Using two verbs together to add information about actions

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Using double-verb structures to talk about "facilitation"

The first verb provides information about making possible, allowing or in some way helping the main action:

If you would just allow me to get a word in edgeways ...
(Bank of English)

Here are some common "facilitation" verbs commonly used in double-verb structures:

allow arrange for enable
help * let * permit
teach train

* Note that with the exception of let (which is followed by the bare infinitive) and help (which can be followed by either bare infinitive or to-infinitive), these "facilitation" verbs are followed by the to-infinitive.

For information about some of the problems that students have with using help, see  Using two verbs together to add information about actions: Students' problems (p 5).

04conten.gif (549 bytes) Introduction
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Using double-verb structures to talk about "positive causation"
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Using double-verb structures to talk about "prevention"
square.gif (58 bytes) Using double-verb structures to talk about "facilitation"
04conten.gif (549 bytes) Teaching implications