Grammar: common verb patterns

What you’ll practise

Practise ten common grammar patterns for clear everyday communication.

1. enjoy doing

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   find pleasure in an activity

   Enjoy doing: I enjoy cooking for friends at weekends.

   Pattern: enjoy + verb-ing

2. avoid doing

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   choose not to do an activity

   Avoid doing: She avoids driving during the busiest hour.

   Pattern: avoid + verb-ing

3. finish doing

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   complete an activity that is in progress

   Finish doing: Please finish reading the report before lunch.

   Pattern: finish + verb-ing

4. keep doing

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   continue an activity without stopping

   Keep doing: Keep practising until the sentence feels natural.

   Pattern: keep + verb-ing

5. suggest doing

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   recommend an activity or possible action

   Suggest doing: I suggest taking the earlier train.

   Pattern: suggest + verb-ing

6. consider doing

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   think carefully about a possible action

   Consider doing: We are considering moving closer to work.

   Pattern: consider + verb-ing

7. want to do

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   wish or intend to do an action

   Want to do: I want to learn how the system works.

   Pattern: want + to + base verb

8. decide to do

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   make a choice to take an action

   Decide to do: They decided to postpone the meeting.

   Pattern: decide + to + base verb

9. plan to do

   Grammar topics & sentence patterns

   intend and arrange to take an action

   Plan to do: We plan to visit the museum on Saturday.

   Pattern: plan + to + base verb

10. hope to do

    Grammar topics & sentence patterns

    want and expect a future action to happen

    Hope to do: I hope to finish the course this year.

    Pattern: hope + to + base verb