MASTER ENGLISH SENTENCES WITH S+V (6) : How to connect 2 verbs in a sentence
Writing or speaking a correct and beautiful sentence is every English learner's goal and it is like creating stories for a movie. For example, we need a hero (subject) and his or her heroic act (action) in a hero movie! Let's try some sentences for a hero story following the 'S (subject) + V (action/state)' pattern.
- The hero will come.
[Subject: the hero (N)] + [Action/State: will come (V)]
In the lesson, S+V (1), this basic pattern is introduced and some of those verbs cannot be followed by nouns and others do not need nouns behind.
- The hero will find the bomber.
[Subject: the hero (N)] + [Action/State: will find the bomber (V+N)]
You can learn this pattern in S+V (3) and the focus is on the verbs that can be or need to be followed by nouns.
- The hero is fearless.
[Subject: the hero (N)] + [Action/State: is fearless (V+Adj)]
If you are new to the term 'be verb', you should go to lesson S+V (2). In most cases be verbs can be followed by nouns or adjectives.
- The hero will make the world safe.
[Subject: the hero (N)] + [Action/State: will make the world safe (V+N+Adj)]
The lesson S+V (4) still focuses on the verbs that can be followed by adjectives, with nouns in between.
- The hero will bring the world peace.
[Subject: the hero (N)] + [Action/State: will bring the world peace (V+N+N)]
In lesson S+V (5), those verbs can be followed by two nouns. There are two types of verbs like this but you do not need to distinguish them as a learner because it will only add to the difficulty in learning.
In this lesson, S+V (6), the element, verb, in the action part is still the topic and one more verb is added, like the examples below.
- I want to leave. [Subject: I, Action-two verbs: want, leave]
- I want you to leave home. [Action-two verbs: want, leave]
The second verb in a sentence has to be changed into a certain form depending on what the first verb is or when some specific situations happen. Most English verbs have five forms and I call them V1, V2, V3, V4 and V5. The list below follows the order of V1~V5.
- V1:give, V2:gave, V3:given, V4:giving, V5:gives
or bring, brought, brought, bringing, brings
or run, ran, run, running, runs
or read, read, read, reading, reads
(some verbs have five different forms and some have three to four different forms)
- call, called, called, calling, calls (V2 and V3 forms of this type are the same, with 'ed' ending, so they are called 'regular' forms and the rest of the verbs have irregular ones)
- be, was/were, been, being, am/is/are (be verb has very different five forms because more options exist in V2 and V5)
- can, could (this type has only V1 and V2 forms and it is called 'helping verb' or 'auxiliary verb')
After understanding the forms, we can explore how the second verb can be changed. Today we will only learn those that require V1 form. In addition, we will also apply what we have learned from the previous lessons and add appropriate elements to the second verbs.
1. V + to V1...
- They want to sleep. (Action: V+to V)
[five forms of 'sleep': sleep-slept-slept-sleeping-sleeps]
- They want to be cautious. (Action: V+to V+Adj)
[be-was/were-been-being-am/is/are]
We should not only pay attention to the first verb but also add the proper element to the second verb if necessary and make the second action complete, 'be cautious'.
- They want to make you happy. (Action: V+to V+N+Adj)
[make-made-made-making-makes]
- They want to tell you something. (Action: V+to V+N+N)
[tell-told-told-telling-tells]
*Verbs that can be followed by 'to V1':
agree, appear, arrange, attempt, decide, expect, fail, hope, need, offer, promise, refuse, want, wish
2. V + N + to V1...
- They want him to be cautious.
[be-was/were-been-being-am/is/are]
*Verbs that can be followed by 'N' and then 'to V1':
advise, allow, ask, cause, enable, encourage, forbid, force, instruct, invite, order, permit, persuade, prefer, recommend, remind, require, teach, tell, tempt, want, warn
3. V(Be verb) + to V1 (for the pattern 'A is B')
- The purpose is to solve the problem.
[A : the purpose] + is + [B: to solve the problem]
4. V..... + to V1... (when the second action expresses the reason for the first action)
- The man will call her to confirm the booking.
[first action] [second action]
'To confirm the booking' is the reason for 'calling her'.
(Or the reason for 'calling her' is 'to confirm the booking'.)
5. V..... + V1... (when the first verb is 'make', 'have' or 'let')
- They make him wash the dishes. (It means he is forced to wash the dishes.)
[wash-washed-washed-washing-washes]
- They have the plumber fix the tap. (It means he is hired to fix the tap.)
[fix-fixed-fixed-fixing-fixes]
- They let her eat candy. (It means she is allowed to or she can eat candy.)
[eat-ate-eaten-eating-eats]
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