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Hello and welcome to 6 Minute Grammar with me, Finn.
And me, Catherine. Hello.
In today's programme, we're talking about three different verb patterns.
First, what exactly do we mean by verb patterns, Catherine?
Well, here we mean the various language patterns that follow the main verb in a clause or sentence.
And the first pattern we're looking at is verbs which are followed by that.
Here's our first example.
My doctor explained that I had to go to hospital.
My doctor explained that I had to go to hospital.
So, we have a verb – explain – plus that.
and did you notice that the word that is followed by an independent clause?
In other words, it's followed by a group of words with a subject and verb just like a full sentence.
In our example, the independent clause was Now, other verbs that take this pattern include Right.
The second pattern is verbs that are followed by the ing form or ing form of another verb.
Let's have an example.
We discussed waiting until next year.
Now lots of verbs take this pattern including advise, try, love, like and hate.
And the third pattern is verbs that are followed by the infinitive with to.
He offered to see me again in a month's time.
And verbs that take this pattern include want, need, hope, love and promise.
But it's important to know that with some verbs you can choose between two of the patterns.
You can. So, with the verbs suggest and recommend, you can choose between that plus a clause or an ing form.
Here's an example. We suggest that you go to the hospital in Oxford.
Or we suggest going to the hospital in Oxford.
And with the verbs ask, propose and promise, you can choose between either that plus a clause, or the infinitive with two.
Another example. I promised that I'd let him know my decision.
Or I promised to let him know my decision.
A good grammar book will give you a full list of verbs that take more than one pattern.
Make sure you keep one handy.
Top tip! Now, another point is that some of these verbs can take an object before the infinitive with two.
The verb ask is a good example.
Listen to this. I asked the doctor to change my medication.
This is bbclearningenglish .com And we're looking at verb patterns.
Well, we've said that some verbs can have an object before the infinitive with to, but there are a few verbs that must always have an object before the infinitive with to.
The verbs advise, invite, tell and warn are like this.
He advised me to think carefully about it.
He told me not to hurry.
Right. Actually, that last example is an interesting one.
It shows that when you use a negative form with the infinitive, the word not goes before, not after the infinitive with to.
Like this. He told me not to hurry.
Good point. The verbs advise, ask and warn are like that too, aren't they?
He advised me not to worry, for example.
Yes, that's right. Of course, you can use not before –ing forms as well.
Listen to this. They recommend not eating a big meal in the evening.
But infinitives are a bit different because you lose the word to in the negative, so it's possible to say… They recommend that you not eat a big meal in the evening.
But that sounds very formal.
We usually use don't instead of not.
They recommend that you don't eat a big meal in the evening.
OK. By now you've probably noticed that most of the verbs we're talking about belong to a particular type.
Exactly. They're mostly verbs that explain, suggest, advise, offer, promise, report or warn.
So try to look out for these verbs and you'll soon get to know which patterns you need to use.
And now it's quiz time.
OK. Which sentence is correct?
A. Karl explained me he would be late home.
B. Karl explained that he would be late home.
And B is correct. Karl explained that he would be late home.
Number two. Which is correct?
A. Which day do you advise us to come?
Or B. Which day do you advise that we come?
Aha. Both A and B are correct.
Aha, yes. Which day do you advise us to come?
And which day do you advise that we come?
Right. Number three.
A. She warned me not to go out.
B. She warned me not going out.
And A is correct. She warned me not to go out.
And that is the end of the quiz.
Congratulations if you got them all right.
Congratulations indeed.
And that's all for now about verb patterns.
But there's more about this on our website at bbclearningenglish .com.
Join us again for more 6 Minute Grammar.
Bye. Bye. Thanks for listening to Learning English Grammar.
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