Grammar
Verb complements: what can follow a verb?
I stopped the printer. I stopped to check the printer. I stopped checking the printer. The words after stopped tell the listener three different things.
Choose a complement that fits a common English verb: an object, to plus a base verb, an -ing form, an object plus a to-infinitive, or a clause.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
They encouraged her to apply for the role. /ðeɪ ɪnˈkʌrɪdʒd hɜː tə əˈplaɪ fə ðə rəʊl/
The short answer
A verb complement is the word or group of words that completes a verb's meaning. It can be an object, to plus a base verb, an -ing form, an object plus a to-infinitive, or a clause.
Ava refused to share the password.
Why it works: Refuse is followed by to plus the base verb. The complement names the action Ava would not do.
5 more examples
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The coordinator encouraged Mei to apply for the role.
Encourage takes a person before to plus a base verb when that person may do the action.
Not this:Mei
considered applyingfor the role. What changes: Consider is followed by an -ing form when a person thinks about an action. -
We avoided using the broken elevator.
Avoid is followed by an -ing form that names the action people did not do.
Not this:We
chose to usethe stairs. What changes: Choose is followed by to plus a base verb when it introduces a selected action. -
Nadia promised to send the invoice today.
Promise is commonly followed by to plus a base verb when someone commits to an action.
Not this:Nadia
admitted sendingthe invoice late. What changes: Admit is followed by an -ing form when someone accepts that an action happened. -
The guide explained that the museum closed at five.
Explain can introduce a that-clause that gives complete information.
Not this:The guide
explained the closing time. What changes: Explain can also take a noun phrase when the information is named rather than stated in a clause. -
I remembered to charge my phone before the trip.
Remember to do something means that you did not forget a planned or necessary action.
Not this:I
remember chargingmy phone before the trip. What changes: Remember doing something means that you have a memory of an earlier action.
Read the full guide
When you learn a verb, write a short pattern beside it. For example, plan to do something, avoid doing something, or remind someone to do something. This helps you make a sentence without guessing which form comes next. Some verbs allow more than one complement, but the meaning can change with the pattern.
Find the verb that controls the next form
Start with the main verb. Its pattern tells you what can come next. Some verbs need an object, while others introduce an action or a complete idea. A complement is not an extra decoration. It gives the verb the information the sentence needs.
The receptionist checked the reservation.
The reservation is the object of checked. It names the thing the receptionist checked.
The receptionist agreed to check the reservation.
To check the reservation is the action introduced by agreed.
What should you note when you learn a new verb?
Note a short pattern and one sentence, such as agree to do something or check something.
Use to plus a base verb after many choice verbs
Decide, choose, hope, plan, promise, and refuse often take to plus the base form of a verb. This complement commonly names an intended, chosen, or refused action. The verb after to stays in the base form.
The neighbors decided to repaint the fence.
To repaint names the action they chose. Repaint has no ending after to.
I hope to hear from the landlord tomorrow.
To hear names the event that the speaker wants to happen.
Complete the sentence: We plan ___ early.
Use to leave. Plan is commonly followed by to plus a base verb.
Use an -ing form after many activity verbs
Avoid, enjoy, finish, consider, and admit are often followed by an -ing form. Here, the -ing form names an activity after the main verb. It is not a present continuous form because it does not follow be.
Luca enjoys repairing old bicycles.
Repairing old bicycles is the activity that Luca enjoys.
The team finished reviewing the proposal.
Reviewing the proposal is the activity that the team completed.
Which form fits after avoid: avoid to interrupt or avoid interrupting?
Use avoid interrupting. Avoid is followed by an -ing form in this pattern.
Name the person before the action
Some verbs need a person between the main verb and the to-infinitive. Tell, remind, encourage, invite, and persuade use this pattern when the person is expected to do the action. The object answers the question: who will act?
Please remind Omar to bring the receipt.
Omar is the person who needs to bring the receipt.
The coach encouraged the players to rest.
The players are the people who may rest.
Complete the pattern: The tutor encouraged ___ to ask questions.
Use a person or group, such as us or the class. Encourage needs the person before the action.
Use a clause when the verb introduces information
A clause has its own subject and verb. Know, say, explain, and believe can introduce a that-clause. Wonder, ask, and find out can introduce an indirect question with whether, if, or a question word. The clause supplies a complete piece of information.
The notice says that the library opens at nine.
That the library opens at nine is the information stated by the notice.
I wondered whether the store was open.
Whether the store was open is an indirect question with statement word order.
Which form is usual after wondered: wondered whether the train was late or wondered whether was the train late?
Use wondered whether the train was late. An indirect question uses subject before verb.
Check the meaning when a verb has two patterns
Some verbs can take more than one complement. The grammar can change the meaning, so it is useful to compare complete sentences. With remember, to plus a base verb looks forward to an action that must not be forgotten. An -ing form looks back on an experience in memory.
Rosa remembered to lock the office.
Rosa completed the action of locking because she did not forget it.
Rosa remembers locking the office.
Rosa has a memory of an earlier action.
How can you check a verb with two complement patterns?
Read an example for each pattern and compare the meaning before you choose one.
Before you go
Remember this
Learn a verb together with its complement pattern. Use to plus a base verb after verbs such as choose, promise, and refuse. Use an -ing form after verbs such as avoid, consider, and admit. Put a person before the to-infinitive after verbs such as encourage and remind. Read examples when a verb can take more than one pattern.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
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Try the written questionsQuestions about "Verb complements: what can follow a verb?"
What is a verb complement in English?
A verb complement is a word or group of words that completes the meaning of a verb. It can be an object, an infinitive, an -ing form, or a clause. The main verb affects which complement is natural, so learn the pattern with the verb.
The coordinator encouraged Mei to apply for the role.
Which verbs are followed by to plus a verb?
Many common verbs take to plus a base verb, including decide, choose, hope, plan, promise, and refuse. This pattern often introduces an intended or chosen action. Check a learner dictionary for an unfamiliar verb because each verb has its own pattern.
Mei considered applying for the role.
Why do some verbs take an -ing form?
Verbs such as avoid, enjoy, consider, finish, and admit are commonly followed by an -ing form. The -ing form names an activity after the main verb. In this position, it is part of the verb pattern and not a present continuous form.
We avoided using the broken elevator.
When do I use a person before to plus a verb?
Use a person before the to-infinitive when the main verb identifies who will do the next action. Verbs such as tell, remind, encourage, invite, and persuade can use this pattern. The person comes before the action so the sentence states who is expected to act.
We chose to use the stairs.
Can one verb have more than one complement pattern?
Yes. Some verbs can take more than one complement, and the meaning may change with the form. Compare the examples for each pattern before you choose one. This is especially useful with verbs such as remember, forget, regret, and stop.
Nadia promised to send the invoice today.