VERBS AS

COMPLEMENTS
TOEFL LESSON

Rika Yanuarika - SMAN 24 BANDUNG

What is a verb complement?
A verb complement is the
arrangement of one verb as
the object of another verb.
Sometimes the verb
functioning as the
complement must be in the
infinitive (to+Verb) and
sometimes it must be in the
gerund (V+ing) form.
In this lesson, we’re going
to discuss:
1. Verbs followed by infinitive
2. Verbs followed by gerund
3. Verbs followed by infinitive and
gerund with no change in
meaning
4. Verbs + preposition followed
by gerund
5. Adjectives + preposition
followed by gerund
6. Nouns + preposition followed
by gerund
7. Adjectives followed by infinitive
 1. Verbs Followed by Infinitive
Agree Learn
+ John expects to begin
Attempt Need
studying law next semester.
Claim Offer
Decide Plan
+ Mary learned to swim when
Demand Prepare she was very young.
Desire Refuse + The soldiers are preparing to
Expect Seem attack the village.
Fail Strive
+ The budget committee
Forget Tend
Hesitate Want
decided to postpone this
Hope Wish
meeting.
Intend
2. Verbs Followed by Gerund
+ John admitted stealing
the jewels.
+ NOTE:
+ We enjoyed seeing
These sentences are
them again after so made negative by
many years. adding the negative
+ Would you mind not particle NOT before
smoking in this office? the infinitive or
gerund.
+ Michael was
+ John decided not to
considering buying a buy the car.
new car until the prices
went up. + We regretted not
going to the party
last night.
 3. Verbs Followed by either infinitive or
gerund with no change in meaning
begin can’t stand continue dread hate
like love prefer regret start

+ He started to study after + He started studying after

dinner. dinner.
+ John hates to ride her bicycle + John hates riding her bicycle
to school. to school.
4. Verbs +
Prepositions
followed by Gerund approve of rely on
be better off succeed in
• John gave up smoking count on think about
because of his doctor’s advice.
depend on think of
• Mary insisted on taking the bus
instead of the plane. give up worry about
• We are not looking forward to insist on look forward to
going back to school.
• Fred confessed to stealing the keep on object to
jewels. put off confess to
5. Adjectives + prepositions Followed by Gerund

accustomed to afraid of capable of intent on

fond of successful in interested in tired of

+ Craig is fond of dancing.

+ We are interested in seeing this film.
+ Alvaro is intent on finishing school next year.
+ Mary is afraid of getting married now.
6. Nouns + prepositions followed by gerund

Choice of excuse for intention of method for

Possibility of reason for (method of)

+ George has no excuse for dropping out of school.

+ There is no reason for leaving this early.
7. Adjectives Followed by Infinitive

+ These students are not yet able to handle

such difficult problems.
+ Muhammad is eager to see his family.
+ It is dangerous to drive in this weather.
+ We are ready to leave now.
NOTE:
Some verbs can be followed by either the infinitive or gerund, but the meaning
changes.

Stop Remember Forget

+ John stopped studying. (John is not going to study anymore.)

+ John stopped to study. (John stopped doing something in
order to study.)

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/grammar/intermediate-to-upper-
intermediate/verbs-followed-by-ing-or-by-to-infinitive-2
https://www.perfect-english-grammar.com/gerunds-and-infinitives-verbs-4.html
 Note:
Pronouns before Gerund or Infinitive
allow ask beg convince expect
instruct Invite order permit persuade
prepare promise remind urge want

+ Joe asked Mary to call him

when she woke up.
+ I urge you to consider your
decision.
+ The teacher permitted them
to turn their assignments in
late.
Note:
However, before gerund, a noun or pronoun must appear in the possessive form.

He regrets her leaving.

We are looking forward to their coming next year.

We don’t approve of John’s buying this house.

We object to their calling at this hour.

We understand your not being able to stay together.

We resent the teacher’s not announcing the test sooner.

 Summary
Lebih spesifik lagi, verbs Verbs dapat diikuti oleh
Verbs as complements ada yang hanya dapat to infinitive dan gerund
bisa dalam bentuk to diikuti to infinitive dan tapi artinya ada yang
infinitive atau gerund. ada juga yang hanya sama dan ada yang
diikuti oleh gerund. berubah.

Pronoun atau noun diikuti

Verbs, adjectives dan
Some adjectives hanya oleh to infinitive
nouns, ditambah
dapat diikuti oleh to (perhatikan main verbs-
preposisi selalu diikuti
infinitive nya). Possessive adjective
oleh gerund.
diikuti oleh gerund.
 After watching or
reading the
material please
answer some
questions in WAG
TOEFL.
Choose at least one
question.

Resources:
• Herlina, Elly. 2015. TOEFL Preparation (Untuk
kalangan sendiri)
• Rohilah, Leni. 2015. Verbs as Complements.
https://www.slideshare.net/rohliah/verbs-as-
complements