English Patterns

1. Missing Main Verb S V Complement Remember that every English sentence must have a subject and a main verb. (A sentence may or may not have an auxiliary verb.) S V Complement The sound of the dryer Arizona She bothers has is 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 decide hesitate need refuse appear demand hope offer seem arrange deserve intend plan tend ask expect learn prepare threaten claim fail manage pretend wait consent forget mean promise want Ex: -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 deny appreciate consider discuss avoid delay enjoy finish practice risk keep quit stop mention recall suggest miss recall suggest tolerate postpone regret understand EX: 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 do not mind keep on be better off forget about look forward to can’t help get through object to count on insist to think of Ex: 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. 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. S had better verb word (V.1)

7. Problem with ‘would rather that’ It introduces a clause. 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. S would rather that V (past)

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. SOMEONE VERB WORD His mother made him take his medicine. SOMETHING I the machine work

GET A person doesn’t perform an action directly. S GET SOMEONE INFINITIVE Let’s get Ann to go 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 oral report. SOMETHING PARTICIPLE I want to have this book renewed, please.

LET A person gives permission for another to do it. S LET SOMEONE VERB WORD His mother let him go to school. SOMETHING I am letting this machine cool.

HELP A person assists another person to do it. S HELP SOMEONE VERB WORD / INFINITVE He is helping me type to type 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 (กระตุ้น)

Study the examples below: (V. + that) They prefer that I not serve them anything alcoholic. (อยากให้เป็นว่า…มากกว่า) 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. (กำหนดว่าต้อง) We advised our children that they be hard-working in their school subjects and put forth their best efforts. (แนะนำว่าควร) I propose that the vote be secret ballot.

It is + adj. + that It is advisable that…เป็นการสมควรที่ว่า It is better that…เป็นการดีที่ว่า It is crucial that…จำเป็นอย่างยิ่งที่ว่า It is desirable that…เป็นการสมควรที่ว่า It is essential that…เป็นการจำเป็นที่ว่า It is imperative that…เป็นการรีบด่วนที่ว่า It is important that…เป็นการสำคัญที่ว่า It is necessary that…เป็นการจำเป็นทีว่า It is preferable that…เป็นการดีกว่าที่ว่า It is resolved that…ลงมติว่า It is right that…เป็นการถูกต้องที่ว่า It is strange that…เป็นการแปลกที่ว่า It is urgent that…เป็นการด่วนที่ว่า 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 imperative important 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.