Verb Patterns: Other Structures Practice Tests with C1 Grammar Rules & Examples

Verb Patterns: Other Structures

At C1 level, you already know that some verbs are followed by an infinitive (to do) and others by a gerund (doing). However, English has a wide range of other verb patterns that go beyond these two basic forms. Mastering these patterns will make your writing and speaking far more natural and precise.

In this lesson, we will explore advanced verb patterns including verbs followed by a bare infinitive, verbs followed by a preposition + gerund, verbs used with that-clauses, verbs with wh- clauses, verbs followed by an object + infinitive or gerund, and other less common but important structures.

Understanding these verb patterns will help you express complex ideas accurately and avoid common errors that even advanced learners make.

Rule Breakdown: The Main Verb Patterns

1. Verbs Followed by a Bare Infinitive (Without "to")

Some verbs are followed directly by the base form of another verb, without the word to. This is called the bare infinitive.

Pattern:
verb + bare infinitive

These verbs include modal verbs and a small group of special verbs:

Verb / Structure	Example
make + object + bare infinitive	The teacher made the students repeat the exercise.
let + object + bare infinitive	She let him leave early.
have + object + bare infinitive	I'll have the technician check the system.
help + object + bare infinitive (or to-infinitive)	He helped me carry the bags. / He helped me to carry the bags.
hear/see/watch/notice/feel + object + bare infinitive	I heard her sing. / We saw them leave.

Important note on perception verbs: When we use verbs of perception (hear, see, watch, notice, feel) with an object, we can use either the bare infinitive or the -ing form, but the meaning differs slightly:

➡ I saw him cross the road. (the whole action, from start to finish)
➡ I saw him crossing the road. (I saw part of the action in progress)

2. Verbs Followed by a Preposition + Gerund

Many verbs in English are followed by a fixed preposition, and any verb that follows the preposition must be in the -ing form (gerund). There is no shortcut here — you need to learn which preposition goes with which verb.

Pattern:
verb + preposition + gerund

Verb + Preposition	Example
insist on	She insisted on attending the meeting herself.
object to	He objected to being treated unfairly.
succeed in	They succeeded in negotiating a better deal.
result in	The delay resulted in missing the deadline.
apologise for	He apologised for causing so much trouble.
look forward to	We're looking forward to hearing from you.
refrain from	Please refrain from using your phone during the performance.
resort to	He resorted to borrowing money from friends.
accuse someone of	She accused him of lying.
prevent someone from	Nothing will prevent us from achieving our goals.

A common trap: The phrase look forward to contains the word to, but this is a preposition, not part of a to-infinitive. So it must be followed by a gerund, not a bare infinitive.

❌ I look forward to hear from you.
✅ I look forward to hearing from you.

3. Verbs Followed by a That-Clause

Many verbs, especially verbs of thinking, saying, believing, and feeling, can be followed by a that-clause. In informal English, the word that is often omitted, but it is always correct to include it.

Pattern:
verb + (that) + subject + verb

Verb	Example with "that"
believe	I believe that a solution can be found.
assume	She assumed that the meeting had been cancelled.
acknowledge	He acknowledged that mistakes had been made.
claim	They claimed that no one had been informed.
recommend	The doctor recommended that he rest for a week. (subjunctive)
suggest	She suggested that we consider other options. (subjunctive)
demand	They demanded that the report be submitted immediately. (subjunctive)
insist	He insisted that everyone attend the briefing. (subjunctive)

The Subjunctive in That-Clauses: With verbs such as recommend, suggest, demand, insist, propose, request, require, English uses the subjunctive mood in the that-clause. This means the verb in the clause stays in the base form regardless of the subject:

➡ The committee recommended that the policy be reviewed. (not is reviewed)
➡ She insisted that he apologise publicly. (not apologises)

4. Verbs Followed by Wh- Clauses

Some verbs can be followed by a wh- word (what, where, when, how, why, whether) followed by a clause. These are sometimes called indirect questions or embedded questions.

Pattern:
verb + wh- word + subject + verb
verb + wh- word + to-infinitive

Verb	Example (wh- + clause)	Example (wh- + to-infinitive)
know	I don't know where she went.	I don't know where to start.
understand	He doesn't understand why it matters.	She didn't understand how to use the software.
wonder	I wonder whether she'll agree.	I wonder whether to accept the offer.
decide	They decided what they wanted.	She decided what to say.
explain	He explained how it worked.	She explained how to apply.
discover	We discovered what had gone wrong.	We discovered how to fix it.

Key rule for embedded questions: The word order in a wh- clause is statement order, not question order. Do not use auxiliary do/does/did in the embedded clause.

❌ I don't know where did she go.
✅ I don't know where she went.

5. Verbs Followed by an Object + To-Infinitive

Many verbs in English require an object (a noun or pronoun) between the main verb and the to-infinitive. This structure is very common and important at C1 level.

Pattern:
verb + object + to-infinitive

Verb	Example
advise	The doctor advised him to rest.
allow	They allowed us to leave early.
cause	The storm caused the event to be postponed.
encourage	She encouraged me to apply.
expect	We expected them to arrive on time.
force	The circumstances forced him to reconsider.
instruct	The manager instructed the team to review the report.
invite	She invited them to attend the ceremony.
persuade	He persuaded her to stay longer.
remind	Can you remind him to send the report?
warn	She warned me not to trust him.

Negative form: To make the infinitive negative, place not directly before the to:

➡ She warned us not to be late.
➡ He told them not to worry.

6. Verbs Followed by an Object + Bare Infinitive or Gerund (Perception Verbs)

As mentioned earlier, verbs of perception such as see, hear, watch, notice, feel, observe, overhear follow this important pattern:

Pattern A:
verb + object + bare infinitive → completed action
I watched the surgeon perform the operation. (the whole procedure)

Pattern B:
verb + object + -ing form → action in progress
I watched the surgeon performing a delicate procedure. (part of it)

7. Verbs That Can Be Followed by an Object + Past Participle

This is a more advanced pattern often used to describe situations where something is done to an object, or to describe results. It is common with verbs like have, get, want, like, need, prefer.

Pattern:
verb + object + past participle

Verb	Example	Meaning
have	I need to have my car serviced.	A professional will service it for me.
get	She got her hair cut.	Someone cut it for her.
want	He wants the figures checked again.	He wants someone to check them.
like	She likes her coffee served black.	She prefers it that way.
need	These documents need to be signed.	Someone must sign them.

Note: Have + object + past participle is sometimes called the causative have. Get + object + past participle is slightly more informal and is called the causative get. Both are widely used in formal and informal English.

8. Verbs Followed by "-ing" or "to-infinitive" With a Change in Meaning

At C1 level, it is essential to know the verbs that change meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or a to-infinitive. These are some of the most tested verb patterns at advanced level.

Verb	+ Gerund (-ing)	+ To-Infinitive
remember	I remember locking the door. (I recall doing it — past action)	Remember to lock the door. (Don't forget — future action)
forget	I'll never forget meeting her. (I recall the experience — past)	Don't forget to call her. (A task you must do — future)
stop	She stopped smoking. (She gave up the habit)	She stopped to smoke. (She paused in order to smoke)
try	Try adding more salt. (Experiment — see what happens)	Try to add less salt. (Make an effort)
mean	This means working overtime. (It involves / results in)	I didn't mean to offend you. (I didn't intend to)
regret	I regret saying that. (I'm sorry I said it — past)	I regret to inform you… (Formal: sorry to say this now)
go on	He went on talking for hours. (He continued the same thing)	She went on to become a director. (She did something next)

Important Differences and Special Cases

Verbs That Appear to Take Both Patterns Without Meaning Change

Some verbs can be followed by either a gerund or a to-infinitive with very little or no difference in meaning. These include:

• begin, start, continue, intend, prefer, propose, cease, attempt

➡ She began to cry / began crying.
➡ They continued to negotiate / continued negotiating.

One exception: After begin, start, continue, if the main verb is already in the -ing form, we prefer the to-infinitive to avoid repetition of -ing:

❌ It is beginning raining.
✅ It is beginning to rain.

The Difference Between "Make" and "Let"

Both make and let are followed by an object and a bare infinitive, but they have very different meanings:

➡ Make = to force or cause someone to do something (often against their will)
The boss made everyone work late.

➡ Let = to allow or permit someone to do something
She let the children stay up late.

Passive transformation: When make is used in the passive voice, the to-infinitive is used (not the bare infinitive):

Active: They made him sign the contract.
Passive: He was made to sign the contract.

"Need" + Gerund vs. "Need" + To-Infinitive

The verb need has two important patterns:

➡ Need + to-infinitive (active meaning):
I need to review the report before the meeting.

➡ Need + gerund (passive meaning — the thing needs to have something done to it):
The report needs reviewing. (= the report needs to be reviewed)
The car needs fixing. (= the car needs to be fixed)

Reported Speech and Verb Patterns

Verbs used to report what someone said often follow specific verb patterns. Compare:

Reporting Verb Pattern	Example
verb + object + to-infinitive	She told him to leave immediately.
verb + that-clause	He said that the project was on track.
verb + -ing (gerund)	She admitted taking the money.
verb + preposition + -ing	He apologised for interrupting the meeting.

Note: Say cannot take an object before a to-infinitive. Only tell can.

❌ She said me to leave.
✅ She told me to leave.

Common Mistakes

❌ I'm looking forward to hear your feedback.
✅ I'm looking forward to hearing your feedback. (To is a preposition here, so a gerund must follow.)

❌ She made him to apologise in front of everyone.
✅ She made him apologise in front of everyone. (Make + object takes a bare infinitive, not a to-infinitive.)

❌ The manager recommended that he should reconsider his approach.
✅ The manager recommended that he reconsider his approach. (Use the subjunctive base form, not should + verb, in formal British English.)

❌ I don't know where did they go.
✅ I don't know where they went. (Use statement word order in embedded questions.)

❌ She said me to come back later.
✅ She told me to come back later. (Say cannot be followed by an object + to-infinitive.)

❌ He was made sign the documents.
✅ He was made to sign the documents. (In the passive, made must be followed by a to-infinitive.)

❌ I remember to lock the door last night.
✅ I remember locking the door last night. (Remembering a past action = gerund.)

❌ He stopped to smoke — it was ruining his health.
✅ He stopped smoking — it was ruining his health. (Stopped to smoke means he paused in order to have a cigarette. To give up the habit = gerund.)

❌ The system needs to be checking regularly.
✅ The system needs checking regularly. (Or: The system needs to be checked regularly.)

❌ She suggested me to apply for the position.
✅ She suggested that I apply for the position. (Or: She suggested applying for the position. The verb suggest cannot take an object + to-infinitive.)

Verb Patterns: Other Structures — Quick Summary

Here is a concise overview of the key verb patterns covered in this lesson:

Pattern	Key Verbs	Example
Verb + object + bare infinitive	make, let, have, help, see, hear, watch	She let me leave early.
Verb + preposition + gerund	insist on, object to, look forward to, succeed in	I look forward to hearing from you.
Verb + that-clause	believe, claim, acknowledge, recommend, demand	She recommended that he attend.
Verb + wh- clause / wh- + to-infinitive	know, understand, decide, explain, wonder	I don't know where to start.
Verb + object + to-infinitive	advise, encourage, expect, warn, persuade	She warned us not to be late.
Verb + object + past participle	have, get, want, need, like	I'll have my car serviced.
Verb + gerund OR to-infinitive (meaning changes)	remember, forget, stop, try, mean, regret, go on	She stopped smoking. / She stopped to smoke.

• Always check whether a verb is followed by a bare infinitive, to-infinitive, or gerund — these are not interchangeable.
• After a preposition, always use the gerund (never the to-infinitive).
• After verbs of recommending, suggesting, demanding, or requesting, use the subjunctive base form in the that-clause.
• Perception verbs (see, hear, watch) with an object take either the bare infinitive (completed action) or the -ing form (action in progress).
• Several verbs (remember, forget, stop, try, mean, regret, go on) change meaning depending on whether they are followed by a gerund or to-infinitive.
• In the passive, make must be followed by a to-infinitive: He was made to sign.
• In embedded questions, always use statement word order, not question word order.

Now practise verb patterns: other structures in the exercises below.