Verb Patterns

Verb patterns are the different ways ( or patterns) that verbs are going to be, when placed together. This happens when a verb follows the other, so the form of the second verb, will depend on the first one.

From http://www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice/learningenglish/ , I extracted some patterns, but here, we will focus on verb + ing, and verb + infinitive.

Accordingly to BBC's site, we have, among others, the following patterns:

Verb + to + verb:

"(...) you don't understand/
How it feels to love a girl someday (...)".

If I were a boy, Beyoncé.

Verb + verb + ing:

"(...)We must stop pretending(...)" Tina Tuner, I don't WannaFight

Verb + preposition + verb +ing

"When Should I Think About Doing a PIA?" http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pgol-pged/piatp-pfefvp/course1/mod4/mod4-2-eng.asp

Verb + object + verb:

"Something has to make you run."

Norah Jones, Don't know why.

Some verbs change their meaning, if they change their patterns. We listed here some examples:

Eg.: like, hate, regret. I like to do = I think it is a good idea to do this I like doing = I enjoy the activity. It gives me pleasure I hate to do= I am sorry to do I hate doing = I do not like this I regret to do- I am sorry to do I regret doing- I did, in the past, and I am sorry that I did that. Remember to do = obligation Remember doing = past event Try to do= something attempted,which might fail or succeed Try doing= making an experiment or new experience. To be continued ...