English Patterns
1. Missing Main Verb
• Remember that every English sentence must have a
subject and a main verb. (A sentence may or may not
have an auxiliary verb.)
S
The sound of the dryer
Arizona
She
V
bothers
has
is
Complement
my concentration.
a very dry climate.
in the her office.
2. Verbs that require an infinitive in the
complement.
• Remember that the following verbs require an infinitive
for a verb in the complement.
agree
demand
intend
prepare
wait
Ex:
decide
hope
plan
threaten
consent
hesitate
offer
tend
claim
forget
need
seem
ask
fail
mean
refuse appear
arrange deserve
expect learn
manage pretend
promise want
-He wanted to speak with me.
-We demand to know our status.
-They didn’t plan to buy a car.
-The weather tends to improve in May.
3. Verbs that require an –ing form in the
complement.
• The following verbs require an –ing from for a verb in the
complement.
admit
complete
avoid
delay
keep
quit
miss
recall
understand
EX:
deny
appreciate
enjoy finish
stop
mention
suggest tolerate
consider
practice
recall
postpone
discuss
risk
suggest
regret
He enjoys traveling by plane.
She is considering not going.
I miss watching the news when I am traveling.
She mentions stopping at EI Paso in her letter.
4. Verbs phrase that require an –ing form in
the complement.
approve of
be better off
can’t help
count on
Ex:
do not mind
forget about
get through
insist to
keep on
look forward to
object to
think of
She forgot about canceling her appointment.
Let’s go to the movie when you get though studying.
We can’t help wondering why she left.
I have been looking forward to seeing it.
We wouldn’t mind waiting.
5. Problems with Used to and Be used to
Consider the following examples:
- He used to live in the country.
- He was used to living in the country.
- She was used to getting up early.
- She was used to speaking in public.
- I used to have a remarkable car.
6. Problem with ‘Had better’ and
‘Would rather’
• Remember that had better and would rather are similar to a
modal. Although had appears to be a past, had better expressed
advice for the future, would rather expressed preference in
present and future time.
S
had better
verb word (V.1)
Ex:
- You had better take Chemistry 600 this semester.
- You had better not go to a movie this weekend.
- Greg would rather have a Pepsi than a beer.
- If you don’t mind, I would rather not go.
- She told me that she’d rather not serve on the committee.
7. Problem with ‘would rather that’
• It introduces a clause.
S
–
–
–
–
would
rather
that
S
V (past)
I would rather that you drove.
I would rather that you didn’t drive.
I would rather that you didn’t do that.
Diane would rather that her husband didn’t work so
hard.
8. Problem with Negative
Imperatives
• Compare two sentences below:
– Please don’t tell anyone.
– Would you please not tell anyone.
– Please don’t be late.
– Would you please not worry.
– Would you please not smoke.
Note: Avoid using don’t after would you please.
9. Problem with causatives
• Causatives are main verbs that cause people or
machines to do things or cause things to
change. They are listed below in order of the
most forceful to the least forceful.
• Make
• Get
• Have
• Let
• Help
MAKE
• The person cause it to happen by forcing
another person to do it.
S
MAKE
SOMEONE
VERB
WORD
His mother
made
him
take
S
MAKE
SOMETHING
VERB
WORD
I
made
the machine
work
his
medicine.
GET
• A person doesn’t perform an action directly.
S
GET
SOMEONE
INFINITIVE
Let’s
get
Ann
to go
S
GET
Let’s
get
with us.
SOMETHING PARTICIPLE
our car
fixed
first.
HAVE
• A person doesn’t perform an action directly.
S
HAVE
SOMEONE
VERB WORD
My teacher
had
us
give
S
HAVE
SOMETHING
PARTICIPLE
I
want to
have
this book
renewed,
oral report.
please.
LET
• A person gives permission for another to do it.
S
LET
SOMEONE
VERB WORD
His mother
let
him
go
S
LET
SOMETHING
VERB WORD
I
am letting
this machine
cool.
to school.
HELP
• A person assists another person to do it.
S
HELP
He
He
is helping
is helping
VERB
SOMEONE WORD /
INFINITVE
me
me
type
to type
my paper.
my paper.
10. Problem with Subjunctive Verbs
• Some verbs and noun require a subjunctive. A
subjunctive is a change in the usual form of the
verb. It is often a verb word (V.1) in English.
These verbs are used before THAT.
advise command decree (บัญชา),
demand desire
insist
move
maintain
order
pray
prefer
propose
recommend request require
stipulate (ระบุ), suggest, urge (กระตุน)
้
• Study the examples below: (V. + that)
– They prefer that I not serve them anything
alcoholic. (อยากให้เป็ นวา…มากกว
า)
่
่
– He recommended that she go with him.
– My employer insists that I be on time.
– I suggested that he go to the game.
– The regulation requires that everyone who
holds a non-immigrant visa report his address
to the federal government in January of each
year. (กาหนดวาต
่ อง)
้
– We advised our children that they be hardworking in their school subjects and put forth
their best efforts. (แนะนาวาควร)
่
– I propose that the vote be secret ballot.
It is + adj. + that
• It is advisable that…เป็ นการสมควรทีว่ า่
• It is better that…เป็ นการดีทวี่ า่
• It is crucial that…จาเป็ นอยางยิ
ง่ ทีว่ า่
่
• It is desirable that…เป็ นการสมควรทีว่ า่
• It is essential that…เป็ นการจาเป็ นทีว่ า่
• It is imperative that…เป็ นการรีบดวนที
ว่ า่
่
• It is important that…เป็ นการสาคัญทีว่ า่
• It is necessary that…เป็ นการจาเป็ นทีวา่
• It is preferable that…เป็ นการดีกวาที
่ ว่ า่
• It is resolved that…ลงมติวา่
• It is right that…เป็ นการถูกตองที
ว่ า่
้
• It is strange that…เป็ นการแปลกทีว่ า่
• It is urgent that…เป็ นการดวนที
ว่ า่
่
Ex: The librarian said that it was important that I return this book
immediately.
It is essential that she have her physical check up done very
month.
Nouns derived from Subjunctive verbs.
•
•
•
•
demand recommendation
insistence
request
preference
requirement
proposal suggestion
– The recommendation that we be evaluated was
approved.
– He complied with the requirement that all students in
education write a thesis.
– She ignored the suggestion that she get more
exercise.
– The terrorist’s demand that the airline provide a plane
will not be met by deadline.
– He regretted not having followed the advisor’s
recommendation that he drop the class.
Impersonal Expressions
• Remember that the following adjectives are used in impersonal
expressions.
essential
important
imperative
necessary
Ex:
-It is important to verify the data.
-It is important that the data be verified.
-It is imperative that your signature appear on your ID
card.
-It is imperative to sign your ID card.
-It is necessary that you be on time.
-It is necessary to be on time.