Academic Verb Patterns

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What are verb patterns?

A verb pattern is when one verb follows another in a single clause. The former verb dictates how the latter verb will be used. There are five main verb patterns in English. These will either involve an infinitive (with or without to), the gerund (-ing form) and clauses with that or wh- (what, when, how etc.).

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Verb Patterns [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of verb patterns (verb + infinitive, verb + to infinitive, verb + gerund, verb + that clause, verb + wh-clause) . It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. see worksheet example Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Verb Patterns Language Review

Exercise 1

Task: Practice verb + gerund and verb + infinitive (with or without to) by completing the gap with the word in brackets.

People volunteer ______________for the National Trust because they are passionate about conservation.(work)

People volunteer to work for the National Trust because they are passionate about conservation.

For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the download below.

Exercise 2

Task: Practice verb + that clause and verb + wh clause by circling the correct option.

Archaeologists have recently discovered when/that the artifacts were made.

Archaeologists have recently discovered when the artifacts were made.

For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the download below.

Exercise 3

Task: Read the following paragraph about hygiene poverty and circle the correct option.

Hygiene poverty

It could be said that most people would associate poverty with a lack of food, but a worryingly new statistic has revealed which/that/what more than a third of families cannot afford buy/buying/to buy basic personal grooming products such as soap, shampoo and toothpaste in the UK. This means…

Hygiene poverty ANSWERS

It could be said that most people would associate poverty with a lack of food, but a worryingly new statistic has revealed that more than a third of families cannot afford to buy basic personal grooming products such as soap, shampoo and toothpaste in the UK. This means that…

For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the download below.

Exercise 4

Task 4: Read the following paragraph about the Arcadia Group takeovers. Identify and correct any mistakes.

The Arcadia Group takeovers

At the end of 2020, it was announced when one of the UK’s biggest high-street chains, the Arcadia Group, had gone into administration. Arcadia consisted of eight fast fashion brands, all of which have now been bought by three other companies. Those three companies, Asos, Boohoo and City Chic, all refused keep the physical stores open, which meant …

The Arcadia Group takeovers

At the end of 2020, it was announced that one of the UK’s biggest high-street chains, the Arcadia Group, had gone into administration. Arcadia consisted of eight fast fashion brands, all of which have now been bought by three other companies. Those three companies, Asos, Boohoo and City Chic, all refused to keep the physical stores open, which meant .

For a detailed worksheet and more exercises – buy the download below.

Verb Patterns Download

Verb Patterns [new 2021]

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Causes, Effects & Related Language [new 2020]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of cause and effect language. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Webpage link. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Comparatives & Superlatives [new 2020]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of compare and contrast language. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Webpage link. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Conditionals [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of conditionals. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Countable & Uncountable nouns (General English)

A great lesson to improve students’ knowledge on countable and uncountable nouns. It begins with a matching activity with a variety of countable & uncountable nouns. It then includes a worksheet where students identify the mistakes. This sheet reinforces quantifiers (some, any, a lot of, much, many, and phrases ‘a piece of..’ etc…) It finishes with a productive speaking activity. worksheet example Time:30 mins Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Countable and Uncountable Nouns (Academic) [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of countable & uncountable nouns. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Modal Auxiliary Verbs [new 2021]

This lesson helps improve students’ awareness of modal verbs. It includes a language review section, lots of guided practice and freer paragraph writing practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Defining & Non-Defining Relative Clauses

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and use of defining & non-defining relative clauses.The lesson includes four tasks of guided practice and two tasks of freer practice (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] / Webpage link. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Sentence Structure 1: Simple, compound, complex & complex compound

This lesson is to support students in their understanding and practice of the four types of sentence structures: simple, compound, complex and complex-compound. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]. / TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Sentence Structure 2: Fragment, run-on & comma splice sentences [new 2020]

This lesson helps improve students’ sentence structure through identifying and rewriting fragments, run-ons and comma splice sentences. It includes noticing, guided and freer practice. (see worksheet example) Time: 60mins. Level ***** [B1/B2/C1]./ TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

Tense Review (3 lessons: analysis, gap fill, speaking)

This is a great lesson to introduce / revise English Tenses. Lesson 1: students discuss a number of sentences & identify the tense & reason for use. Give out Tense handout (here) to consolidate. Lesson 2: tense review gap fill. Lesson 3: speaking exercise with lots of questions using the tenses. Example Level ***** [B1/B2/C1] /TEACHER MEMBERSHIP / INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERSHIP

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PDF Lesson Download

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Verb Patterns Download

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