verb_as_compliment

Verbs as Complements

How to use Verbs as Complements

1) This construction is used with the verbs listed below:

VERB+

GERUND (VERB-ING)

admit	delay	miss	regret	risk
appreciate	deny	postpone	report	suggest
avoid	enjoy	practice	resent
can’t help	finish	quit	resist
consider	mind	recall	resume

The sentence construction would be as follows:

SUBJECT+

VERB+

GERUND+

COMPLEMENT+

MODIFIER

Examples:
I enjoy studying English at the CBA.
He considered traveling to Europe for the summer, but he doesn’t have enough funds.

2) This construction is used with the verbs listed below:

VERB+

INFINITIVE (TO VERB)

agree	expect	intend	prepare	try
attempt	fail	learn	pretend	want
claim	forget	mean	propose	wish
decide	have	need	refuse
demand	hesitate	offer	seem
desire	hope	plan	tend

Examples:
I decided to refuse the invitation.
He pretended to be someone else.
She forgot to bring her keys.

 3) With the following Verbs the Sentence doesn’t change meaning if you use the gerund (ing) or the infinitive

begin	continue
like	prefer
can’t stand	start
love	hate

VERB+

GERUND (VERB-ING)

  or

VERB+

INFINITIVE (TO VERB)

 4) With the following Verbs the Sentence has Different Meaning

 Stop
Remember
Forget

VERB+

GERUND (VERB-ING) – Means forever

Example:
She stopped studying Engineering when she got pregnant.  
Meaning she won’t study Engineering any more.  She stopped studying forever.
or

VERB+

INFINITIVE (TO VERB)

 Example:
She stopped to study English when I called her. 
Meaning that she will continue to study after her break.

5) Use of prepositions with the -Ing Form

VERB+

PREPOSITION+

VERB-ING

List of Prepositions that use this construction:

as a result of	from	in view of	thanks to
at	in	of	through
because of	in exchange for	on account of	with
by means of	in return for	on the strength of	without
by virtue of	in spite of	out of
for fear of	in the face of	owing to
for lack of	in the light of
for want of

 EXCEPTION:  But, except.
Example:
He hid the wallet, for fear of being stolen.

She was really famous, as a result of acting as Mary in the Jesus Christ film.
Courage in the Face of Eviction Nightmare

6) Use of Adjectives with the infinitive form

ADJECTIVES +

INFINITIVE

Construction:

VERB+

ADJECTIVE+

TO VERB

List of adjectives that use this construction: 

able	dangerous	good	ready
anxious	difficult	hard	strange
boring	eager	pleased	usual
common	easy	prepared

 Examples:
I’m pleased to meet you
It’s difficult to understand some people.
I’m prepared to take this test.
Rafael is eager to meet you.

7) Use a Pronoun before the Infinitive form 

Certain verbs require the following construction:

SUBJECT+

VERB+

PRONOUN+

TO VERB

Allow    Ask Beg

Convince  Expect Instruct

Invite   Order Permit

PersuadePrepare Promise

RemindUrge Want

The pronouns to be used are object pronouns: ME, YOU, HIM, HER, IT, US, YOU, THEM.
 Example:
He orders her to study for the test.
My mother promised me to take me to the mall.
Rahima convinced him to purchase an expensive purse.

8) Use the -ing (gerung) form of a verb after the possessive form.

SUBJECT+

VERB+

POSSESSIVE FORM+

VERB-ING

Possessive form: MINE, YOURS, HIS, HERS, ITS, YOURS, OURS, THEM, MY, YOU , HIS HER, ITS, YOURS,  THEIR.
Example:
I understand her feeling.

9) Use of the verb need with different nouns (living and things) 

With living things use need and the infinitive form of the verb.

LIVING THING+

NEED+

INFINITIVE

George needs to work out more often.

THING+

NEED+

GERUND (ING)TO BE+ PAST PARTICIPLE

The blender needs to be repaired.
The blanket needs to be cleaned.

10) Use of subjunctives

SUBJECT+

VERB+

THAT+

SUBJECT+

VERB WORD +

….+

Joe prefers that she speak with him personally.

VERBS WITH THAT:

AdviceAsk Command Decree

DemandDesire Insist

MoveOrder Prefer

RecommendRequest Require

StipulateSuggest Urge

NOUNS WITH THAT:
Recommendation
Requirement
Suggestion

ADJECTIVES WITH THAT

IT+

BE+

ADJECTIVE+

THAT+

SUBJECT+

VERB WORD

AdvisedImperative Important

MandatoryNecessary Obligatory

ProposedRecommended Require

SuggestedUrgent

 EXERCISES

Choose the correct form of the verb in parentheses in the following sentences:

1. The teacher decided (accepting/to accept) the paper.
2. They appreciate (to have/having)this information.
3. His father doesn’t approve of his (going/to go)to Europe.
4. We found it very difficult (reaching/to reach) a decision.
5. Donna is interested in (to open/opening) a bar.
6. George has no intention of (to leave/leaving) the city now.
7. We are eager (to return/returning) to school in the fall.
8. You would be better off  (to buy/buying) this car.
9. She refused (to accept/accepting) the gift.
10. Mary regrets (to be/being) the one to have to tell him.

Answers :

1. to accept
2. having
3. going
4. to reach
5. opening
6. leaving
7. to return
8. buying
9. to accept
10. being

sources :
http://www.english4dummies.com/verbs-as-complements/
https://yaticancerina.wordpress.com/2011/10/28/exercises-verbs-as-complements/