Do exercises on verb + object + infinitive or gerund to practice B2 verb patterns. Quickly improve your grammar with clear examples and explanations.
Verb + Object + Infinitive / Gerund Exercises
If you want to learn English at a B2 level, you need to know how verbs work. Some verbs are followed by an object and an infinitive, while others are followed by a gerund (the -ing form). Using the right structure makes you sound more natural and correct.
Verb + Object + Infinitive
Some verbs are followed by:
verb + object + to + infinitive
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Object + (to) Infinitive
Common verbs:
- advise
- allow
- ask
- encourage
- expect
- help
- invite
- remind
- tell
- want
Examples:
- She told me to wait outside.
- They encouraged him to apply for the job.
- I want you to understand this clearly.
- The teacher allowed us to use dictionaries.
Important:
The “to” can be optional with “help”:
- She helped me (to) finish the project.
Verb + Object + Gerund
There are some verbs that come after:
verb + object + gerund (-ing)
Structure:
Subject + Verb + Object + Verb(-ing)
Common verbs:
- catch
- find
- leave
- notice
- see
- hear
- watch
Examples:
- I saw him crossing the street.
- She heard them talking in the next room.
- We found him sleeping on the sofa.
- They watched us playing football.
These verbs are often about how we see, hear, or notice things.
Infinitive vs Gerund (Meaning Difference)
In some cases, both forms are possible, but the meaning changes.
Example:
- I saw him cross the street. → (complete action)
- I saw him crossing the street. → (action in progress)
Special Cases (No “to” Infinitive)
Some verbs use the bare infinitive, which doesn’t have “to”:
Common verbs:
- make
- let
Examples:
- She made me apologize.
- They let us leave early.
If you learn verb + object + infinitive/gerund patterns, you will be much better at speaking and writing in English. At the B2 level, it’s important to notice these patterns when you read and listen, and then use them in your speaking and writing.
Keep doing exercises to make these structures second nature!
