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Thursday, December 16, 2010

VERBS – VERBALS


1.      The following verbs can be followed by the infinitive  (to + v) as the direct object:

agree, forbid, mean, care, forget, offer, decide, hope,
plan, deserve, intend, pretend, refuse, fall, learn,

                        Mr. Smith and Mr. Parker deserve to be promoted.
                        They decided to leave early.
                        The secretary offered to come in early.
                        He hopes to see them again.


2.      The following verbs can be followed by the gerund  (v + ing) as the direct object

Admit,deny, postpone, appreciate, enjoy, practice, avoid,
Finish, stop, cannot help, keep, suggest, consider

                        She enjoyed meeting them.
                        I have never considered quitting my job.
                        He finishes studying every evening at ten.
                        He admitted committing the crime.

3.      The following verb phrases (verb + preposition) can be followed by the gerund (V + ing). Remember that gerunds, not infinitives, follow prepositions in general and not just the prepositions in this list.

Be accustomed to, decide on, plan on, be
interested in, get through, put off, be opposed to,
keep on, think about, be used to, look forward to, think off

She  was not used to living in a dormitory.
He kept on driving even though he was tired.
He has been looking forward to meeting you.


  1. a) Use the simple form of verb (V) after the causative verbs let, make , and have
    when the second verb is active.

He made the children look both ways before crossing the street.
The teacher let him leave early.
The teacher had had the class begin to write a composition when the bell rang.

b) Use a past participle after the causative verbs have and get when the second verb is
    passive in meaning.

She had her passport stamped at the immigration office.
They got their house painted last summer.

  1. The following verbs of perception are followed by the simple form of the verb (V) or the present participle (V+ing):

feel, see, hear, smell, notice, watch, observe

I heard the baby cry.
I heard the baby crying.

Jane observed him leave
Jane observed him leaving.
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ERROR EXAMPLES

  1. WRONG : The professor forbids the students leaving early.
RIGHT    : The professor forbids the students to leave early.

  1. WRONG : She could not help to laugh at his foolishness.
RIGHT    : She could not help laughing at his foolishness.

  1. WRONG : I am opposed to go to war.
RIGHT    : I am opposed to going to war.

  1. WRONG : Do not let those children to eat a lot of candy.
RIGHT    : Do not let those children eat a lot of candy.

  1. WRONG : I was surprised to see a person to cry at the movie.
RIGHT    : I was surprised to see a person cry at the movie.

or

      I was surprised to see a person crying at the movie.

  1. WRONG : She had her phone hook up when she returned from abroad.
RIGHT    : She had her phone hooked up when she returned from abroad.

  1. WRONG : He had his annual chest X-ray taking yesterday.
RIGHT    : He had his annual chest X-ray taken yesterday.

EXERCISE : Put “C “ if the sentence is correct. Put “X” if there is an error with the verbal (infinitive, gerund, simple verb, or participle) that follows the main verb.

____1. Blocks from the stadium, we could hear the people to cheer.
____2. Do you think you might enjoy living in a small town?
____3. I always make the children to pick up their toys.
____4. The official offered to help me get my papers in order.
____5. I had the paperboy stop delivering papers for the month of July.
____6. Since you need more money, you should not stop to try to find a better job.
____7. He was not used to making decisions by himself.

____8. Jane had her blood pressure taking recently.
____9. What made the students decide leaving early?
____10. I am looking forward to see you again soon.
____11. What do you think of our having a party to celebrate?
____12. She had her shoes dyed to match her dress.
____13. She could not help noticing the man to cry.
____14. One should avoid  eating a heavy meal late in the morning.
____15. We had Tom to make the dinner reservation.
____16. Since he promised to take care of it, his parents let the boy to buy a dog.
____17. He was not used to living alone.
____18. He had his gas and electricity turn on when he moved into his new apartment last week.
____19. When will you get through to read the book?
____20. The doctor had Mrs. Jones take ten pills a day fo her heart.
____21. The boss never has them to stay past 5:00 P.M.
____22. They saw the thief running from the bank.
____23. The professor had us to read the first half of the book by Monday.
____24. Please do not fail registering before the deadline.
____25. As I entered the house, I smelled the food cooking.
____26. We had our university identification pictures taken yesterday.
____27 The law of that country forbids anyone under eighteen driving a car.
____28. The teacher made us using our imaginations
____29. The class could not help to laugh when the teacher dropped all his papers.
____30. When we decided to stay in Mexico longer, we had our visas renewed.     

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