An explanation of verb grammar in English with examples.

1. VERB GRAMMAR
In English when we have2 verbs together we have 2 general rules:
1. VERB + TO + VERB I wantto go
2. VERB + VERB + ING He stopped playing football
Itdoesn’tmatter if the verb is in the present, pastor future, it always follows
the samerule:
Rule 1: example verb: learn
He learnsto speak English every day.
He learned to speak English when he lived in England.
He is going to learn to speak English next year.
Rule 2: example verb: finish
She finishes playing tennis at 7pm every Friday.
She finished playing tennisat 7pm yesterday.
She is finishing playing tennis now.
Here you can see, even if the firstverb is in the ‘-ing’ form, the second verb is
also in the ‘-ing’ form.
Itis possiblewith some verbs to put an objectinto both forms:
1. VERB + OBJECT + TO + VERB I wantyou to go
2. VERB + OBJECT + VERB + ING He stopped him playing football
Therefore in both rules we place the object AFTER the firstverb and the rule
continues.

2. This sometimes causes problems with the verbs ‘want’ and ‘need’. Itis
important to see the form:
I wantyou to go NOT I wantthat you go
She needs him to stay NOT she needs thathe stays
Remember, ‘would like’ (and ‘would love’) is the sameas ‘want’ and follows
the samerules:
They would like to visit the Pyramidsof Giza one day.
I would love to learn how to play the guitar.
We would like you to join our company NOTwe would like that you join…
This is differentfrom ‘like’ and ‘love’ which follow the second rule:
They liked visiting the Pyramidsof Giza.
I love playing the guitar.