The MAIN VERB of a CLAUSE can be followed by various elements which complete its meaning. These elements form verb patterns. [For similar patterns following adjectives, see Adjective patterns.] For example, want and wish have similar meanings, but they fit different patterns:
(1) ... + noun phrase: I want a cup of coffee. NOT: I wish a cup of coffee.
(2) ... + to + Verb ... : I want to be alone. Also: I wish to be alone.
(3) ... + that-clause: I wish that I was young. NOT: I want that I was young.
Below we illustrate the most important verb patterns, and list their most important verbs. [Here N = "NOUN PHRASE or PRONOUN" and V = VERB PHRASE.] We illustrate each pattern with the statement form [see Statement].
Ex: N + V + N
| N | V | N |
|---|---|---|
| I | want | a cup of coffee. |
| Sam | will buy | a new car. |
We will need to change this if we want to ask question or make the statement negative. Let's see some examples below:
(1) Do you want a cup of coffee? [see Yes-no question]
(2) What do you want? [see Wh- question]
(3) I don't want a cup of coffee. [see Negative words and sentences]
Ex: I very much want a cup of coffee tonight.
In the tables below, we list the verb patterns in the following order:
0 patterns with no element after the Verb
1-10 patterns with one element after the Verb
11-20 patterns with two elements after the Verb
Each pattern in the tables begins with N + V, where N is the subject and V is the verb phrase containing the main verb. [Further patterns are given under IT-PATTERNS and THERE IS, THERE ARE.]
| A summary of verb patterns: |
|---|
| N = noun phrase or pronoun ; V = main verb phrase |
| pattern with no element after the Verb: | |
|---|---|
| 0 - N + V | The train has arrived. ; It doesn't matter. |
| patterns with one element after the Verb: | |
|---|---|
| 1 - N + V + N | They enjoyed the show. |
| 2 - N + V + N / adjective | Sam is my friend. They're too busy. |
| 3 - N + V + adverbial | The students are at the zoo. |
| 4 - N + V + that-clause | He admitted (that) he had made mistakes. |
| 5 - N + V + wh-clause | The police asked where they were going. |
| 6 - N + V + wh- to-clause | Everyone should learn how to drive. |
| 7 - N + V + to + Verb ... | Sam'd love to visit England. |
| 8 - N + V + Verb ... | We had better go early tomorrow. |
| 9 - N + V + Verb-ing ... | He likes watching football. |
| 10 - N + V + past participle ... | The thief got arrested by the police. |
| patterns with two elements after the Verb: | |
|---|---|
| 11 - N + V + N1 + N2 | Sam gave his girlfriend a beautiful present. |
| 12 - N + V + N + N / adjective | Sam kept his marriage a secret / secret. |
| 13 - N + V + N + adverbial | He took the key out of his pocket. |
| 14 - N + V + N + that-clause | John told Sam (that) his wife was ill. |
| 15 - N + V + N + wh-clause | Sam didn't tell anyone where he had hidden the key. |
| 16 - N + V + N + wh- to-clause | The pilot taught James how to land safely. |
| 17 - N + V + N + to + Verb ... | He wants you to feel at home. |
| 18 - N + V + N + Verb ... | The teacher lets the students play football on the lawn. |
| 19 - N + V + N + Verb-ing ... | I can hear someone knocking on the wall. |
| 20 - N + V + N + past participle ... | The manager wants these letters typed. |
Pattern 0 - N + V
These verbs do not need anything to follow them, and are called intransitive verbs. Let's see some examples below.
(1) The train has arrived.
(2) It doesn't matter.
(3) Sam was working.
(4) He is lying.
Other examples:
begin,* come, drink,* drive,* fall, go, happen, help,* lie, occur, rise, wait, write*
Ex: Sam has been writing (some letters).
Pattern 1 - N + V + N
These verbs need a noun phrase to follow them, and are called transitive verbs. The N following is an object, and becomes subject in the passive.
(1) Everyone enjoyed the show. -> The show was enjoyed by everyone.
(2) James was cleaning the kitchen.
(3) Can I make an appointment?
(4) No one knows the answer.
(5) He will need some more money.
Other examples:
believe, bring, carry, cut, do, find, get, hear, hold, keep, lay, like, love, make, raise, remember, say, take, use, want
| Pattern 0 | rise | lie |
| Pattern 1 | raise | lay |
Pattern 2 - N + V + N / adjective
These verbs are followed by either a noun phrase or an adjective acting as complement. (The adjective may be expanded into an adjective phrase such as very busy, too busy to hle us, etc.) The most common verb in this pattern is BE.
Ex: Sam is my best friend. They're too busy.
But other verbs can replace be.
Ex: Sam became my best friend. Sam became very busy.
See Linking Verbs for more details.
Pattern 3 - N + V + adverbial
This pattern, like pattern 2, is found with linking verbs, especially be.
(1) The students are at the zoo.
(2) The kitchen is downstairs.
Usually the adverbial is an adverb or prepositional phrase of place in this pattern. But adverbials of time / length of time can also be used.
(1) The party will be tomorrow.
(2) The meetings lasted for several hours.
Pattern 4 - N + V + that-clause
Many verbs are followed by a that-clause as object. We can omit that [see Zero That-clause]. This is very common in speech.
Verbs of "speaking":
(1) Sam admits (that) he has been foolish.
(2) No no denies (that) the jewels were stolen.
(3) Everyone agreed (that) the show was a success.
(4) Thye say (that) James is getting married.
(5) Scientists have predicted (that) this forest will be destroyed.
Verbs of "thinking":
(1) People used to think (that) the earth was flat.
(2) John discovered (that) the house was on fire.
(3) We believe (that) the government is losing.
Other verbs taking a that-clause:
assume, decide, expect, feel, find, guess, hear, hope, imagine, know, mean, notice, prove, realize, see, show, suggest, suppose, understand.
Pattern 5 - N + V + wh- clause
These verbs take a WH- CLAUSE (or Indirect Question).
(1) I couldn't decide what present I should buy for my wife.
(2) No one realizes how hard they work.
(3) Susan wonders whether the plane tickets are ready.
(4) Do you know who is chairing the meeting?
(5) The police asked where they were going.
Examples of Pattern 5 verbs:
ask*, (not) care, choose*, discuss*, find out*, forget*, know*, (not) mind, point out, prove, see, wonder*
Notes:
(1) Find out, forget, know, point out, and prove also belong to pattern 4.
(2) These verbs often take a wh- clause after can't or couldn't:
decide, explain, make out, remember, say, think.
Pattern 6 - N + V + wh- to-clause
A wh- to-clause begins with a wh- word and contains a TO-INFINITIVE (to + Verb).
(1) Have you chosen what to wear at the party?
(2) Everyone should learn how to drive.
(3) My wife doesn't know which of these dresses to buy.
Pattern 7 - N + V + to + Verb ...
Verbs of many different kinds take this pattern. The verb is followed by a to-infinitive clause.
(1) Sam'd love to visit England.
(2) Adam started to write novels in 2005.
(3) Most people want to own their own houses.
(4) Alex and I have promised to take the students to the zoo.
(5) The building seems to be empty.
(6) (Please) don't bother to cook anything for them.
(7) The students are helping to paint the school walls.
Pattern 8 - N + V + Verb ...
Only a few verbs take this pattern:
(a) The modal auxiliaries
(b) The verb idioms had better and would rather
(c) The main verb help, which can also take to + Verb (see pattern 7).
Ex:
(1) We had better go early tomorrow.
(2) This liquid will help cure your cold. [U.S.] | This liquid will help to cure your cold. [G.B.]
Pattern 9 - N + V + Verb-ing ...
Like pattern 7, this pattern includes many different kinds of verbs.
(1) He likes watching football.
(2) (Please) stop annoying the dog.
(3) The prisoner denied stealing anything.
(4) Alex has started working at the factory.
(5) Some people can't bear listening to jazz.
(6) She goes running every morning.
(7) We must avoid making too much noise.
Pattern 10 - N + V + past participle ...
The only verb in this pattern (apart from the auxiliary be in the passive) is GET. This is an informal construction, and is used particularly for unpleasant events.
(1) The thief got arrested by the police.
(2) Our team got beaten several times.
The meaning is similar to the passive.
Ex: He got stung by a bee. ↔ He was stung by a bee.
Pattern 11 - N + V + N1 + N2
In this pattern, the N1 is the indirect object, and the N2 is the direct object. Sometimes N1 can be omitted.
(1) Sam gave his girlfriend a beautiful present.
(2) Let me make (you) a cup of coffee.
(3) James owes (his sister) $500.
(4) He asked them a favour.
(5) Tell (me) the truth!
(6) Could you lend me some money?
(7) I'll reserve (us both) some tickets for the theatre.
(8) We wish all our friends a happy New Year.
In pattern 11 we can also include verbs which take a preposition between N1 and N2, that is, preposition verbs:
N + V + N1 + prepostion + N2
(1) Everyone thanked Mr Brown for the party.
(2) His enemies accused him of laziness.
(3) Let me introduce you to my classmates.
Other examples:
compare ... with, congratulate ... on, convict ... of, deprive ... of, prevent ... from, protect ... from, remind ... of, rob ... of, sentence ... to, suspect ... of, treat ... to, warn ... of
Pattern 12 - N + V + N + N / adjective
In this pattern, the N / adjective is called an Object Complement.
(1) Sam kept his marriage a secret / secret.
(2) The chairman has declared the meeting official.
(3) They're making her life a misery.
(4) Do you prefer your coffee black?
Other examples: call, elect, hold, report, send, turn
(1) Some verbs, like declare, report, and think, can take a that-clause. [see pattern 4]
Ex: We all thought that he was an excellent boss.
These verbs can also take an object + to + infinitive. [see pattern 17]
Ex: We all thought him to be an excellent boss.
In general, pattern 12 and pattern 17 are more formal and less common than pattern 4.
But they are quite common in the passive.
Ex: He was thought (to be) an excellent boss.
(2) There is also a prepositional verb pattern with as [see As ]
N + V + N + as N / adjective
Ex: He treated her as his servant. The news broadcast described the situation as very dangerous.
Pattern 13 - N + V + N + adverbial
Most of the adverbials in this pattern are adverbials of motion (or movement) or place.
(1) (First) he took the key out of my pocket.
(2) (Then) he put it into the lock.
(3) They are sending their son home.
(4) (Always) keep your eyes on the road.
(5) I'll let you into a secret.
Other verbs are: bring, drive, get, lay, lead, leave, place, see, show, sit, stand
Ex: Her parents treated her badly/well.
Pattern 14 - N + V + N + that-clause
These verbs are mainly "speaking" verbs introducing indirect statements.
(1) John told Sam (that) his wife was ill.
(2) We assure you (that) we are doing our best.
(3) They informed him (that) his bag had been found.
(4) No one could convince Janny (that) she was wrong.
(5) I bet (you) (that) our team will win.
Other examples: advise, persuade, promise, remind, satisfy, teach, warn
Pattern 15 - N + V + N + wh-clause
(1) James asked us how long we had been waiting.
(2) James asked us when the meeting would end.
(3) James asked us whether the train had gone.
Apart from ask, this pattern can be used with verbs in pattern 14, especially in Questions and after Negatives.
(1) I didn't tell anyone where I had hidden the key.
(2) Have you reminded the audience what you are going to sing?
Pattern 16 - N + V + N + wh- to-clause
The wh-clause in this case is a TO-INFINITIVE clause (compare patterns 6 and 15):
(1) The pilot taught James how to land safely.
(2) Could you tell me which museums to visit?
(3) (Please) show us what to do.
Other verbs include: advise, ask, instruct, remind, warn
Pattern 17 - N + V + N + to + Verb ...
In pattern 17, the object is followed by a TO-INFINITIVE clause. Many different kinds of verbs take this pattern.
(1) He wants you to feel at home.
(2) They believed it to have been stolen.
(3) They don't like us to arrive late.
(4) Sam expected his friends to arrive late.
(5) She asked the doctor to give her some advice.
(6) We must get them to clean their rooms.
(7) Janny helped her friend to finish her homework.
(8) They reported the car to be missing.
Pattern 18 - N + V + N + Verb ...
In pattern 18, the basic form of the verb follows the object.
(1) The teacher lets the students play football on the lawn.
(2) Did you see anyone leave the building?
(3) Let me help you tidy these papers.
(4) He should make them behave themselves.
(5) I've known him eat a pound of snails.
(6) The judge had the witness repeat his statement.
Other verbs in this pattern: feel, notice, observe, watch
(1) The thief was seen to escape by the back door.
(2) The thief was observed to escape by the back door.
Pattern 19 - N + V + N + Verb-ing ...
(1) I can hear someone knocking on the wall.
(2) The teacher found the students playing tennis on the beach.
(3) They watched the crowd gathering in the street.
(4) Suza can't bear anyone interfering with her work.
(5) Do you mind me borrowing your car?
Other examples: dislike, like, feel, hate, love, notice, see, smell
Pattern 20 - N + V + N + past participle ...
(1) The manager wants these letters typed.
(2) Can you get this watch repaired, please? OR: Can you have this watch repaired, please?
(3) I'd like my room cleaned now, please.
(4) They saw the home team beaten.
I hope this article helps. If you have any question, please leave a comment below.
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