Verb Pattern for IELTS

The Verb Pattern in English means what comes after the Verb used in a Sentence. In other words, what follows the verb forms part of the Verb Pattern based on which the meaning of a sentence is decided. Candidates preparing for IELTS must be familiar with different sentence patterns in English.

A Verb can have several patterns like some verbs are followed by nothing, some are followed by an object or a preposition while others are followed by a different Verb altogether. The Verb Pattern depends upon the first Verb. It’s important to note that one Verb can have more than one pattern, where, depending upon the pattern, the same verb will have a different meaning or usage.

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Any Clause in the English language, generally, has two parts – Noun Phrase (subject part) and Verb Phrase. The verb phrase of any clause contributes to formation of Verb Pattern and since different Verbs have different patterns, the structure of the Clause heavily depends upon them.

Types of Verb Pattern 

Verb Pattern, depending on what comes after, can be divided into following types –

1. Intransitive Verb

Intransitive Verbs are those verbs whose usage doesn’t allow for an object to be present in the sentence or Clause. The common identification of such Verbs is that they cannot be followed by Who or What.

In Intransitive Verb patterns, a sentence is still grammatical even if the verb is not followed by any Adverbial or Prepositional phrase.

So, in a sentence this verb pattern looks like: Subject + Verb.

For example:

2. Transitive Verb

Transitive Verbs are those verbs which when used in a sentence/ clause are always followed by an object which qualifies them. So, transitive verbs are action verbs that require a minimum of one direct object to, grammatically, make sense.

Sentences with a Transitive Verb pattern can be turned into passive sentences as their direct object will become the subject.

So, in a Sentence this Verb Pattern looks like: Subject + Verb + direct Object

For example:

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3. Ergative Verbs

Ergative verbs are those which can be used as a Transitive Verb as well as an Intransitive Verb. So, when the verb is transitive it has a direct object and that same direct object becomes the subject when the verb is intransitive.

The sentence structure of Ergative Verb has following two forms-

• Transitive Form: Subject + Verb + direct Object
• Intransitive Form: Subject (direct Object) + Verb

For example:

Note: Verbs denoting cooking and actions related to vehicles are often Ergative.

More examples of Ergative verbs include – fly, start, stop, break, finish, increase, improve etc.

4. Link Verbs

Link Verbs are those verbs that are followed by either a Noun or an Adjective.

Sentence structure of Link Verbs has two forms –

• Followed by a Noun: Subject + Verb + Noun
• Followed by an Adjective: Subject + Verb + Adjective

Common Link Verbs are – appear, feel, become etc.

There are some Link Verbs that will be followed by an Adjective but never a Noun and they are – go, grow, taste, smell etc.

For example:

5. Multi-word Verbs

Two-parts Verbs

Some verbs are called two-part verbs because they are always followed by a Particle. This combination of the verb and the particle gives the verb a whole new meaning.

Verbs + Particles together are known as Two-part verbs. For example,

• Grow [Verb] + Up [Particle] = Grow up [two-part Verb]
• Cut [Verb] + Off [Particle] = Cut-off [two-part verb]

The sentence structure of such verbs can have several patterns like:

• Subject + Verb + Particle + Object (Optional)
• Subject + Verb + Object + Particle [this form is always used when the object is a personal pronoun]. Some Verbs follow both patterns while others follow the first one only.

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For example:

Here “grown out” and “can count on” are the two-part verbs that follow the first form only.

Three-part Verbs

They are the verbs followed by two particles. So, Verb + Particle + Particle is a three-part Verb.

For example:

6. Double Object Verbs

These verbs have two objects – indirect object and direct object.

Their clause structure is: Verb + Indirect Object + Direct Object

For example:

An alternative clause structure of Double Object Verb is: Verb + Direct Object + Prepositional Phrase (To/For + Indirect Object)

For example:

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7. Verbs followed by an Infinitive

These verbs are followed by a to and an infinitive. They have several patterns like:

• Subject + Verb + to + Infinitive +Object

For example: He went to buy Milk.

• Subject + Verb + Noun + to + Infinitive + Object

For example: He sent Roshan to bring pencils

• Subject + Verb + Noun + Infinitive + Object [“make” and “let” are the only verbs that follow this pattern]

For example: They made me do my homework.

8. Verbs followed by an -ing (gerund) form

These are the Verbs that rate followed by another verb in its -ing form. They have several patterns and uses:

• Subject + Verb + Verb(-ing) + Object [Optional]

For example: This pattern is used in following cases -

• I like singing but I hate dancing. [to express like and dislike]
• She imagined being in Paris. [verbs of saying and thinking follow this pattern]
• I wouldn’t mind singing on the Stage. [the phrases that use “mind” follow this pattern]

• Subject + Verb + Noun + Verb(-ing) + Object [Optional]

For example: I could hear the leaves rustling behind the door.

9. Reporting Verbs with that, wh- and if clauses

Reporting verbs are used to report what people have said. Their most common use is found in Indirect Speeches. They follow several patterns like –

Reporting Verb with ‘that’ Clause: here the verb is followed by a that and it has following patterns –

• Subject + Verb + That + Clause

For example: I thought that he had to see the Opera

• Subject + Verb + Direct Object + That + Clause [here the “hearer” can be mentioned as the direct object]

For example: She told him that he was being silly.

Reporting Verb with wh- Clause: here the verbs are followed by a wh- word, they have following pattern –

• Subject + Verb + Wh- Word + Clause

For example: I know what to do.

• Subject + Verb + Object + Wh- Word + Clause [“hearer” can be mentioned as object here]

For example: I asked him where to go.

Reporting Verb with an if Clause: here the verb is flowed by the word ‘if’ and has following patterns –

• Subject + Verb + If + Clause

For example: She enquired if we understood the poem

• Subject + Verb + Object + If + Clause

For example: He asked her if there was any problem.

10. Negatives

The use of not after the first verb will make the second verb negative.

For example: I do not study at night.

I enjoy not taking long walks.