2.298 Many of these nouns are related to verbs or adjectives that are also often followed by to-infinitive clauses. For example, a to-infinitive clause is used after both the verb need and the noun need, and after both the adjective able and the related noun ability.
I need to borrow five thousand dollars.
…the need to preserve secrecy about their intentions.
It failed to grow.
2.299 Here is a list of nouns that usually or often have a to-infinitive clause after them:
ability
attempt
bid
chance
compulsion
desire
disinclination
failure
inability
inclination
need
opportunity
readiness
reason
refusal
unwillingness
urge
way
willingness
nouns followed by -ed participle clauses
2.300 A clause containing an -ed participle can be used directly after a noun to show that something has been produced or affected by an action.
…a girl called Patricia.
…dresses made of paper.
…two of the problems mentioned above.
…a story written by a nine-year-old girl.
nouns followed by -ing participle clauses
2.301 A clause containing an -ing participle can be used directly after a noun to show that someone or something is doing something.
He gestured towards the three cards lying on the table.
…a wicker shopping-basket containing groceries.
with an identifying noun phrase
2.302 You can give further information about someone or something by using a noun phrase that describes them or identifies them.
If you put this noun phrase after the main noun phrase, a comma is almost always put after the main noun phrase because the second noun phrase is separate from it, not part of it.
…the bald eagle, the symbol of America.
…David Beckham, a first-class football player.
Her mother, a Canadian, died when she was six.
If you put this noun phrase before the main noun phrase, you can sometimes choose whether to use a comma to separate the two noun phrases or not.
…Joan’s husband, Jim Inglis.
…my husband George.
3 Making a message: types of verb
3.1 When you make a statement, you use a clause. A clause that is used to make a statement contains a noun phrase, which refers to the person or thing that you are talking about, and a verb phrase, which shows what sort of action, process, or state you are talking about.
The noun phrase, which usually comes in front of the verb, is called the subject of the verb or the clause. For example, in the clause Ellen laughed, Ellen is the subject. The formation of noun phrases is explained in Chapters 1 and 2.
A verb phrase used in a statement has a particular form, and shows agreement with number and person. The formation of verb phrases is explained in the Reference Section. Quite often in statements the verb phrase is a single word, and it is quite common to talk about the verb of a clause.
This chapter deals mainly with the use of verbs in active clauses, where the subject is the performer of an action rather than the person or thing affected by an action. The use of verbs in passive clauses, where the subject is the person or thing affected, is explained in paragraphs 9.8 to 9.24.
Showing who is involved
intransitive verbs
3.2 If an action or event involves only one person or thing, you mention only the performer of the action (the subject) and the action (the verb).
The girl screamed.
I waited.
An awful thing has happened.
Verbs like this are called intransitive verbs.
However, you can then mention another person or thing that is involved using a prepositional phrase.
She walked across the street.
Intransitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.8 to 3.13.
transitive verbs
3.3 If the action or event involves another person or thing that the action affects, relates to, or produces, you put a noun phrase referring to them after the verb. This is called the object of the verb. If it is necessary to distinguish it from other objects, it is called the direct object.
He closed the door.
I hate sport.
Some of the women noticed me.
Verbs like this are called transitive verbs. Transitive verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.14 to 3.25.
Reflexive verbs and delexical verbs are special kinds of transitive verbs. They are explained in paragraphs 3.26 to 3.31 and 3.32 to 3.45.
intransitive or transitive verbs
3.4 The majority of verbs in English give you the option of presenting an event either as involving the subject only, or as involving the subject and someone or something else as a direct object.
She paints by holding the brush in her teeth.
Yarkov paints vivid portraits of friends and acquaintances.
Gus asked me whether I’d like to have dinner with him. I accepted.
I accepted the invitation.
This means that most verbs can be used with or without an object. Verbs that can be used like this are explained in paragraphs 3.46 to 3.54.
With some verbs, the thing affected by the action can be put as the object of the verb or as the object of a preposition after the verb. These verbs are explained in paragraphs 3.55 to 3.58.
Ergative verbs are a special kind of verb that can be used with or without an object. They are explained in paragraphs 3.59 to 3.67.
reciprocal verbs
3.5 Reciprocal verbs refer to actions that involve people affecting each other in the same way with the same action. There are two types of reciprocal verb. One type is used either with or without an object.
We met at Hargreaves’ place.
I had met him in Zermatt.
The other type is used without an object, and with or without a prepositional phrase mentioning one of the participants.
We argued over this question for a long time.