eng8-u6-mistake-detector· UNIT 6. CHANGE-MAKERS· ~18 min

Unit 6 Mistake Detector: Verb patterns and linking verbs

Decide whether a highlighted form is correct, then repair only the form that breaks its rule.

A highlighted phrase is evidence to inspect, not proof that an error exists. First identify the verb pattern or sentence role. After allow, ask, advise, and expect, this lesson uses an object followed by a to-infinitive: ‘They allowed Mina to join’; ‘We expect him to arrive.’ After active make and let, use an object followed by the base verb without to: ‘The coach made us practise’; ‘Let them speak.’ A linking verb describes the subject and takes an adjective: ‘She looks happy’; ‘He seems clever’; ‘The room became quiet.’ Some of the same verbs can describe actions and then take an adverb, so use the sentence meaning rather than a memorised word alone. Finally, check word form and fixed meaning: use the noun decision after make the right, and use give up for stopping an effort. Forms such as on her own, asked me to read, expect us to arrive, kept on working, and make mistakes are already correct in their source contexts.

Key terms

to-infinitive — The form to + base verb, as in to join.
bare infinitive — The base verb without to, as in make after let them.
linking verb — A verb that links the subject to a description rather than naming an action.
valid highlight — A marked phrase that remains correct after its rule and context are checked.
Repair map
ContextPatternExample
allow / ask / advise / expectobject + to-infinitive‘The guide allowed us to enter.’
active make / letobject + bare infinitive‘The rain made us wait.’
linking look / seem / becomeverb + adjective‘The plan seems useful.’
word choicecorrect noun or phrasal verb‘make a decision’; ‘give up’
Already-correct patterns
PhraseWhy it works
on her ownCorrect phrase meaning independently
asked me to readask + object + to-infinitive
expect us to arriveexpect + object + to-infinitive
kept on workingCorrect keep on + -ing pattern
make mistakesCorrect verb–noun combination
✎Repair only the broken form
  1. 1Sentence: ‘The coach let the players to rest.’
  2. 2Rule: Active let takes object + bare infinitive.
  3. 3Repair: ‘The coach let the players rest.’
✎Choose adjective or adverb from meaning
  1. 1Description: ‘The soup tastes good.’ Taste links soup to the adjective good.
  2. 2Action: ‘The chef tasted the soup carefully.’ Tasted names an action, so carefully describes how.
  3. 3Check: Ask whether the verb links a description or reports an action.
⚠️Do not add to after active make or let

Use ‘made the class stay’ and ‘let the class leave’ in these active patterns.

💡One sentence can contain two decisions

Check each highlighted phrase separately; a correct phrase does not protect a nearby error.

Rules

  1. 1Use object + to-infinitive after allow, ask, advise, and expect in the patterns practised here.
  2. 2Use object + bare infinitive after active make and let.
  3. 3Use an adjective after look, seem, or become when the verb links the subject to a description.
  4. 4Do not change a highlighted form merely because it is highlighted; test it in its full sentence.
  5. 5Check both grammar and word choice, including decision as a noun and give up as the phrasal verb for stopping.

Practice

4 easy · 4 medium · 4 hard

Up to 10 random questions per test

EasyMediumHardMixed