lexical verb + reflexive pronoun + verbING
FOUND MYSELF THINKING | FIND THEMSELVES FACING | SEE HIMSELF PLAYING | KEEP ITSELF WAITING | DEFENDED HIMSELF SAYING
VERBS
- Verbs describe actions, states, or occurrences.
- A verb forms the main part of the predicate of a sentence.
- The most distinctive property of lexical verbs is their inflection. For example “…ed” marks past tense.
- The form of verbs can be described by:
- mood = indicative (normal), imperative, subjunctive.
- modality = modal auxiliary (can, will etc.)
- tense (present/past)
- aspect (perfect/continuous),
- voice (passive/active)
- number (singular/plural)
- person (first: I, second: you, third: he etc.)
- A verb can be the ‘head’ verb in a verb phrase: “might have been seen.” The particular head verb largely determines what else is allowed in the clause. For example, “I see you”, I look at you”
lexical verb + pronoun + past participle
Although there is an English Grammar Profile point at B2 for introducing a new subject before a gerund, there is no point for a new subject before a past participle which we then assume points to C1 ability. Even a ‘new’ subject is questionable as a criterion for advanced ability. Here’s an advanced example sentence …
NO + noun + verbING
B1: NO PROBLEM GETTING | NO EVIDENCE LINKING | NO TROUBLE FINDING | NO POINT TRYING
MAKE + noun phrase + OF
This structure is generally B2 grammar because it often comes with a wide range of general reference nouns without a determiner. However, more detail can be found in the English Vocabulary Profile regarding meaning and level: make fun of sb/sth = B2 to make a joke about someone or something in an unkind way make …
lexical verb + THE USE OF
Here are examples of verbs that suggest ability (or lack of) + the noun phrase ‘the use of’: So how have we enabled the use of goats as a reliable form of currency? TED In that service, he actually lost the use of his legs, he‘s paralyzed and he uses marijuana for pain management. TED In the English Vocabulary Profile: the use of sth = C2 permission to use something, or the ability to use something We are interested in finding which verbs might suggest …
give vent to | vent their anger
In the English Vocabulary Profile: NOUN give vent to = C2 to express strong anger or another strong feeling VERB vent your anger/frustration, etc. = C2 to do or say something to show your anger or another strong, bad feeling A search for collocates in iWeb for: gave vent to (gave is more common) 1 …
lexical verb + UNTIL|TILL
In the English Vocabulary Profile, wait until= NOT DO SOMETHING C1 to not do something until something else happens For example: Wait till you see what we‘ve done with the Internet. listen We want to know which other verbs carry a similar meaning of not doing something. He will be held until Vargas agrees to free the sympathizers he has jailed. listen The Persians will not stop until the only shelter we will find is rubble and chaos. listen I submit that we engage and delay until reinforcements arrive. listen You stay until the job‘s done. listen A search in iWeb corpus for: …
lexical verb + object + location (walk somebody home)
In the English Vocabulary Profile: take = GO WITH SOMEONE A1 to go somewhere with someone, often paying for them or being responsible for them walk sb home/to sth B1 to walk with someone in order to guide them or keep them safe However, we would argue that the complexity differences are not that clear or …
lexical verb + object + location (walk somebody home) Read More »
subjunctive THAT clauses
There is no mention of ‘subjunctive’ in the English Grammar Profile. There are some points such as the second conditional though that indirectly cover it. For this reason, we suggest that sentences using other subjunctive forms that are not conditional or listed elsewhere, be considered as C2. Here are that clause examples from Wikipedia: It‘s crucial that he be here by noon. …
HAPPEN TO infinitive
In the English Vocabulary Profile at C1 ‘happen + to-infinitive‘ = do something by chance A search in the NOW corpus for: HAPPEN to _VVI 1 HAPPEN TO KNOW 1453 2 HAPPEN TO LIVE 1430 3 HAPPENED TO SEE 1172 4 HAPPEN TO THINK 1147 5 HAPPENED TO COME 1132 6 HAPPEN TO GET 1104 7 …
verb + noun + TO THE + noun
A search in NOW corpus for: _VV _N to the _N 1 GAIN ACCESS TO THE SUBSCRIBER 3211 2 THROW CAUTION TO THE WIND 1721 A search for collocates: 1 DECIDED 95 I decided to throw caution to the wind and try it. foxnews.com 2 WILLING 21 He‘s been pretty extreme throughout his career and been willing to throw caution to the wind. ewrestlingnews.com 3 DECIDE 21 4 MEAN 19 5 DECIDES 15 6 THEREFORE 13 …
verb + TO THE + noun
A search in the NOW corpus for: _V to the _N 1 GO TO THE HOME 158924 2 CONSENT TO THE COLLECTION 127114 3 WELCOME TO THE DISCUSSION 120567 4 CONSENT TO THE USE 115313 5 STICK TO THE TOPIC 90554 6 RELATING TO THE ACCESSIBILITY 54792 7 DIRECTED TO THE FCC 54790 8 DEDICATED …
WISH + to-infinitive
In the English Vocabulary Profile, wish to do sth = B2 FORMAL to want to do something A search in the NOW corpus for: WISH _TO _VVI 1 WISH TO PERSONALISE 74195 2 WISH TO REPORT 30007 3 WISH TO CHANGE 10511 4 WISH TO RECEIVE 10259 5 WISH TO SEE 8383 6 WISH TO …
phrasal verb + clause ‘work out how you did it’
At C2 in the English Vocabulary Profile: work out = to understand something or to find the answer to something by thinking about it A search in NOW corpus for which ‘question words’ follow phrasal verbs: work out _*Q 1 WORK OUT HOW 12286 Just give us five minutes, Mr Poirot, and I‘m sure we‘ll be able to work out how you did it. listen 2 WORK OUT WHAT 11671 …
WORK AT + Verb-ing
In the English Vocabulary Profile at B2: work at sth = to try hard to achieve something A search in the NOW corpus for: WORK at _VVG 1 WORK AT GETTING 170 2 WORK AT MAKING 156 3 WORKS AT EXPERIENCING 126 4 WORKING AT GETTING 118 5 WORK AT KEEPING 94 6 WORK AT …
verb + adverb + verb + adverb + verb
While working on another piece of grammar, I noticed a complex piece of grammar that is not listed in the English Grammar Profile. There are many grammar points that are listed that are about adverbs in the middle position, but none about two which should be listed at C2. A search in iWeb corpus for …
VERB + yet to INFINITIVE
At C2 in the English Vocabulary Profile, is the structure: BE or HAVE + yet + TO-infinitive to express something expected that was not done. For example: This has yet to grow in evidence until it can come to practice. TED A search in the NOW corpus for: _V yet _TO _VVI 1 IS YET TO COME 11897re 2 HAS YET TO MAKE …
to be being
There is no entry in the English Grammar Profile for the continuous infinitive passive. Therefore, we say this is a C2 grammar structure. A search in NOW corpus for: * to be being * 1 BELIEVED TO BE BEING HELD 18 The following example has past passive + infinitive + continuous passive: The driver of the lorry was believed to be being held by police. …
IMAGINE + gerund
This post relates to B2 range of gerunds. A search in iWeb for imagin* _VVG 1 IMAGINE GOING 3285 2 IMAGINE TRYING 3183 3 IMAGINE LIVING 2565 4 IMAGINE GETTING 2190 5 IMAGINE USING 1728 6 IMAGINE TAKING 1476 7 IMAGINE WALKING 1368 8 IMAGINE WORKING 1117 9 IMAGINE SEEING 1033 10 IMAGINE SITTING 1026 …
infinitive clauses
I just put a range of sentences through the profiler on this website. The ‘infinitive of purpose’ is A2. To feel that you‘re special is crucial to develop a sense of security. The manager gave the staff an extended vacation to test whether they would actually take it, not because he was generous. B1 verb pattern for a request or command. Ask him to find out what she wanted. B2 modality with an adjective + infinitive The principal was happy to learn that his budget would increase next year. I‘m happy to see you. Be sure to remember to turn off the oven.