Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring (Using verb patterns to represent desires and needs) (p. 3)

Representing thinking, perceiving, liking and desiring

Using verb patterns to represent desires and needs

page 3 of 12

Grammatical patterns associated with the phenomenon

Verbs associated with desires and needs may be followed by a range of different structures. The two commonest (and therefore most useful to teach first) are:

1.	the to-infinitive which represents the situation or activity which is hoped, needed, wanted, etc:
	I really want to be* a doctor. (SCMP 14/4/94)*
2.	a noun group which represents the thing which is prayed for, lusted after, ached for, etc:
	I ache for the touch of your whips, my dear, as we dance to the Masochism Tango. (Tom Lehrer)
Other less common structures include the following:
3.	an object and the to-infinitive which represents the situation or activity which is wanted, needed, preferred, etc:
	He would prefer his granddaughter to obtain the estate, rather than the heir of his last surviving son. (Microconcord Corpus B)
4.	the -ing form, which represents the situation or activity which is wanted, required, counted on, etc:
	He'd counted on getting away unseen by anybody. (Bank of English)
5.	an object followed by the -ing form, which represents the activity or situation which is resented, looked forward to, counted on, etc:
	He had counted on their railing at him, storming, cursing, condemning. (Bank of English)
6.	a that clause which typically represents the situation or activity which is prayed for, hoped, wished, etc:
	Some good thing had been voiced, and Wilde had remarked that he wished that he had said it - and was then told: "You will, Oscar, you will." (Microconcord Corpus B)
7.	a noun group followed by an object and an adjective (or -ed participle clause) which represents the situation or activity which is wished, wanted or needed:
	I think we need that* one file outstanding finished. (Bank of English)*
The rest of this file contains further information about the verbs which are associated with each of these grammatical structures.

Introduction
Participants associated with desire verbs
Grammatical patterns associated with the phenomenon
Verb followed by the to-infinitive
Verb followed by a noun group
Verb followed by an object and the to-infinitive
Verb followed by the -ing form
Verb followed by an object and the -ing form
Verb followed by a that clause
Verb followed by an object and an adjective/-ed participle clause
Ellipsis with desire verbs
Present simple v present continuous tense