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Verb patterns
For anyone who is learning to speak or write correct English, the most important word in a sentence is the verb. For this reason the compilers of the Dictionary have paid particular attention to verb patterns. These show the learner how to use verbs to form correct sentences.
A person learning English as a foreign language may be tempted to form sentences by analogy. For example, he hears or sees such sentences as Please tell me the meaning and Please show me the way (an indirect object followed by a direct object). By analogy he forms the incorrect sentence *Please explain me the meaning (instead of Please explain the meaning to me). He hears or sees such sentences as I intend to come, I propose to come, and I want to come, and by analogy he forms the incorrect sentences as *I suggest to come (instead of I suggest that I should come). He hears or sees such sentences as I asked him to come, I told him to come, and I wanted him to come, and by analogy he forms such incorrect sentences as *I proposed 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 the same as He began talking about the matter and supposes, wrongly, that He stopped to talk about the matter means the same as He stopped talking about the matter.
To help the learner to avoid such mistakes, the compilers of the Dictionary have provided a set of tables in which various Verb Patterns are set out with examples. Each pattern has a numbered code (for example, [VP5], [VP6A], [VP21]), and this provides a link between the tables and the verb entries in the Dictionary, because every verb entry has its own code (or several codes if there are several meanings).
A few examples will show how the learner can refer from the [VP] codes in entries to the [VP] tables in the Introduction. One of the patterns given in the Dictionary for congratulate is [VP14], and this verb is also used in one of the examples in the [VP] table for [VP14]: We congratulated him on his success. The pattern provided for the second meaning of consider is [VP6A]. If the learner turns to that table he will find several examples based on that pattern, for example We all enjoyed the film. This will help him to form a correct sentence with consider in [VP6A], for example He considered the problem.
Sometimes extra information is given in an entry to help the learner to learn the right pattern. For example, in the entry for absolve, he will find the verb + preposition ~ (from), placed after the codes [VP6A,14]. This shows that the verb can be used as in absolve a man from a vow. In the entry for accede there are the codes [VP2A, 3A], followed by ~ (to), showing that the verb may be used as in accede to a proposal.
It is important to note that the learner is not expected to memorize these verb patterns. They are a simple reference system, a practical tool to guide the learner who wants to form correct sentences. They are a way of helping the learner who will benefit from a list of the grammatical rules that underlie the different sorts of example sentences that are given in the entries for verbs.
A full treatment of these verb patterns is found in Guide to Patterns and Usage in English, by A.S. Hornby (Oxford University Press).
Note: The use of the asterisk * indicates that the phrase or sentence is an example of incorrect usage.
.*
[VP 1]
This pattern is for the verb be. The subject complement may be a noun, a pronoun, an adjective, an adjective phrase (eg. a prepositional group). There may be an adverbial adjunct or an infinitive phrase.
Subject + BE subject complement/adjunct 1. This is a book. 2. This suitcase is mine. 3. The children are asleep. 4. This book is for you. 5. This is where I work.
There are variations with introductory there/it.
There/It + BE subject 1. There was a large crowd. 2. It was impossible to go further. 3. It was a pity the weather was so bad.
[VP 2]
A组: This pattern is for verbs which may be used without a complement. Such verbs are called
complete intransitive verbs. Adjuncts are possible but not essential.
Subject vi.
1. We all breathe, drink and eat. 2. The moon rose. 3. A period of political unrest followed.
There are variations with introductory there/it.
1. There followed a long period of political unrest. 2. It doesn’t matter whether we start now or later.
That-clauses are possible after seem, appear, happen, chance and follow.
1. It seemed (that) the day would never end. 2. It so chanced/happened (that) we were out when she called. 3. It doesn’t follow (that) they are husband and wife.
B组: Verbs in this pattern are used with an adverbial adjunct of distance, duration, weight, cost,
etc. For may occur before adverbials of distance and duration. An indirect object may occur after cost, last and take (meaning ‘require’).
Subject + vi. (for) + adverbial adjunct 1. We walked (for) five miles. 2. The meeting lasted (for) two hours. 3. The book cost (me) ￡1.20. 4. This box weighs five kilos.
C组: Many intransitive verbs are used with an adverbial adjunct (including an adverbial particle
alone, or an adverbial particle followed by a preposition).
Subject + vi. adverbial adjunct 1. Go away!
.*
2. Please come in.
3. I’ll soon catch up with you. 4. It’s getting on for midnight. 5. It looks like rain/as if it were going to rain.
D组: Verbs in this pattern are followed by an adjective, a noun or, in the case of a reflexive verb,
a pronoun. Inchoative verbs (eg. become, come, get) and verbs of the senses (eg. smell, taste, feel) are among the many verbs used in this pattern.
Subject + vi. adjective/noun/pronoun 1. Her dreams have come true. 2. The fire has burnt low. 3. She married young. 4. He died a millionaire. 5. Later he became an acrobat. 6. You’re not looking yourself.
E组: In this pattern the predicative adjunct is a present participle.
Subject + vi. present participle 1. She lay smiling at me. 2. Do you like to go dancing?
3. The children came running to meet us.
[VP3]
A组: Verbs in this pattern are followed by a preposition and its object (which may be a noun,
pronoun, gerund, phrase, or clause). The verb and preposition function as a unit.
Subject + vi. preposition + noun/pronoun 1. You may rely on that man/his discretion/his being discreet. 2. Can I count on your help? 3. What has happened to them?
An infinitive phrase may follow the noun/pronoun.
1. We’re waiting for our new car to be delivered. 2. I rely on you to be discreet. 3. She pleaded with the judge to have mercy.
B组: The preposition is omitted before a that-clause, thus producing the same word order as in
[VP9] (for transitive verbs).
He insisted on his innocence. [VP3A] He insisted that he was innocent. [VP3B] Cf. He declared that he was innocent. [VP9]
The preposition may be retained if its object is a dependent question, or if a preceding ‘preposition + it’ construction is used. Subject + vi. (preposition<+ it>) clause 1. I agree that it was a mistake. 2. You must see (to it) that this sort of thing never occurs again. 3. I hesitated (about) whether to accept your offer. 4. Have you decided (upon) where you will go for your holidays?
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5. Don’t worry (about) how the money was lost.
[VP4]
A组: In this pattern the verb is followed by a to-infinitive of purpose, outcome, or result.
Subject + vi. to-infinitive 1. We stopped to rest/to have a rest. 2. How did you come to know her? 3. Will he live to be ninety? 4. Someone has called to see you.
B组: The infinitive may be equivalent to a co-ordinate clause.
Subject + vi. to-infinitive
1. He awoke to find the house on fire. 2. The good old days have gone never to return. 3. Electronic music has clearly come to stay. 4. He looked round to see the door slowly opening.
C组: The infinitive adjunct is used after some verbs which, in [VP3A], are used with prepositions.
Don’t trouble/bother about that. Don’t trouble/bother to meet me.
Subject + vi. to-infinitive 1. She hesitated to tell anyone.
2. She was longing to see her family again. 3. He agreed to come at once.
D组: The verbs seem and appear are used in this pattern. If the infinitive is be with an adjective
or noun as complement, to be may be omitted (unless the adjective is one that is used only predicatively, as in [VP4E]).
Subject + SEEM/APPEAR (to be) + adjective/noun 1. He seemed (to be) surprised at the news. 2. This seems (to be) a serious matter. 3. I seem (to be) unable to enjoy myself.
There is a variation of this pattern with introductory it, when the subject is an infinitive or gerund, or a clause.
It + SEEM/APPEAR adjective/noun subject 1. It seemed reasonable to try again. 2. It seems a pity to waste all that food. 3. It doesn’t seem much use going on. 4. It appears unlikely that we’ll arrive on time.
E组: If the adjective after seem/appear is used only predicatively (eg. awake, asleep, afraid), to
be is obligatory. Happen and chance are also used in this pattern. Subject + SEEM/APPEAR/HAPPEN/CHANCE to-infinitive 1. The baby seems to be asleep/to be sleeping. 2. My enquiries seem to have been resented. 3. She happened to be out when I called.
.*
4. We chanced to meet in the park. 5. There seems to have been some mistake.
F组: The finites of be are used with a to-infinitive to convey a variety of meanings, 见be4(3)
Subject + BE to-infinitive 1. We’re to be married in May. 2. At what time am I to come? 3. How am I to pay my debts?
[VP5]
In this pattern the auxiliary verbs or anomalous finites will/would, shall/should, can/could, must,
dare, need are followed by a bare infinitive (ie. without to). The phrases had better, had/would rather and would sooner fit into this pattern.
Subject + anomalous finite infinitive 1. You may leave now. 2. You needn’t wait. 3. You’ll find it in that box. 4. I didn’t dare tell anyone. 5. You’d better start at once.
[VP6]
A组: The verbs in this pattern have a noun or pronoun as direct object. Conversion to the
passive voice is possible.
Subject + vt. noun/pronoun 1. Did you enjoy the film? 2. We all had a good time. 3. Everyone likes her.
B组: The verbs in this pattern have a noun or pronoun as direct object, but conversion to the
passive voice is not possible. Have, meaning ‘possess/take/eat/drink’, follows this pattern. Reflexive verbs, and verbs with cognate objects, follow this pattern.
Subject + vt. noun/pronoun 1. Have you had breakfast yet? 2. She has green eyes. 3. Have you hurt yourself? 4. She smiled her thanks. 5. He dreamed a very odd dream.
C组: In this pattern the object is a gerund, not replaceable by a to-infinitive.
Subject + vt. gerund 1. She enjoys playing tennis. 2. Have you finished talking? 3. I resent being spoken to so rudely.
D组: In this pattern the object is a gerund. This may be replaced by a to-infinitive. For the
difference between like swimming and like to swim, see the notes on [VP6D] in Guide to Patterns and Usage.
英语动词25种句型
