Verbs As Complements ,Affirmative Agreement and Negative Agreement

Verbs As Complements

Verbs That Are Always Followed By The Infinitive

Some verbs can take another verb as the complement instead of a noun. Sometimes the verbs functioning as the complement must be. In the infinitive (to + verb) and sometimes it must be in the gerund (verb + ing) form. The following verbs are always followed by the infinitive if the complement is a verb.

Examples:

John expects to begin studying law next semester.

Mary learned to swim when she was very young.

The budget committee decided to postpone this meeting.

The president will attempt to reduce inflation in the next four years.

The soldiers are preparing to attack the village.

VERBS THAT ARE ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND

Other verbs must always be followed by the gerund. These verbs include:

Examples:

            John admitted stealing the jewels.

            We enjoyed seeing them again after so many years.

            You shouldn’t risk entering that building in its present condition.

            The Coast Guard has reported seeing another ship in the Florida Straits.

Note : these setences are made negative by adding the negative particle not before the infinitive or gerund.

John decided not to buy the car.

We regretted not going to the party last night.

The following verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund with no change in meaning.

He started to study after dinner. OR He started studying after dinner.

Joan hates to ride her bicycle to school OR joan hates riding her bicycle to school.

VERBS + PREPOSITIONS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND

If a verb + preposition, adjective + preposition, noun + preposition, or preposition alone is followed directly by a verb, the verb will always be in the gerund form. The following list consists of verbs + prepositions.

The following expressions contain the preposition to. The word to in these expressions must not be confused with the to in the infinitive. These verb + preposition expression must also be followed by gerund.

John gave up smooking because of his doctor’s advice.

Mary insisted on taking the bus instead of the plane.

Fred confessed to stealing the jewels.

We are not looking forward to going back to school.

Henry is thinking of going to France in August.

ADJECTIVES  +  PREPOSITIONS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND

The following adjectives + prepositions are also followed by the gerund.

Mitch is afraid of getting married now.

We are accustomed to sleeping late on weekends.

Jean is not capable of understanding the predicament.

Alvaro is intent on finishing school next year.

Craig is fond of dancing.

We are interested in seeing this film.

NOUNS + PREPOSITIONS FOLLOWED BY THE GERUND

The following nouns + prepositions are also followed by the gerund.

George has no excuse for dropping out of school.

There is a possibility of acquiring this property at a good price.

There is no reason for leaving this early.

Any time a preposition is followed directly by a verb, the verb will be in the gerund form.

After leaving the party. Ali drove home.

ADJECTIVE FOLLOWED BY THE INFINITIVE

The following adjectives are always followed by the infinitive form of the verb and never by the gerund.

Examples of adjective followed by infinitives:

Mohammad is eager to see his family.

It is dangerous to drive in this weather.

We are ready to leave now.

It is difficult to pass this test,

It is uncommon to find such good in this section of the country.

Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or the gerund, but the meaning changes.

John stopped studying                                    (john is not going to study anymore)

John stopped to study                         (John stopped doing something in order to study)

PRONOUNS BEFORE THE GERUND OR INFINITIVE

In cases where the infinitive is used as a complement,any noun or pronoun directly preceding it will be in the complement form. Some common verbs which are followed by the infinitive and which are followed by the infinitive and which often require an indirect object are listed here.

Joe asked Mary to call him when she woke up.

We ordered him to appear in court.

I urge you to reconsider your decision.

They were trying to persuade him to change his mind.

The teacher permitted them to turn their assignments in late.

You should prepare your son to take this examination.

However, before the gerund, a noun or pronoun must appear in the possessive form.

We understand your not being able to stay longer.

He regrets her leaving.

We are looking forward to their coming next year.

We don’t approve of john’s buying this house.

We resent the teacher’s not announcing the test sooner.

AFFIRMATIVE AGREEMENT

            When indicating that one person or thing does something and then adding that another does the same, use the word so or too. To avoid needless repetition of words from the affirmative statement, use the conjunction and, followed by a simple statement using so or too is used.

When a form of the verb be is used in the main clause, the same tense of the verb be is used in the simple statement that follows.

I am happy , and you are too.

I am happy, and so are you.

When a compound verb (auxiliary + verb), for example, will go, should do,has done, have written, must examine, etc.occurs in the main clause, the auxiliary of the main is used in the simple statement, and the subject and verb must agree.

They will work in the lab tomorrow, and you will too.

They will work in the lab tomorrow, and so will you.

When any verb except be appears without any auxiliaries in the main clause, the auxiliary do, does, or did is used in the simple statement. The subject and verb must agree and tense must be the same.

Jane goes to that school , and my sister does too.

Jane goes to that school, and so does my sister.

Additional examples:

John went to the mountains on his vacation, and we did too.

John went to the mountains on his vacation, and so did we.

I will be in New Mexico in August, and they will too.

I will be in New Mexico in August, and so will they.

NEGATIVE AGREEMENT

Either and neither function in simple statement much like so and too in affirmative sentences. However, either and neither are used to indicate negative agreement. The same rules for auxiliaries, be and do, does or did apply.

I didn’t see Mary this morning, John didn’t see Mary this morning.

I didn’t see Mary this morning and John didn’t either.

I didn’t see Mary this morning, and neither did John.

She won’t be going to the conference. Her colleagues won’t be going to the conference.

She won’t be going to the conference. Her colleagues won’t either.

She won’t be going to the conference, and neither will her colleagues.

 Sumber : Cliffs TOEFL Preparation guide