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Basic verb patters

Basic verb patters
Activity Drag&Drop
Activity Drag&Drop
Practise the 3 basic verb patterns with the most common verbs. Verbs followed by infinitive with to, without to, or -ing.
 

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Instructions

Click on the correct verb form at the bottom and drag it into the empty box to complete the sentence.
 

VERB + VERB PATTERNS

In English, when a verb is followed by another verb, the second verb may be an infinitive (to go), bare infinitive (go) or -ing form (going). It all depends on the first verb. Let's see all those different patterns.

  V + INFINITIVE

Most normal verbs use this construction.

    I want to go
    They decided to stay at home
    They need to buy a bigger car


V + BARE INFINITIVE

Special verbs (except Be, Have and Ought to): do, can/could, will/would, shall/should, may/might, must

    Josh can speak French
    I must go
    She will come soon


V + -ING

Verbs of likes and dislikes: like, dislike, hate, detest, love, prefer, enjoy...

    Ken likes reading comics
    I enjoy listening to music                                
    She hates walking in the rain
    I love singing in the shower

In modern English these verbs can also be used with infinitive with no real change of meaning
    I like to dance tango
    She loves to swim

But if these verbs are used with WOULD, you must always use the infinitive
    I'd like to tell you a secret (not I'd like telling you...)
    She would prefer to live in a bigger house


Other verbs:  finish, mind, keep, practice, go on, consider, suggest ...

    Would you mind opening the window?
    When you finish studying, come with me
    She suggested going to Cancun for the summer

Items

Gapped text Items
I don't ______________________ her name knowing / know / to know
I can ______________________ Chinese speaking / speak / to speak
If you lived here, you would ______________________ everybody around knowing / know / to know
You should ______________________ a doctor visit / to visit / visiting
She may ______________________ in Malaga now, ask her parents live / to live / living
I must ______________________, it's late go / to go / going
Wait, you must ______________________ your homework first to finish / finishing / finish
I'd like ______________________ lunch with you having / to have / have
Would you like ______________________ with us to the zoo? to come / come / comming
Of course she would love ______________________ here, but she has things to do being / be / to be
That's nice but we would prefer ______________________ something smaller buy / buying / to buy
When you finish ______________________ your homework, come and help me with this doing / to do / do
I don't mind ______________________ there on foot, but I think we're gonna be late go / going / to go
I know you're tired, but you have to keep ______________________, it's still a long way walking / walk / to walk
He can read French ok, but he needs to practise ______________________ it to speak / speaking / speak
Oh, don't stop now, go on ______________________ us what happened next telling / tell / to tell
It's too late. I suggest ______________________ home now. to go / going / go
She likes ______________________ on the phone for hours talk / talking
Do you like ______________________ football? to play / play
I hate ______________________ so early getting up / get up
Peter hates ______________________ the cooking do / to do
She only wants ______________________ you help / to help / helping
If you decide ______________________ your own car, tell me first bring / bringing / to bring
I need ______________________ some food before the party starts to buy / buy / buying
I hope ______________________ there before 10 being / to be / be
Total number of items: 25

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