Catenative Verbs: Linking Actions and Meanings — A Practical Guide

 

Mastering the catenative verb: Clear Guide to English Verb Chains

Definition, patterns, examples, common pitfalls, and interactive exercises for learners and teachers.

Contents

• Introduction
• What is a catenative verb?
• Forms & patterns
• Common catenative verbs (grouped)
• Meaning changes & notes
• Common learner mistakes
• Practice exercises
• Answers & explanations
• Tips & further study
• Conclusion

Introduction

Many learners of English find sequences like hope to go, enjoy singing, or started to cry puzzling. These sequences involve a catenative verb — a verb that can be followed directly by another verb (in a particular form) to build a verb chain. This page explains what catenative verbs are, how they behave, and how to use them naturally.

What is a catenative verb?

A catenative verb is a verb that links (chains) to another verb — usually an infinitive or a -ing form — to complete its meaning. The verb that follows is often called a non-finite verb because it does not show tense (e.g., to swim, swimming).

Simple label

Verbs that can be followed by another verb without an intervening clause marker.

Non-finite forms

Commonly: to-infinitive (to + base), bare infinitive (base without 'to'), and gerund (-ing).

Examples:
I want to leave early. (want + to-infinitive)
She keeps talking during class. (keep + -ing)
We let him go. (let + bare infinitive)

Forms & patterns

Catenative verbs differ in which non-finite form they accept. Below are the common patterns with clear examples.

1. Verb + to-infinitive

Some catenatives are followed by to + base verb.

• decide to (decide to leave)
• hope to (hope to win)
• expect to (expect to arrive)

2. Verb + -ing (gerund)

Others prefer the -ing form.

• enjoy singing
• avoid making mistakes
• keep working

3. Verb + bare infinitive

A few verbs (often verbs of permission or causation) take the bare infinitive.

• let him go
• make them wait
• help me carry this (help can take both bare and to-infinitive in many varieties)

4. Verbs that accept two forms

Some verbs can be followed either by to-infinitive or -ing, sometimes with a small change in meaning.

• remember: remember to lock the door (remember a future action) vs remember locking the door (recall a past action).
• stop: stop to smoke (pause another action in order to smoke) vs stop smoking (quit the habit).

Common catenative verbs (grouped)

This list is grouped by the pattern they typically take. It's not exhaustive but covers the verbs learners meet most often.

Verb + to-infinitive

(decide, hope, expect, promise, plan, intend, choose, refuse)

Verb + -ing

(enjoy, avoid, consider, suggest, delay, risk, appreciate)

Verb + bare infinitive

(let, make, see, hear, watch — when they have a causative/perceptual meaning)

Verbs that accept both

(begin, start, continue, like, love, prefer — check meaning changes in context)

Meaning changes & useful notes

When a verb accepts more than one form, the form chosen can change the meaning. Understanding these shifts helps avoid confusion.

• remember: remember to call = do not forget (future); remember calling = recall the event (past).
• stop: stop to talk = stop what you're doing in order to talk; stop talking = cease the talking.
• try: try to fix = attempt (may fail); try fixing = experiment with a solution to see if it works.

Tip: If the meaning seems off, test whether changing the non-finite form makes sense. If yes, the verb is likely a catenative verb with alternate patterns.

Common learner mistakes

1. Using -ing where only to-infinitive is natural: *I want going = wrong. Correct: I want to go.
2. Misunderstanding meaning shifts: I stopped to smoke vs I stopped smoking.
3. Forgetting about verbs that take the bare infinitive: *She made to leave = wrong. Correct: She made him leave.
4. Overgeneralizing: assuming all verbs can take either form — they cannot.

Practice exercises (interactive)

Choose the correct form in each sentence. Click "Check answers" when you're ready.

1. She remembered to turn remembered turning off the oven.
2. They stopped to rest stopped resting after the hike.
3. He enjoys to read enjoys reading novels.
4. We let them leave let them to leave early.
5. I tried to reboot tried rebooting the device to fix the issue.

Answers & explanations

1. remember to turn — here it means don't forget to do (a future action).
2. stopped to rest — means they paused another action in order to rest. Stopped resting would mean they ceased resting.
3. enjoys reading — enjoy + -ing is the natural pattern.
4. let them leave — let takes a bare infinitive in causative sense.
5. tried rebooting — both forms are often possible; here, "tried rebooting" implies an experimental attempt to fix the problem. "Tried to reboot" focuses on attempting an action that might fail.

Tips & further study

• Learn patterns in small groups — e.g., memorize common verbs that take to-infinitive first, then those with -ing.
• When in doubt, consult a learner's grammar or dictionary entry for the verb (many dictionaries indicate whether a verb is followed by -ing or to).
• Practice by noticing verbs in real texts: highlight sequences and identify which form follows the verb.

If you teach, try dictation exercises where learners choose the correct form and explain the meaning shift.

Conclusion

Catenative verbs are a practical, regular part of English grammar. By learning common patterns and being aware of meaning shifts when switching between -ing and to-infinitive, learners can make their speech and writing sound more natural and precise.

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