Verbs As Complements

Verbs As Complements Exercises

Verbs As Complements

Verbs as complements refer to the use of verbs to complete the meaning of certain sentences. In English, there are specific sentence structures where a verb is used as a complement to provide additional information or clarify the action being performed. Understanding how verbs function as complements is important for both effective communication in English and success in the TOEFL exam.

Here are some common ways in which verbs are used as complements:

1- Verb + Object Complement: In this structure, a verb is followed by an object complement that describes or renames the object of the sentence. For example: “They elected him president.” Here, “elected” is the verb, and “president” is the object complement that renames “him.”

2- Verb + Adjective Complement: This structure involves a verb followed by an adjective complement that describes or modifies the subject of the sentence. For example: “She became happy.” Here, “became” is the verb, and “happy” is the adjective complement that describes “she.”

3- Verb + Noun Complement: In this structure, a verb is followed by a noun complement that renames or identifies the subject of the sentence. For example: “He is a doctor.” Here, “is” is the verb, and “doctor” is the noun complement that renames “he.”

4- Verb + Infinitive Complement: This structure consists of a verb followed by an infinitive complement that provides additional information about the action or purpose. For example: “They want to learn.” Here, “want” is the verb, and “to learn” is the infinitive complement that expresses their intention.

5- Verb + Gerund Complement: In this structure, a verb is followed by a gerund complement that functions as the object of the sentence. For example: “I enjoy swimming.” Here, “enjoy” is the verb, and “swimming” is the gerund complement that acts as the object.

6- Verb + Prepositional Phrase Complement: This structure involves a verb followed by a prepositional phrase complement that provides additional information or details about the action. For example: “They apologized for their mistake.” Here, “apologized” is the verb, and “for their mistake” is the prepositional phrase complement.

It’s important to understand and recognize these different structures involving verbs as complements in order to construct grammatically correct sentences and convey your intended meaning. In the TOEFL exam, you may encounter sentences that require you to identify and manipulate verbs as complements.

Remember to practice using these structures and pay attention to the relationship between the verb and the complement. By familiarizing yourself with these patterns, you can enhance your understanding of English sentence structures and improve your overall language proficiency.

Verbs As Complements

Exercise-1
Use a correct form of the given verb in each sentence (infinitive with or without to or the -ing form).

1. They want (arrange) all the details carefully.

2. You can’t expect your boss (wait) for you all day.

3. They really enjoy (have) nothing to do.

4. He hasn’t finished (write) his essay yet.

5. She complained about (be) the only person without the books.

6. They forced the hostage (lie) on the floor.

7. Then they made them (close) their eyes.

8. Is it difficult (make) an omelette?

9. When did you last go (skate)?

Answers :

1. to arrange	2. to wait/waiting	3. having	4. writing	5. being
6. to lie	7. close	8. to make	9. skating

1- They want to arrange all the details carefully.
2- You can’t expect your boss to wait for you all day.
3- They really enjoy having nothing to do.
4- He hasn’t finished writing his essay yet.
5- She complained about being the only person without the books.
6- They forced the hostage to lie on the floor.
7- Then they made them close their eyes.
8- Is it difficult to make an omelette?
9- When did you last go skating?

Verbs As Complements

Exercise-2
Put the verb into the correct form (to+infinitive or -ing).

1. I enjoy (be) alone.

2. Would you like (come) to a party?

3. Do you mind (travel) such a long way to work every day?

4. Ann loves (cook) but she hates (wash) dishes.

5. I can’t stand people (tell) me what to do when I’m driving.

6. I don’t like that house. I would hate (live) there.

7. Do you like (drive)?

8. When I have to catch a train, I’m always worried about missing it. So I like (get) to the station in plenty of time.

9. I very much enjoy (listen) to classical music.

10. I would love (come) to your wedding but it just isn’t possible.

11. Sometimes I’d like (learn) to play the guitar.

Answers:

1. being	2. to come	3. travelling	4. cooking / to cook-washing/ to wash	5. to tell / telling	6. to live/ living
7. driving/ to drive	8. to get/getting	9. listening	10. to come	11. to learn

1- I enjoy being alone.
2- Would you like to come to a party?
3- Do you mind travelling such a long way to work every day?
4- Ann loves cooking, but she hates washing dishes.
5- I can’t stand people telling me what to do when I’m driving.
6- I don’t like that house. I would hate to live there.
7- Do you like driving?
8- When I have to catch a train, I’m always worried about missing it. So I like to get to the station in plenty of time.
9- I very much enjoy listening to classical music.
10-I would love to come to your wedding, but it just isn’t possible.
11- Sometimes I’d like to learn to play the guitar.

Exercise-3
Put the verb into the correct form (infinitive or the -ing form).

1. Mr. Thomas doesn’t like (smoke) in his office.

2. Mr. Thomas doesn’t let anyone (smoke) in his office.

3. I don’t know Jack but I’d like (meet) him.

4. Where would you recommend me (go) for my holidays?

5. I don’t suggest (eat) in that restaurant. The food is awful.

6. The film was very sad. It made me (cry).

7. Jack’s parents have always encouraged him (study) hard.

8. We were kept at the police station for an hour and then allowed (go).

Answers:

1. smoking/ smoke	2. smoke	3. to meet	4. to go
5. eating	6. cry	7. to study	8. to go

1- Mr. Thomas doesn’t like smoking in his office.
2- Mr. Thomas doesn’t let anyone smoke in his office.
3- I don’t know Jack, but I’d like to meet him.
4- Where would you recommend I go for my holidays?
5- I don’t suggest eating in that restaurant. The food is awful.
6- The film was very sad. It made me cry.
7- Jack’s parents have always encouraged him to study hard.
8- We were kept at the police station for an hour and then allowed to go.

Verbs As Complements

Exercise-4
Put the verb into the correct form (infinitive or -ing form).

1. I would like (travel) all over the world.

2. I think Mary has a good chance of (win) the election on Sunday.

3. We expect (arrive) at the station at 4:30 on Saturday.

4. Do you think Ann will agree (have) the meeting in her office?

5. If the phone doesn’t stop (ring), I’m going to throw it out of the window.

6. When did you start (leam) Chinese?

7. They hope (go) to the meeting in Helsinki next year.

8. Doesn’t your brother want (learn) (drive)?

9. My sister likes (swim), but she doesn’t like swimming pools.

10. My cousin doesn’t really need (work), but he enjoys (be) around people and (do) something useful.

11. (Eat) fatty foods, (drink) alcohol and (smoke) are all bad for your heart.

12. After (work) all day, I don’t really feel like going out in the evening.

Answers :

1. to travel	2. winning	3. to arrive	4. to have	5. ringing	6. to learn/learning
7. to go	8. to learn to drive	9. swimming / to swim	10. to work, being, doing	11. Eating, drinking, smoking	12. working

1- I would like to travel all over the world.
2- I think Mary has a good chance of winning the election on Sunday.
3- We expect to arrive at the station at 4:30 on Saturday.
4- Do you think Ann will agree to have the meeting in her office?
5- If the phone doesn’t stop ringing, I’m going to throw it out of the window.
6- When did you start learning Chinese?
7- They hope to go to the meeting in Helsinki next year.
8- Doesn’t your brother want to learn to drive?
9- My sister likes swimming, but she doesn’t like swimming pools.
10- My cousin doesn’t really need to work, but he enjoys being around people and doing something useful.
11- Eating fatty foods, drinking alcohol, and smoking are all bad for your heart.
12- After working all day, I don’t really feel like going out in the evening.

Exercise-5
Choose the infinitive or the -ing form.

1. I’m very bad at (to play / playing) the piano.

2. Would you like (to go / going) horse riding with me?

3. I hope (to learn / learning) to play badminton next winter.

4. (To fish / Fishing) helps me to relax.

5. Thank you for (to take / taking) me windsurfing.

6. You can’t expect (to be / being) good at a sport the very first time you try it.

7. Could you teach me how (to play / playing) chess?

8. She really loves (to collect / collecting) stamps.

9. I can’t live without (to listen / listening) to music.

10. (To parachute / Parachuting) can be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.

11. I’m good at (to waterski / waterskiing), but my husband can’t do it at all.

Answers:

1. playing	2. to go	3. to learn	4. Fishing	5. taking	6. to be
7. to play	8. collecting/to collect	9. listening	10. Parachuting	11 .water skiing

1- I’m very bad at playing the piano.
2- Would you like to go horse riding with me?
3- I hope to learn to play badminton next winter.
4- Fishing helps me to relax.
5- Thank you for taking me windsurfing.
6- You can’t expect to be good at a sport the very first time you try it.
7-Could you teach me how to play chess?
8- She really loves collecting stamps.
9- I can’t live without listening to music.
10- Parachuting can be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.
11- I’m good at water skiing, but my husband can’t do it at all.

Verbs As Complements Quiz -2

Choose the infinitive or the -ing form.

I’m very bad at ——– the piano.

a) to play
b) playing

Answer : b) playing
I’m very bad at playing the piano.

Would you like ——— horse riding with me?

a) to go
b) going

Answer : a) to go
Would you like to go horse riding with me?

I hope ——— to play badminton next winter.

a) to learn
b) learning

Answer : a) to learn
I hope to learn to play badminton next winter.

——– helps me to relax.

a) To fish
b) Fishing

Answer : b) Fishing
Fishing helps me to relax.

Thank you for ——– me windsurfing.

a) to take
b) taking

Answer : b) taking
Thank you for taking me windsurfing.

You can’t expect ——— good at a sport the very first time you try it.

a) to be
b) being

Answer : a) to be
You can’t expect to be good at a sport the very first time you try it.

Could you teach me how ——– chess?

a) to play
b) playing

Answer : a) to play
Could you teach me how to play chess?

She really loves ——– stamps.

a) to collect
b) collecting

Answer : b) collecting

She really loves collecting stamps.

I can’t live without ——– to music.

a) to listen
b) listening

Answer : b) listening
I can’t live without listening to music.

——– can be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.

a) To parachute
b) Parachuting

Answer : b) Parachuting
Parachuting can be quite dangerous if you don’t know what you are doing.

I’m good at ——— but my husband can’t do it at all.

a) to waterski
b) waterskiing

Answer : b) water skiing
I’m good at waterskiing but my husband can’t do it at all.

Verbs As Complements

Verbs Complementation Quize-1

Fill in the blanks

Why are you —————- me like that?

a) looking
b) look at
c) looking at

Answer : c) looking at

Why are you looking at me like that?

I would like you to —————- this story.

a) listen
b) listen to
c) hear to

Answer : b) listen to

I would like you to listen to this story.

Let’s —————- your plans.

a) talk
b) talk about
c) Either could be used here

Answer : b) talk about

Let’s talk about your plans.

Let’s —————-. your plans.

a) discuss
b) discuss about
c) Either could be used here

Answer : a) discuss

Let’s discuss your plans.

She —————-.. the station last night.

a) arrived
b) arrived at
c) arrived one.

Answer : b) arrived at

She arrived at the station last night.

I enjoy —————-. cards.

a) playing
b) to play
c) to playing
d) play

Answer : a) playing

I enjoy playing cards.

I suggest —————-. an attorney.

a) you to consult
b) that you consult
c) to consult
d) that you to consult

Answer : b) that you consult

I suggest that you see an attorney.

The police believe —————- to be dangerous.

a) he
b) him

Answer : b) him

The police believe him to be dangerous.

I would like you to explain —————-

a) us your decision
b) your decision to us
c) your decision us

Answer : b) your decision to us

I would like you to explain your decision to us.

Can you suggest —————-?

a) me a good cardiologist
b) a good cardiologist to me

Answer :b) a good cardiologist to me

Can you suggest a good cardiologist to me?

Please describe —————-

a) us your new job
b) your new job us
c) your new job to us

Answer : c) your new job to us

Please describe your new job to us.

He fell —————-.

a) the ladder off
b) off the ladder

Answer : a) the ladder off

He fell off the ladder.

Different kinds of verbs can be followed by different kinds of words and structures. Sometimes, this is a matter of meaning. Sometimes it is a matter of grammatical rules.

Answers:
Why are you looking at me like that?
I would like you to listen to this story.
Let’s talk about your plans.
Let’s discuss your plans.
She arrived at the station last night.
I enjoy playing cards.
I suggest that you see an attorney.
The police believe him to be dangerous.
I would like you to explain your decision to us.
Can you suggest a good cardiologist to me?
Please describe your new job to us.
He fell off the ladder.

Verbs As Complements

Verbs As Complements Exercise -3

Here’s a set of 10 multiple-choice TOEFL-style questions related to the topic “Verbs As Complements.” Each question is followed by four options (a, b, c, and d), and beneath each question, you’ll find the correct answer along with an explanation.

1- The teacher insisted that the students _________ their assignments on time.

a) complete
b) to complete
c) completing
d) completes

Answer : a) complete

Explanation: After the verb “insisted,” we use the base form of the verb (“complete”) without the “to” particle.

2- It’s important for children _________ good study habits early on.

a) develop
b) to develop
c) developing
d) develops

Answer : b) to develop

Explanation: The preposition “for” is followed by the base form of the verb (“to develop”) when expressing the purpose or goal.

3- She couldn’t help _________ when she heard the sad news.

a) cry
b) to cry
c) crying
d) cries

Answer : c) crying

Explanation: The phrase “couldn’t help” is followed by the -ing form of the verb (“crying”) to express an involuntary or uncontrollable action.

4- They want everyone _________ to the meeting tomorrow.

a) come
b) to come
c) coming
d) comes

Answer : b) to come

Explanation: After the verb “want,” we use the infinitive form of the verb (“to come”) to express a desired action.

5- The company expects its employees _________ their targets this quarter.

a) reach
b) to reach
c) reaching
d) reaches

Answer : b) to reach

6- Explanation: The verb “expects” is followed by the infinitive form of the verb (“to reach”) to indicate an anticipated action.

He made her _________ him with the project.

a) help
b) to help
c) helping
d) helps

Answer : b) to help

Explanation: After the verb “made,” we use the infinitive form of the verb (“to help”) to express an action that is required or requested.

7- I can’t stand _________ in long lines at the grocery store.

a) wait
b) to wait
c) waiting
d) waits

Answer : c) waiting

Explanation: The verb “can’t stand” is followed by the -ing form of the verb (“waiting”) to express a strong dislike or intolerance for something.

8- They advised us _________ extra precautions for safety.

a) take
b) to take
c) taking
d) takes

Answer : b) to take

Explanation: The verb “advised” is followed by the infinitive form of the verb (“to take”) to indicate a recommended action.

9 He enjoys _________ his favorite songs on the guitar.

a) play
b) to play
c) playing
d) plays

Answer : c) playing

Explanation: The verb “enjoys” is followed by the -ing form of the verb (“playing”) to indicate a pleasurable activity.

10- She told him _________ the truth.

a) speak
b) to speak
c) speaking
d) speaks

Answer : b) to speak

Explanation: The verb “told” is followed by the infinitive form of

Verbs As Complements