14 structures · CEFR A2–B2
English verb patterns
When one verb follows another, English decides between "to go", "going" and plain "go", and the choice belongs to the FIRST verb, not to the second. Want takes "to", enjoy takes "-ing", and make takes neither. There is no rule that predicts it, which is exactly why it has to be learned as a pattern per verb rather than reasoned out mid-sentence.
Common verb patterns mistakes
Every one of these is a sentence Indian-English speakers genuinely produce — not a textbook example.
| Commonly said | Correct English |
|---|---|
I enjoy to read. | I enjoy reading. "Enjoy" always takes -ing. Gerunds & infinitives → |
Please switch off it. | Please switch it off. A pronoun goes in the middle, not at the end. Phrasal verbs → |
I cut my hair yesterday. | I had my hair cut yesterday. Unless you cut it yourself, use "had it cut". Causatives (have it done) → |
I decided going by train. | I decided to go by train. "Decide" takes "to", not -ing. Verb + to + verb → |
He suggested to go early. | He suggested going early. "Suggest" takes -ing — this is one of the commonest slips at work. Verb + -ing → |
I stopped to smoke last year — I am much healthier now. | I stopped smoking last year — I am much healthier now. "Stopped to smoke" means you paused in order to smoke; quitting is "stopped smoking". stop doing or stop to do? → |
I want that you come early. | I want you to come early. English says "want you to come" — "want that" is a direct translation from Hindi. want somebody to do something → |
She let me to use her phone. | She let me use her phone. "Let" never takes "to" — but "allowed me to use" would be correct. make / let / help → |
All 14 verb patterns structures
Grouped by CEFR band so you can start where you actually are, rather than at the top.
A2 · Everyday
3 structures at this level.
B1 · Independent
5 structures at this level.
- Gerunds & infinitivesB1Know whether to say "to go" or "going"
- Phrasal verbsB1Use the two-word verbs people actually say
- want somebody to do somethingB1Say what you want somebody else to do
- make / let / helpB1Say somebody made you or let you do something
- Verbs that need an objectB1Stop leaving a verb hanging without its object
B2 · Confident
6 structures at this level.
- Causatives (have it done)B2Say you had something done for you
- stop doing or stop to do?B2Say exactly what you mean with the trickiest verbs
- I saw him go / goingB2Report what you saw or heard, precisely
- have somebody do itB2Say you arranged for a person to do something
- turn it off, look after itB2Know where the object goes in a phrasal verb
- be used to / get used toB2Say you have grown accustomed to something
Dimmed tiles are structures whose example bank is still being written. The explanation and the mistake are there; the sentences are not, yet.
Reading it is not the same as saying it.
CoCap turns verb patterns into practice you can actually do: a Hindi sentence, your English answer, and one correction at a time.
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