subjunctive

1. Verb + object + to-infinitive
List of verbs
We can use the following verbs + object + to-infinitive: advise, allow, ask, beg, cause,
convince, enable, encourage, expect, force, get (see get uses), help, intend,invite, mean,
order, persuade, recommend, remind,take (time), teach, tell, warn. (See table with
examples below)
Like, need, want, would like, would hate
We can use verb + object + to infinitive after verbs of volition (=’wanting’)
 I like him to be home when I finish work.
 I need you to do something for me.
 She wants me to go to the doctor with her.
 They would like me to be available at all times.
 I would hate you to think I didn’t appreciate what you did for me.
Verb + object + that clause
Advise, persuade, remind, teach, tell, warn
We can also use the verbs advise, persuade, remind, teach, tell, warn + object +
(that) clause.
 Our mentor has advised us that we should start working on the project as soon as possible.
 The president persuaded them that the situation was critical.
 I called him to remind him he had to take all the necessary equipment.
 They taught me things aren’t always as they seem.
 Danny told me that he is going to be appointed director of overseas operations.
 He warned us that temperatures would drop dramatically the following week.
Recommend
After the verb recommend we can also use a that clause.
 He recommended me to talk to Jane.
 He recommended that I talk to Jane.
Advise, allow, recommend
After advise, allow, recommend we can use object + to-infinitive. But if we just use another
verb after these verbs, this verb must take the –ing form.
 He advised me to go, but He advised going.
 They don’t allow us to drink anything, but They don’t allow drinking.
 He recommended me to take the course, but He recommended taking the course.

2. Verb + for noun + to-infinitive
Arrange, ask, plan, wait
Some verbs, like arrange, ask, plan or wait can be followed by for + noun + to-infinitive.
 I will arrange for you to have a meeting with him next week.
 I asked for somebody to repair my air conditioner.
 They are planning for him to turn his ideas into action.
 We waited for them to arrive.
It + be + adjective + for noun + to-infinitive
We can use the construction for + noun + to-infinitive after it’s + adjective.
 It’s essential for us to be ready when we are needed.
 It would be nice for you to be there the day of the rehearsal.
 It’s difficult for Sarah to make ends meet now that she’s working part time.
Verb + object + infinitive without to
Let, make, help
We can use the verbs let, make, and help followed by object + infinitive without to.
 She drives me to work and never lets me pay for the petrol.
 The teacher made us write a very long essay.
 Can I help you fix the fence? (But help somebody to do is also correct)
Be made to do
When we use the verb make + object in the passive voice, it is followed by the to-infinitive.
 They were made to wear their uniform every day.
Hear, listen, notice, see
We can use object + infinitive without to after the verbs hear, listen, notice, see to express a
short or complete action (see B1+ verb patterns):
 I saw them kiss (I saw the action from start to end. It was probably a short kiss.)
 I heard someone shout your name. (I heard the shouting from star to end.)
BUT we use object + -ing after hear, listen, notice, see, watch to express an action in
progress, and action that is longer, and incomplete.
 I saw them kissing in the park. (The action was in progress. I didn’t see it finish)

3. Verb + object + gerund
In this kind of construction, the object of the main verb is the subject of the verb in the gerund
form. The following verbs can be used before object + gerund: dislike,hate, imagine,
involve, keep, mind, prevent, not like, remember, resent, risk, stop (See table with
examples below)
Tables with example sentences
Verb + object + to-infinitive
advise He advised me not to take the job.
allow My parents didn’t allow me to go to the concert
ask She asked me to help her with her homework.
beg I beg you to stay, please.
cause The decision caused them to lose a lot of money.
convince They convinced her to take the entry exam.
enable The new machine will enable us to be more productive.
encourage She encouraged me to enter the competition.
expect I don’t expect you to understand me.
force They forced us to wear a ridiculous uniform.

4. get We got him to be more reasonable and understanding.
help He helped us to get ready for the match.
intend I think she intended me to hear what she said.
invite They invited us to stay with them over the weekend.
mean Sorry, I didn’t mean you to get involved in this.
order The judge ordered him to talk only about the case.
persuade They persuaded him to tell the truth.
recommend He recommended me not to take the job.
remind Can you remind me to leave her a note?
take (time) It took us three hours to reach the top.
teach In school they taught me to be always honest.
tell I told him to put the volume down.
warn He warned us to be very careful

5. Verb + object + -ing verb
dislike He dislikes me working so late.
hate I hate him telling me what to do.
imagine I can’t imagine her not being there for you.
involve The ‘show’ involved him doing a lot of boring things.
keep They kept me waiting for more than one hour.
mind I don’t mind you going out with your friends.
prevent His disability prevents him (from) doing any exercise.
not like I don’t like them talking to you like that.
remember I remember him telling me we could use his boat.
resent He resented me getting the promotion
risk If they get bored, you can risk them losing interest.
stop How can stop Olivia (from) being so annoying to me?

6. Exercise 1
Choose the correct option to complete the sentences below.
1The supporters expect the manager at least for one more season.
2It took us ages the hotel.
3I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you .
4He made me very bad about what I’d done.
5He was made the documents at gunpoint.
6What kind of things do you hate people to you?
7I was waiting sorry, but since he didn’t, I just left.
8I would hate you that I don’t appreciate your help.
9I don’t mind him so much; he has other ways of expressing what he
feels.
10He warned me bothering her.

7. Exercise 2
Choose the correct option for each gap below.
1I’d love my parents ______ me ______ whatever I want.
a. let / do
b. let / to do
c. to let / to do
d. to let / do
2I truly recommend ______ to the police immediately. (Choose TWO correct answers)
a. that you go
b. you going
c. you to go
d. you go
His injury hasn’t stopped ______.
a. that he runs
b. him run
c. him running
d. him to run
4His mistake caused him ______ his job.
a. lose
b. to lose
c. losing
d. lost

8. 5What kind of problems are preventing you ______.
a. sleep
b. to sleep
c. from sleeping
d. slept
6The journalist advised ______ video blogging on Youtube. (Chose TWO correct
answers)
a. me to try
b. me try
c. me trying
d. me that I should try
7His father is planning ______ an influential lawyer within the firm.
a. he to become
b. him to become
c. for him to become
d. him become
8If you don’t come forward and tell the truth, you may risk ______ wrong ideas about
you.
a. them spreading
b. they speading
c. them spread
d. them to spread

9. 9He’s always encouraging ______ their own imagination.
a. his students using
b. his students to use
c. his students use
d. his students for using
10An Indian girl’s father has arranged ______ the son of a very wealthy friend of his
a. her marry
b. her marrying
c. her to marry
d. for her to marry
Exercise 3
Fill in the gaps with the objects and the verbs in brackets in the correct form.
When I was a young teenager, my parents were the worst, or that’s what I used to
think. For a start, they didn’t allow (me/go out) with my friends. However
much I always begged (them/let) me go out, they would always
force (me/stay) home. As a teenager, I remember thinking that they just
didn’t want (me/have) fun. It wasn’t just that I wasn’t allowed to hang out
with my friends, but they were always telling me to help (them/do) all sort
of things around the house: washing dishes, mopping floors, dusting my room, you
name it. I remember how much I used to think I hated them at the time. I often
imagined (them/have) an accident, or a very nasty event that
involved (them/get) hurt. At the time, my utter selfishness didn’t let me see
that my parents just intended (me/turn) right. They didn’t
want (their son/be) a loser, and they did everything they could to achieve
that. Now I have a teenage son myself, and I have to admit that I’m doing to him
everything I hated (my parents/do) to me.