.



5. Only B and C are correct.
A: She apologised (to me) for arriving late.
D: My friends congratulated me on passing my test.
E: The complained about having to work so late.



6. Only D is right.
A: You should consider changing job.
B: Can you imagine living there?
C: My colleague asked me to help him.



7. A, B, C and D are correct.



8. B and D are correct.
A: Did you let her go with you?
C: Tim's father made him say sorry.



Check out the other posts on Verb Patterns. They are tricky but it's worth spending some time on them.
Unknown said…
1.
A: Right
B: Right
C: Right
D: Doctors recommend us to do thirty minutes ...

2.
A: We would like you to come with us
B: Right
C: Right
D: I'd much rather stay in bed than going working today.

3.
A: Right
B: They denied having broken any rules
C: Right
D: I refuse flying with ...

4.
A: Right
B: Passengers were reminded ...
C: Right
D: Right

5.
A: She apologised for arriving late
B: Don't blame for missing the flight
C: Right
D: Right

6.
A: changing
B: living
C: My colleague asked him for help
D: I've promised leaving her home

7.
A: Right
B: I regret not having told you sooner
C: Try to think where did you see it last.
D: Right

8.
A: Did you let her going with you?
B: You are not allowed talking during the exam
C: Right
D: Right
Graham said…
Hello Alejandro,

Keep an eye out for verb patterns in the texts that you read for CAE.

1.
recommend + verb-ing
recommend sth to sb
recommend that + subject pronoun + verb

A: He recommended us to take the train there.😡 He recommended taking the train there.😍
B: Right 😍
C: Right 😍
D: Doctors recommend us to do thirty minutes ...😡 He recommended that we do thirty minutes... 😍

2.
would like (sb) + to + verb
mind + verb-ing
would prefer + to + verb
would rather + verb

A: We would like you to come with us. 😍
B: Right 😡 I wouldn't mind seeing ... 😍
C: Right 😡 Would you prefer to sit outside? 😍
D: I'd much rather stay in bed than going 😡 go 😍 working today.

3.
deny + verb-ing / + having + past participle
deny that + subject `+ past tense verb
refuse + to + verb

A: Right 😍
B: They denied having broken any rules. 😍 They denied that they had broken ... 😍 is also correct.
C: Right 😡 He denied cheating / having cheated in the exam. 😍
D: I refuse flying with ... 😡 I refuse to fly ... 😍

4.
remind + sb + to + verb
remind + sb + that + verb phrase
remember + to + verb (remember then do sth)
remember + verb-ing (do sth in past then remember about it)
forget + to + verb

A: Right 😍
B: Passengers were reminded ... 😡 Passengers are reminded that smoking ... 😍
C: Right 😍
D: Right 😍
E: ?? 😡 Right 😍

5.
apologise (to sb) + for + verb-ing
forgive + sb + for + verb-ing
blame + sb + for + verb-ing / blame sth + on + sb
congratulate + sb + on + verb-ing
complain + about + sth / verb-ing

A: She apologised (to me) for arriving late. 😍
B: ?? 😡 Right. 😍
C: Don't blame for missing the flight. 😡 Don't blame me for missing ... 😍
D: Right 😡 My friends congratulated me on passing my exam. 😍
D: Right 😡 They complained about having to work so late. 😍

6.
consider + verb`-ing
imagine + verb-ing
ask + sb + to + verb / ask sb for sth
promise + to + verb

A: changing 😍
B: living 😍
C: My colleague asked him for help / My colleague ask me to help him. 😍 (two different things)
D: I've promised leaving her home. 😡 I've promised to give her a lift home. 😍

7.
regret (sorry) + to + verb (formal)
regret (not)+ verb-ing / having + past participle
try + to + verb
try + verb-ing

A: Right 😍
B: I regret not having told you sooner / regret not telling you sooner. 😍
C: Try to think where did you see it last. 😡 Try to think where you saw it last. 😍
D: Right 😍

8.
let + sb + verb
allow + sb + to + verb
make + sb + verb
tell + sb + (not) to + verb (an instruction)

A: Did you let her going with you? 😡 Did you let her go with you? 😍
B: You are not allowed talking during the exam. 😡 You are not allowed to talk. 😍
C: Right 😡 Tim's father made him say sorry ... 😍
D: Right 😍

I wonder if it took me longer to correct it than you took to do it.