English Patterns

1. Missing Main Verb

Remember that every English sentence must have a

subject and a main verb. (A sentence may or may not
have an auxiliary verb.)

S V Complement
The sound of the dryer bothers my concentration.
Arizona has a very dry climate.
She is in the her office.
 2. Verbs that require an infinitive in the
complement.
Remember that the following verbs require an infinitive
for a verb in the complement.
agree decide hesitate need refuse appear
demand hope offer seem arrange deserve
intend plan tend ask expect learn
prepare threaten claim fail manage pretend
wait consent forget mean promise want
Ex:
-He wanted to speak with me.
-We demand to know our status.
-They didnt plan to buy a car.
-The weather tends to improve in May.
 3. Verbs that require an ing form in the
complement.
The following verbs require an ing from for a verb in the
complement.
admit complete deny appreciate consider discuss
avoid delay enjoy finish practice risk
keep quit stop mention recall suggest
miss recall suggest tolerate postpone regret
understand
EX:
He enjoys traveling by plane.
She is considering not going.
I miss watching the news when I am traveling.
She mentions stopping at EI Paso in her letter.
 4. Verbs phrase that require an ing form in
the complement.
approve of do not mind keep on
be better off forget about look forward to
cant help get through object to
count on insist to think of
Ex:
She forgot about canceling her appointment.
Lets go to the movie when you get though studying.
We cant help wondering why she left.
I have been looking forward to seeing it.
We wouldnt mind waiting.
 5. Problems with Used to and Be used to

Consider the following examples:

- He used to live in the country.
- He was used to living in the country.
- She was used to getting up early.
- She was used to speaking in public.
- I used to have a remarkable car.
 6. Problem with Had better and
Would rather
Remember that had better and would rather are similar to a
modal. Although had appears to be a past, had better expressed
advice for the future, would rather expressed preference in
present and future time.

S had better verb word (V.1)

Ex:
- You had better take Chemistry 600 this semester.
- You had better not go to a movie this weekend.
- Greg would rather have a Pepsi than a beer.
- If you dont mind, I would rather not go.
- She told me that shed rather not serve on the committee.
 7. Problem with would rather that
It introduces a clause.

S would that S V (past)

rather

I would rather that you drove.

I would rather that you didnt drive.
I would rather that you didnt do that.
Diane would rather that her husband didnt work so
hard.
 8. Problem with Negative
Imperatives
Compare two sentences below:
Please dont tell anyone.
Would you please not tell anyone.
Please dont be late.
Would you please not worry.
Would you please not smoke.
Note: Avoid using dont after would you please.
 9. Problem with causatives
Causatives are main verbs that cause people or
machines to do things or cause things to
change. They are listed below in order of the
most forceful to the least forceful.
Make
Get
Have
Let
Help
 MAKE
The person cause it to happen by forcing
another person to do it.
S MAKE SOMEONE VERB
WORD
His mother made him take his
medicine.
S MAKE SOMETHING VERB
WORD
I made the machine work
 GET
A person doesnt perform an action directly.

S GET SOMEONE INFINITIVE

Lets get Ann to go with us.

S GET SOMETHING PARTICIPLE

Lets get our car fixed first.

 HAVE
A person doesnt perform an action directly.

S HAVE SOMEONE VERB WORD

My teacher had us give oral report.

S HAVE SOMETHING PARTICIPLE

want to
I this book renewed, please.
have
 LET
A person gives permission for another to do it.

S LET SOMEONE VERB WORD

His mother let him go to school.

S LET SOMETHING VERB WORD

I am letting this machine cool.

 HELP
A person assists another person to do it.

VERB
S HELP SOMEONE WORD /
INFINITVE

He is helping me type my paper.

He is helping me to type my paper.
10. Problem with Subjunctive Verbs
Some verbs and noun require a subjunctive. A
subjunctive is a change in the usual form of the
verb. It is often a verb word (V.1) in English.
These verbs are used before THAT.
advise command decree (),
demand desire insist
move maintain order
pray prefer propose
recommend request require
stipulate (), suggest, urge ()

 Study the examples below: (V. + that)
They prefer that I not serve them anything
alcoholic. ( )
He recommended that she go with him.
My employer insists that I be on time.
I suggested that he go to the game.
The regulation requires that everyone who
holds a non-immigrant visa report his address
to the federal government in January of each
year. ( )
We advised our children that they be hard-
working in their school subjects and put forth
their best efforts. ()
I propose that the vote be secret ballot.
 It is + adj. + that
It is advisable that
It is better that
It is crucial that
It is desirable that
It is essential that
It is imperative that
It is important that
It is necessary that
It is preferable that
It is resolved that
It is right that
It is strange that
It is urgent that
Ex: The librarian said that it was important that I return this book
immediately.
It is essential that she have her physical check up done very
month.
 Nouns derived from Subjunctive verbs.
demand recommendation
insistence request
preference requirement
proposal suggestion
The recommendation that we be evaluated was
approved.
He complied with the requirement that all students in
education write a thesis.
She ignored the suggestion that she get more
exercise.
The terrorists demand that the airline provide a plane
will not be met by deadline.
He regretted not having followed the advisors
recommendation that he drop the class.
 Impersonal Expressions
Remember that the following adjectives are used in impersonal
expressions.
essential imperative
important necessary
Ex:
-It is important to verify the data.
-It is important that the data be verified.
-It is imperative that your signature appear on your ID
card.
-It is imperative to sign your ID card.
-It is necessary that you be on time.
-It is necessary to be on time.