The Top 10 Verb + Verb Combination Mistakes

The Top 10 Verb + Verb Combination Mistakes 

This list shows the ten mistakes that advanced students most often make when they put one verb after another verb. In each case the form of the second verb is incorrect.

1 Main Verb: suggest 
✗ suggest (sb) to do sth
✗ I suggest to send our colleagues on a similar course.
✓ suggest (that) sb do sth
✓ I suggest (that) we send our colleagues on a similar course.

2 Main Verb: recommend 
✗ recommend to do sth
✗ I recommend to employ a part-time assistant.
✓ recommend doing sth
✓ I recommend employing a part-time assistant.

3 Main Verb: look forward to 
✗ look forward to do sth
✗ I look forward to hear from you.
✓ look forward to doing sth
✓ I look forward to hearing from you.

4 Main Verb: need 
✗ need do sth; need doing sth
✗ We need resolve a lot of other important problems.
✓ need to do sth
✓ We need to resolve a lot of other important problems.

5 Main Verb: consider 
✗ consider to do sth
✗ I would like you to consider to refund at least some of my money.
✓ consider doing sth
✓ I would like you to consider refunding at least some of my money.

6 Main Verb: want 
✗ want do sth
✗ If you want have the body you have always dreamed of, you must join a gym.
✓ want to do sth
✓ If you want to have the body you have always dreamed of, you must join a gym.

7 Main Verb: be used to 
✗ be used to do sth
✗ You should be used to work in teams and be computer literate.
✓ be used to doing sth
✓ You should be used to working in teams and be computer literate.

8 Main Verb: (would) like 
✗ would like do sth
✗ I would like thank the families for their help.
✓ would like to do sth
✓ I would like to thankthe families for their help.

9 Main Verb: can 
✗ can to do sth
✗ We need to find new markets where we can to sell our products.
✓ can do sth
✓ We need to find new markets where we can sell our products.

10 Main Verb: help 
✗ help (sb) doing sth
✗ My job was to help operating the roller-coaster.
✓ help (sb) to do sth; help (sb) do sth
✓ My job was to help (them) to operate the roller-coaster.• My job was to help (them) operate the roller-coaster.

Note:
sb = somebody
sth = something

Source: Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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