EVOLVE Educational Vocational Objective Learning of Vernacular English

Verb + Verb Collocations

With certain main verbs it is possible to add a second main verb to the same clause to clarify meaning. The second verb is usually used in the gerund ‘doing’ form or the full infinitive ‘to do’ form. These verbs have been grouped together to help you to learn them.

Gerund Form – This group has been divided into four sub-groups, start verbs, stop verbs, impulse verbs and emotional verbs.

‘Start’ Verbs:

start                  go on                keep                 keep on           carry on

delay                 postpone           put off

Examples:
The children started talking when the teacher left the classroom.

We can’t go on living like this.

Why does she keep laughing?

Andrew keeps on working without a break.

Carry on studying!

We can’t delay moving house.

The cricketers postponed playing the match.

He put off doing his exercises until the last minute.

‘Stop’ Verbs:

stop                  finish                give up 

Examples:
I couldn’t stop dancing!

Has she finished getting ready?

He should give up smoking.

‘Impulse’ Verbs:

fancy                imagine             consider            avoid

Examples:
I don’t fancy meeting him on a dark night!

Can you imagine being able to play piano like that?

Shall we consider investing in a business?

Carl should avoid working too hard.

‘Emotional’ verbs:

            admit                deny                 miss                 risk                   involve              practice

Examples:
The politician admitted telling the media about the problem.

Charles denied taking the money.

I miss seeing you.

You shouldn’t risk telling anyone about your business idea.

The project involves working late.

You should practice speaking English with your classmates.

Task 1
Organise these verbs into one of the four groups

Start	Stop	Emotion	Impulse
keep on     consider     risk     finish     avoid     involve      deny      imagine     give up     stop fancy     admit     postpone     practice      miss     put off     carry on     delay     go on

Full Infinitive Form – This group has been divided into five sub-groups: questions with ‘wh’, planning verbs, possibility verbs, ability verbs and untrue verbs.

‘Planning’ Verbs:

            plan                  offer                  agree                refuse               decide              

arrange             promise             forget

Examples:
The company planned to expand.

Sheila offered to help me with my work.

I didn’t agree to do that!

They will refuse to let that happen.

Alan decided to go for a walk.

We should arrange to start as soon as possible.

We promised to help our father move house.

I forgot to call you.

‘Possibility’ Verbs:

            hope                 aim                   deserve             threaten            attempt

            seem                appear

Examples:
One day I hope to travel the world.

We should aim to pass the exam with good results.

I think our son deserves to have a party.

My boss threatened to cut my pay.

I will attempt to learn mechanics thoroughly.

Malcom always seems to be tired these days.

She didn’t appear to understand my point of view.

 ‘Ability’ Verbs:

            learn                 afford                fail                    manage tend

Examples:
He can learn to do anything he wants.

I can’t afford to catch the busses in this city.

We can’t fail to impress our manager.

Did you manage to wash all of the dishes?

My brother tends to think he is better than most people.

‘Untrue’ Verbs:

            pretend             claim

Examples:
We pretended to know the answer (but we didn’t).

He claimed to be the King’s first born son.

Questions with ‘wh’ – these verbs are followed by ‘wh’ adverbs and then the full infinitive:

            ask                   decide               know                 remember         forget   

            explain              learn                 understand        wonder

Examples:
He asked me how to do this exercise.

We decided when to take our holiday.

They don’t know where to go.

I can’t remember how to sing that song.

Don’t forget when to meet us!

Ray can explain what to do.

I learnt how to play guitar when I was 15 years old.

I don’t understand how to use these words.

I wonder where I put my keys.

 Task 2
Organise these verbs into groups

Planning	Possibility	Ability	Untrue	Questions
explain      know      wonder      pretend      afford      manage      threaten      appear      seem plan      refuse      promise     agree      aim      decide

Task 3
Put a verb that fits into these sentences in the correct form

Task 4
Decide whether to put the gerund or the full infinitive of the following verbs in these sentences

send      ask      impress      smoke      use      do      work      go crash      move      help      steal      answer      shout       walk       make

1. Carol keeps                                                   me about the party.