5 Types of English Verb + Verb Combinations

Many students get confused when there are two consecutive verbs in a sentence – what form does the second verb take? This lesson will show you five types of verb + verb combinations with example sentences.

If you want to practice more, try creating your own example sentence for each verb in the tables!

#1 – English Verbs + -ING Form

avoid	deny	finish	regret
be/get used to	dislike	imagine	risk
can’t help	don’t mind	look forward to	spend time
can’t stand	enjoy	practice	stop
consider	feel like	recommend	suggest

Example Sentences:

I avoid eating after 10 PM.
She considered studying Spanish, but chose to study French instead.
I don’t mind giving you a ride to the airport.
We look forward to hearing from you.
He regrets losing his temper at the meeting.
I recommend visiting Central Park.

#2 – English Verbs + Infinitive (with TO)

agree	expect	manage	pretend	threaten
attempt	fail	need	promise	try
claim	hesitate	offer	refuse	want
decide	hope	plan	seem	would like
deserve	learn	prepare	tend

Example Sentences:

He agreed to help me with my homework.
We decided to buy a new car.
I hope to speak English fluently someday.
You need to do more exercise.
They promised to call me back.
Bob refused to cooperate with the police.

#3 – English Verbs + Object + Infinitive (with TO)

advise	convince	inform	require
allow	encourage	instruct	teach
authorize	force	permit	tell
cause	get	persuade	urge
challenge	hire	remind	warn

Example Sentences:

I don’t allow my kids to watch violent movies.
The defect caused the machinery to malfunction.
My friend convinced me to get a tattoo.
He reminded her to take out the trash in the morning.
The boss requires all employees to arrive on time.
Jennifer told us to bring a jacket.

#4 – English Verbs + Infinitive (with TO) or -ING Form

begin	prefer
continue	remember*
hate*	start
like	try
love

Example Sentences:

The little girl started crying.
= The little girl started to cry.
I like reading.
= I like to read.

Use remember + infinitive to give a reminder, and remember + -ING to talk about a memory:

Remember to go to the bank after work.
(reminder)
I remember going to the beach every summer as a child.
(memory)

Use hate + -ING for something you hate always / in general, and hate + infinitive for something you are going to do (but you don’t want to):

I hate waiting in line.
(in general)
I hate to ask you for money yet again… but could you lend me $10?
(expressing regret for something you are going to do)

#5 – English Verbs + Object + Simple Form (without TO)

let

make

help

have

Example Sentences:

The teacher doesn’t let us use cell phones during class.
(not “let us to use”)
I made my son clean his room.
(not “made my son to clean”)
Could you help me carry these boxes?
(you could say “help me to carry,” but it’s not common)
The teacher had each student give a presentation.
(not “had each student to give”)