APPENDIX I

VERB PATTERNS¹

I. Verb Patterns

The verb patterns in this Dictionary supply information concerning syntax. They enable the learner to use verbs in the ways that are in accordance with correct usage. If the learner will spend a few hours studying these verb patterns, he will be able to avoid numerous errors.

One who is learning English as a foreign language is apt to form sentences by analogy. This habit may at times lead him into error. He sees sentences of the type, “Please tell me the meaning” or “Please show me the way” (i. e. with an indirect object followed by a direct object). By analogy he makes the incorrect sentence “Please explain me the meaning” He sees the sentences “I intend to come,” “I propose to come,” and “I want to come,” and by analogy he makes the sentence “I suggest to come” (instead of “I suggest that I should come”). He sees such sentences as “I asked him to come,” “I told him to come,” and “I wanted him to come” and by analogy he makes the sentences “I propose him to come” and “I suggested him to come” (instead of “I proposed [suggested] that he should come”). He notes that “He began to talk about the matter” means almost the same as “He began talking about the matter” and concludes, wrongly, that “He stopped to talk about the matter” means the same as “He stopped to talk about the matter” Such misapprehensions are natural. The ordinary grammar-book and dictionary usually fail to supply adequate information on such points. The patterns below, with the numerical indications supplied with the verb entries (thus-P 1, 10, 18, 21, 23), do give guidance.

II. Summary of Verb Patterns

Patterns 1 to 19 indicate what are usually called transitive uses of verbs. Patterns 20 to 25 indicate what are usually called intransitive uses.

P 1... Vb. x Direct Object

P 2... Vb. x (not) to x Infinitive, etc.

P 3... Vb. x Noun or Pronoun x (not) to x Infinitive, etc.

P 4… Vb. x Noun or Pronoun x (to be) x Complement

P 5... Vb. x Noun or Pronoun x Infinitive, etc.

P 6... Vb x Noun or Pronoun x Present Participle

P 7... Vb. x Object x Adjective

P 8... Vb. x Object x Noun

P 9... Vb. x Object x Past Participle

P 10... Vb. x Object x Adverbial

P 11... Vb. x that-clause

P 12... Vb. x Noun or Pronoun x that-clause

P 13... Vb. x Conjunctive x to x Infinitive, etc.

P 14... Vb. x Noun or Pronoun x Conjunctive x to x Infinitive, etc.

P 15... Vb. x Conjunctive x Clause

P 16... Vb. x Noun or Pronoun x Conjunctive x Clause

P 17… Vb. x Gerund, etc

P 18... Vb. x Direct Object x Preposition x Prepositional Object

P 19... Vb. x Indirect Object x Direct Object

P 20... Vb. x (for) x Complement of Distance; Time, Price, etc.

P 21... Vb. alone

P 22... Vb. x Predicative

P 23... Vb. x Adverbial Adjunct

P 24... Vb. x Preposition x Prepositional Object

P 25... Vb. x to x Infinitive

Pattern 1

Verbs marked P 1 may be used with a simple direct object which is a noun, pronoun or determinative. (Cf. P 17 for the use of gerunds.)

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Direct Object
1	He cut	his finger.
2	We saw	your brother.
3	We have already had	breakfast.
4	He does not like	cold weather.
5	We always do	that.
6	I want	six.
7	We lit	a fire.
8	They were throwing	stones.
9	A baby cannot dress	itself.
10	He laughed	a merry laugh.
11	She dreamed	a curious dream.
12	she smiled	her thanks.
13	I dug	a hole.

Pattern 2

Verbs marked P 2 may be followed by (not) to and an Infinitive. The to x Infinitive is usually regarded as the object of the verb. For examples of intransitive verbs (e. g. be, happen, come) followed by to x Infinitive, see Pattern 25. Cf. P 17B.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verbs	(not) x to x Infinitive, etc.
1	He wants	to go.
2	I have promised	to help them.
3	They decided	not to go.
4	Did you remember*	to shut the windows?
5	He agreed	to pay for it.
6	Have you	to go to school today?
7	Would you care	to go for a walk?
8	He pretended	not to see me.

*See remember in P 17A, example 3.

Pattern 3

Verbs marked P 3 may be followed by a noun or pronoun and by (not) to and an infinitive. (Cf. P 10 for sentences in which the to x Infinitive is short for in order to x infinitive.)

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	(not) to x Infinitive
1	He wants	me	to be early.
2	I asked	him	not to do it.
3	I told	the servant	to open the window.
４	Please help*	me	to carry this box.
5	He likes	his wife	to dress well.
6	Your teacher expects	you	to work hard.
7	I warned	him	not to be late.
8	He allowed	the soldiers	to take him prisoner.
9	They have never known*	him	to behave so badly.

Note the passive construction:-

3. The servant was told to open the window.

4. He was warned not to be late.

* Cf examples 6 and 4 in P 5.

Pattern 4

Verbs marked P 4 may be followed by a noun or pronoun, to be (often omitted), and a complement. Sentences in P 4 may also be constructed in p 11.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	(to be)	Complement
1	They believed	him	(to be)	innocent.
2	Do you consider	her	(to be)	honest?
3	I consider	it	(to be)	a shame.
4	Tom’s teacher thinks	him	(to be)	the cleverest boy in the class
5	We proved	him	(to be)	wrong.

Note the passive construction:-

1. He was believed (to be) innocent.

2. Is she considered (to be) honest?

Note the same sentences in P 11.

1. They believed (that he was innocent.

2. Do you consider (that) she is honest?

Pattern 5

Verbs marked p 5 are used in a way similar to that in which verbs marked p 3 are used but with the important difference that to is omitted before the infinitive. (Cf. Allow me to go. Let me go.) Those verbs in this pattern which are called verbs of perception (i. e. verbs of seeing, hearing, etc.) may also be used in p 6.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	Infinitive, etc.
1	I made	him	do it.
2	Let	me	go!
3	We must not let	the matter	rest here.
4	They have never known*	him	behave so badly.
5	I will have	him	do the work.
6	Will you help*	me	carry this box?
7	Would you have	me	believe that?
8	I heard	him	come in.
9	We saw	them	go out.
10	They felt	the house	shake.
11	Watch	me	do it.
12	Did anyone notice	the thief	leave the house?

Note the passive construction:-

1. He was made to do it.

4. He has never been known to behave so badly.

9. They were seen to go out.

In examples 8 to 12 p 6 might also be used. “I saw him go out” means “He went out and I saw him” and “I saw him going out” means “He was going out when I saw him.”

* Cf. examples 9 and 4 in p 3.

Pattern 6

Verbs marked P 6 may be followed by a noun or a pronoun and a present participle. In the case of verbs of perception P 5 may also be used. (See the note on examples 8 to 12 above.)

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	Present Participle
1	He kept	me	waiting.
2	I found	him	working at his desk.
3	They left	me	standing outside.
4	I heard	him	giving orders.
5	We watched	the train	leaving the station.
6	Do you feel	the house	shaking?
7	Can you smell	something	burning?
8	I saw	him	running off.

Note the passive construction:-

1. I was kept waiting.

2. He was heard gibing orders.

Pattern 7

Verbs marked P 7 may be followed by an object and an object complement which is all adjective.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	object	Adjective
1	Don’t get	your clothes	dirty.
2	The sun keeps	us	warm.
3	Get	yourself	ready.
4	Don’t make	yourself	uneasy.
5	I found	the box	empty.
6	We pointed	the door	green.
7	They set	the prisoners	free.
8	Can you push	the door	open.
9	The cold weather turned	the leaves	red.
10	He wished	himself	dead.

Note the passive construction:-

5. The box was found empty.

6. The door was painted green.

7. The prisoners were set free.

Pattern 8

Verbs marked P8 may be followed by an object and an object complement which is a noun.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Object	Noun
1	They elected	him	king.
2	The people crowned	Richard	king.
3	They chose	Mr. Smith	chairman.
4	We call	the dog	“Spot.”
5	They named	their son	Henry.
6	They made	Newton	President of the Royal Society.
7	They called	them	cowards.

Note the passive construction:-

1. He was elected king.

6. Newton was made President of the Royal Society.

Pattern 9

Verbs marked P 9 may be followed by and object and a past participle.

Example:-

	Subject x Verb	Object	Past Participle
1	You must get	your hair	cut.
2	Where did you have	them	printed?
3	She had	a new dress	made.
4	Have you ever heard	Italian	spoken
5	His actions made	him	respected.
6	King Charles I had	his head	cut off.
7	The soldier had	two horses	shot under him.

Note that in this Pattern, the action named by the past participle may or may not be in accordance with the will of the subject.

Pattern 10

Verb marked P 10 may be followed by an object and an adverb or an adverb phrase (including adverbial infinitives meaning in order to …). See also the notes on the adverbial particles above.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Object	Adverb, Adverb Phrase, etc.
1	Put	it	here.
2	He took	his hat	off.
3	He has given	it	away.
4	Mr. Smith showed	me	to the door.
5	We employed	her	as a cook.
6	They treat	their sister	as if she were only a servant.
7	He brought	his brother	to see me.
8	He took	the medicine	in order to get well.
9	They led	me	to believe that here was no danger.
10	I don’t know	her	to speak to.

Note the passive constructions:

4. I was shown to the door. (by Mr. Smith).

6. Their sister is treated as if she were only a servant.

Pattern 11

Verbs marked P 11 may be followed directly by a that-clause.

	Subject x Verb	(that) x Clause
1	I hope	(that) you will come.
2	I suppose	(that) you will be there.
3	He explained	that nothing could be done.
4	Do you think	(that) it will rain?
5	He saw	(that) the plan was useless.
6	I suggested	(that) he should leave early.

When a passive construction is used for sentences of this type, it may be used to anticipate the clause.

3. It was explained that nothing could be done.

5. It was seen that the plan was useless.

Note that some verbs (e. g. believe, hope, think, say) it is possible to use so in place of an affirmative clause and not in place a negative clause.

E.g. So I noticed [said, thought, etc.]. I believe so. I hope [think, believe, etc.] not.

When so may be used, examples will be found with the verb entries.

Pattern 12

Verbs marked P 12 may be followed by a noun or pronoun and a that-clause.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	(that) x Clause
1	I told	the man	(that) he was mistaken.
2	I warned	you	(that) he would be late
3	We satisfied	ourselves	(that) the plan would work.
4	Please remind	him	(that) He must be here early.

Note the passive construction:-

Has he been told [warned, reminded, etc.] that…?

Note the use of so in place of a clause (as in P 11).

E. g. I told you so! So I told you!

Pattern 13

Verbs marked p 13 may be followed by the conjunctives (except why) and to and an infinitive.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Conjunctive	to x Infinitive, etc.
1	I wonder	how	to do it.
2	I do not know	what	to do.
3	He is learning	how	to swim.
4	She was wondering	which	to buy.
5	Will you find out	how	to get there?
6	You must remember	when	to begin.
7	I do not know	whether	to go or stay.

Pattern 14

Verbs marked P 14 may be followed by a noun or pronoun, a conjunctive (except why), and to and an infinitive.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	Con- junctive	to x Infinitive, etc.
1	We showed	him	how	to do it.
2	Please tell	me	which	to take.
3	Can you advise	me	which	to buy?
4	The patterns show	you	how	to make sentences.
5	Tell	me	whether	to come or not.
6	They told	him	when	to start.
7	Tell	her	what	to do.

Note the passive construction:

1. He was shown how to do it.

6. He was told when to start.

Note that sentences in which this pattern is used may also be constructed in P 16.

E. g. We showed him how he should do it.

Pattern 15

Verbs marked P 15 may be followed by a clause introduced by a conjunctive. If is sometimes used instead of whether.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Conjunctive	Clause
1	I wonder	why	he has not come.
2	I wonder	whether	he will come.
3	I do not mind	where	we go.
4	Do you know	who	he is?
5	I do not care	what	you think.
6	Can you suggest	where	this ought to go.
7	Please say	what	you want.
8	Nobody knows	whose	it is.

Pattern 16

Verbs marked P 16 may be followed by a noun or pronoun and a clause introduced by a conjunctive.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Noun or Pronoun	Con- junctive	Clause
1	Tell	me	what	it is.
2	Ask	him	where	he put it.
3	They asked	us	when	we should be back.
4	Can you tell	me	how	high it is?
5	Can you inform	me	when	the train leaves?
6	Please advise	me	whether	the children should climb the mountain.

Pattern 17

Verbs marked P 17 may be followed by a gerund. The pattern is subdivided. In Group A (including compound verbs such as keep on, go on, give up), in those cases were the gerund may be replaced by an infinitive, a change of meaning results. In Group B the gerund may be replaced by an infinitive without change of meaning. In Group C the gerund is equivalent to a passive infinitive.

Examples:-

Group A

	Subject x Verb	Gerund, etc.
1	Please stop	talking.
2	He enjoys	playing tennis.
3	I remember	doing it.
4	Please excuse	my being so late.
5	Do you mind	staying a little longer?
6	Do you mind	my staying a little longer?
7	She couldn’t help	laughing.
8	He keeps on	coming here.
9	They went on	working.
10	Has it left off	raining yet?

Notes:-

1. Cf. We stopped to talk (i. e. stopped doing something in order to talk).

3. Cf. He never remembers to post my letters (i. e. never remembers he has letters of mine to post). (See P 2.)

5. i. e. Will you please stay a little longer?

6. i. e. Will you please allow me to stay a little longer?

Group B

	Subject x Verb	Gerund, etc.
1	He began	talking (= to talk)
2	He likes	swimming (= to swim)
3	I prefer	staying (= to stay) indoors on cold winter evenings.
4	I hate	refusing (= to refuse) every time.
5	He started	Packing (= to pack) his books and clothes.

Group C

	Subject x Verb	Gerund (Passive Infinitive)
1	It wants	doing (= to be done).
2	Your work needs	correcting (= to be corrected).
3	That needs	explaining (= to be explained).

Pattern 18

Verbs marked P 18 may be followed by a direct object, a preposition and a prepositional object (which may be a noun, pronoun, gerund or clause). The pattern is subdivided. In Group A the preposition is to or for and sentences in which this pattern is used may also be constructed in P. 19. In Group B various prepositions are used and sentences made according to his pattern cannot be converted into sentences according to P 19.

Examples:-

Group A

	Subject x Verb	Direct Object	Prep.	Prepositional Object
1	I gave	the money	to	my friend.
2	They told	the news	to	everybody they met.
3	We showed	the pictures	to	our teachers.
4	I don’t lend	my books	to	anybody.
5	He offered	one	to	me.
6	I owe	ten pounds	to	my tailor.
7	Throw	that box	to	me.
8	Bring	that book	to	me.
9	I bought	some books	for	my brother.
10	Please save	one	for	me.
11	Did you leave	any	for	me?
12	She has ordered	a new dress	for	herself.

In P 19 above sentences are as follows:-

1. I gave my friend the money.

6. I owe my tailor ten pounds.

8. Bring me that book.

9. I bought my brother some books.

11. Did you leave me any? etc.

Group B

	Subject x Verb	Direct Object	Prep.	Prepositional Object
1	Thank	you	for	your kind help.
2	Ask	him	for	some more.
3	Compare	this	with	that.
4	They punished	him	for	being late.
5	Congratulate	him	on	his success.
6	Don’t throw	stones	at	the dog.
7	What prevented	you	from	coming?
8	Add	this	to	what you already have.
9	Protect	us	from	the enemy.
10	I explained	my difficulty	to	him.

This pattern, in this order, is always used when the direct object is a personal pronoun, as in examples 1, 2, 4, 5, 7, and 9 above. In some case, however, the direct object may come at the end of the sentence, the order being Prep. x Prepositional Object x Direct Object instead of Direct Object x Prep. x Prepositional Object. This inversion is often required (a) for clearness of meaning; (b) for emphasis of the direct object.

Examples:-

1. We heard from Jones all about his sister’s escape. (Inversion is necessary for clearness of meaning. His sister’s escape from Jones is something quite different.)

2. I explained to everyone in the room that nothing could be done until the following week. (Inversion if necessary for clearness of meaning.)

3. Add the examples I have written on the blackboard to what you already have (or) Add to what you already have the examples I have written on the blackboard. (Either is possible. Inversion makes the direct object more prominent.)

4. Don’t throw stones at the dog. Don’t throw at the dog anything that might hurt him. (In the second sentence inversion is necessary for clearness; the antecedent dog precedes him.)

Pattern 19

Verbs marked P 19 may be followed by two objects, an indirect and a direct. The pattern is subdivided. In Group A are those verbs which may be used with the preposition to (P 18A). In Group B are those verbs which may be used with the preposition for (also P 18A). In Group C are those verbs which are rarely or never used in P 18. (The few exceptions are noted in the verb entries.)

Examples:-

Group A

	Subject x Verb	Indirect Object	Direct Object
1	Have they paid	you	the money?
2	Will you lend	me	five shillings?
3	Our teacher gave	us	an English lesson.
4	I read	him	the letter.
5	Please throw	me	that book.
6	His mother told	him	a story.
7	He handed	me	the book.
8	The pupils wished	their teacher	“Good morning”
9	He denies	her	nothing.

Group B

	Subject x Verb	Indirect Object	Direct Object
1	She made	herself	a cup of tea.
2	Her father bought	her	a new dress.
3	Buy	me	one.
4	Did you leave	me	any?
5	She ordered	herself	a new dress.
6	Will you do	me	a favour?
7	Can you spare	me	one?
8	Can you get	me	a copy of that book?

Group C

(rarely or never convertible into P 18)

	Subject x Verb	First Object	Second Object
1	I envy	you	your fine garden.
2	Forgive	us	our sins.
3	That will save	me	a great deal of trouble.
4	I struck	him	a heavy blow.
5	He asked	me	a question.

Note that in this case the term direct and indirect object have been avoided. The verb strike, for example, is usually described as taking a “double object”. Ask, in example 5, is sometimes used in P 18B with the preposition of (to ask a question of someone).

Pattern 20

Verbs marked P 20 may be followed by a complement expressing duration, distance, price or weight. The preposition for is used with some of the verbs in this pattern but is often omitted.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	(for) Complement
1	We walked	(for) five miles.
2	They had come	a long way.
3	The forests stretched	(for) miles and miles.
4	The rain lasted	all day.
5	He may live	(for) many years yet.
6	We waited	(for) two hours.
7	It weighs	five tons.
8	The thermometer went up	ten degrees.
9	It coast	ten shillings.
10	Will you stay	(for) the night?

Pattern 21

Verbs marked P 21 may be used without t a complement. Such verbs are called complete intransitive verbs. Some verbs which are normally used with an object may also be used in this pattern, the object being understood.

Examples:-

	Subject	Verb
1	Fire	burns.
2	Birds	fly.
3	We all	breathe, eat and drink.
4	The moon	rose.
5	The sun	was shining.

Pattern 22

Verbs marked P 22 are followed by a predicative word or phrase. The predicative is that part of an ordinary sentence which follows the verb and gives information about the subject of the sentence. The predicative may be an adjective phrase, noun, pronoun, or determinative.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Predicative
1	This is	a book.
2	This book is	mine.
3	That will be	plenty.
4	Please get	reedy to start.
5	The weather has become	warmer.
6	The leaves have turned	red.
7	it feels	soft.
8	The plan proved	useless (of no use).
9	The results are	what we expected.
10	His dream come	true.

Pattern 23

Verbs marked P 23 are followed by an adverbial adjunct.

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Adverbial Adjunct
1	Stand	up!
2	We must turn	back.
3	The sun rises	in the east.
4	We did not go	anywhere.
5	He will come	as soon as he is ready.
6	A chair will not stand	on two legs.

Note that in sentences in which there is used as a formal (preparatory or anticipatory) subject, P 23 is used.

E.g. There is a book on the desk.

Pattern 24

Verbs marked P 24 may be followed by a preposition and a prepositional object (which may be a noun, pronoun, gerund, phrase or clause)

Examples:-

	Subject x Verb	Prep.	Prepositional Object
1	He called	on	me.
2	It depends	on	the weather.
3	He succeeded	in	solving the problem.
4	I rely	on	your help.
5	Look	at	the blackboard.
6	He believes	in	getting up early.
7	I should not think	of	doing such a thin.

Pattern 25

Verbs marked P 25 are intransitive verbs which may, in some or all of their semantic varieties, be followed by to and an infinitives. (Cf. P 2 for transitive verbs used in this way.)

The pattern is subdivided. In Group A the infinitive is one of purpose. In Group B the infinitive may be considered to be part of the subject. (Thus:-“She to notice it happened.”) In Group C the infinitive is one of result. In Group D the infinitive is predicative.

Group A

	Subject x Verb	to x Infinitive
1	He come	(in order) to see me.
2	We stopped	to have a rest.
3	I come	to bury Caesar, not praise him.
4	The motor-car has come	to stay.
5	I am waiting	to hear your opinion.

Group B

	Subject x Verb	to x Infinitive
1	She happened	to notice it.
2	They seemed	not to notice it.
3	They failed	to hear our call.
4	He appeared	to enjoy the film.
5	I fail	to see any good reason for it.

Group C

	Subject x Verb	to x Infinitive
1	How can I get	to know her?
2	How did you come	to know him?
3	Now (that) I come	to think of it, …
4	He come	to see that he was mistaken.
5	He lived	to be ninety.
6	I rejoice	to hear of your success.

Group D

	Subject x Verb	to x Infinitive
1	This house is	to let.
2	The worst is still	to come.
3	We are	to start at once.
4	A good result is	not to be expected.
5	They were	to arrive during the morning.

1 Appendix I reproduced upon permission of the compilers and publishers, from the “Idiomatic and Syntactic English Dictionary” compiled by A. S. Hornby, E. V. Gatenby, and A. H. Wakefield, and published by Kaitakusha, Tokyo, 1942