B2 · Verb Patterns — Lesson

Verb patterns at B2

B2 builds on A2/B1 by adding more complex patterns: verb + object + infinitive, verb + preposition + gerund, and report verbs with their own structures.

Verb + to-infinitive

decide, agree, promise, refuse, manage, fail, hope, expect, seem

Verb + gerund

enjoy, avoid, miss, deny, mind, suggest, finish, consider, imagine

Verb + object + to-infinitive

tell, ask, want, advise, encourage, persuade, force, warn, remind

Verb + object + bare infinitive

make, let, help (also possible with "to")

Verb + preposition + gerund

Critical B2 pattern — preposition forces -ing form

accuse of + -ing

She accused him of lying.

apologise for + -ing

He apologised for being late.

insist on + -ing

She insisted on paying the bill.

succeed in + -ing

He succeeded in passing the exam.

prevent (someone) from + -ing

The rain prevented us from going.

look forward to + -ing

I look forward to hearing from you.

Reporting verbs with their patterns

Each reporting verb has its own structure

admit + -ing

She admitted stealing the money.

deny + -ing

He denied taking the keys.

promise + to-inf

She promised to call.

refuse + to-inf

He refused to answer.

offer + to-inf

She offered to help.

threaten + to-inf

He threatened to leave.

suggest + -ing / that

She suggested going early. / She suggested that we leave early.

Causative patterns: make / let / have / get

make + obj + bare inf

They made him apologise. (forced)

let + obj + bare inf

She let me leave early. (allowed)

have + obj + bare inf

I'll have someone fix it. (arrange)

get + obj + to-inf

I'll get him to help us. (persuade)

have something done

I had my hair cut. (someone else did it)

Common mistakes

She accused him to lie.

→

She accused him of lying.

accuse + of + -ing

He admitted to steal the money.

→

He admitted stealing the money.

admit + -ing (not infinitive)

She made me to apologise.

→

She made me apologise.

make + object + bare infinitive

I look forward to hear from you.

→

I look forward to hearing from you.

"to" = preposition → -ing

Recap

Patterns

verb + to / verb + -ing / verb + obj + to / verb + obj + bare

memorise per verb

Prep + -ing

accuse of, apologise for, insist on, succeed in

always -ing after preposition

Reporting

admit/deny + -ing · promise/refuse + to-inf

she admitted stealing / promised to call

Causative

make/let + bare · get + to · have + obj + done

made him go / had my hair cut

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