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”)