Verb + object + infinitive/gerund: Verb patterns
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Verb Patterns: Object + Infinitive or Gerund
Master advanced English verb patterns involving objects followed by infinitives (with or without to) or gerunds (-ing). Essential for B2+ learners to express nuanced meaning accurately.
🟪 Verb + Object + to-Infinitive
Use these verbs + object + to-infinitive:
advise, allow, ask, beg, cause, convince, enable, encourage, expect, force, get, help, intend, invite, mean, order, persuade, remind, take (time), teach, tell, warn
- He advised me not to take the job.
- I beg you to stay, please.
- I don’t expect you to understand.
- They persuaded him to tell the truth.
➤ Want, need, would like, would hate, would prefer
- I need you to do something for me.
- She wants me to go to the doctor with her.
- They would like me to be available at all times.
- I would hate you to think I didn’t appreciate what you did.
- I would prefer you to be quiet.
➤ Alternative: that-clauses
- Our mentor advised us that we should start working.
- The president persuaded them that the situation was critical.
- Danny told me that he is going to be appointed director.
➤ Without object → use -ing
- He advised me to go. → He advised going.
- They don’t allow us to drink. → They don’t allow drinking.
🟦 For Someone + to-Infinitive
➤ Verbs: arrange, ask, plan, wait
- I will arrange for you to have a meeting.
- I asked for somebody to repair my air conditioner.
- They are planning for him to turn his ideas into action.
- We waited for them to arrive.
➤ Adjectives
- It’s essential for us to be ready.
- It would be nice for you to be there.
- It’s difficult for Sarah to make ends meet.
➤ Nouns & Expressions
- It was a mistake for you to lend him the money.
- It would be a disaster for the company to reduce staff.
- It’s a good idea for him to go to the interview.
- The book was too great for me to forget.
- It was warm enough for us to sit in the open.
➤ Purpose
- The purpose is for the students to practice listening.
- The goal is for the dog to relax when wearing a leash.
🟨 Verb + Object + Bare Infinitive or Gerund
➤ Bare infinitive (without “to”): let, make, help
- She never lets me pay.
- The teacher made us write an essay.
- Can I help you fix the fence?
➤ Passive: be made to do
- They made the staff wear uniforms.
- The staff were made to wear uniforms.
➤ Perception verbs: complete vs. ongoing action
- Bare infinitive (complete): I saw them kiss.
- -ing form (in progress): I saw them kissing.
➤ Verb + Object + Gerund (-ing)
Verbs: hate, like, dislike, imagine, keep, risk, mind, resent, etc.
- I hate him telling me what to do.
- They kept me waiting.
- I don’t like them acting like this.
- You can risk them losing interest.
⚠️ Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ She made me to clean.
✅ She made me clean.
❌ I want that you to come.
✅ I want you to come.
❌ I advised him going.
✅ I advised him to go. (But: I advised going — no object)