Verb Complementation Patterns in Technical English
5 exercises — practise which complement form (gerund, infinitive, that-clause) fixed verbs require in technical writing.
0 / 18 completed
1 / 18
Choose the sentence with the correct complementation pattern for "suggest":
"Suggested refactoring" is correct: "suggest" takes a gerund (-ing form) as its complement, never a bare infinitive or a to-infinitive. This is a fixed pattern that must be memorized rather than derived from meaning — compare with "recommend", which behaves the same way ("recommended refactoring", not "recommended to refactor"). Option A incorrectly uses the to-infinitive, a very common error since many other verbs of advice (like "want" or "decide") do take to-infinitives, creating false pattern-matching. Option C uses the bare form with no complementizer, which is ungrammatical. Option D reorders the sentence into an unnatural and ungrammatical structure.
2 / 18
Which sentence correctly uses the object + infinitive pattern after "allow"?
"Allows developers to query" is correct: "allow" follows the object + to-infinitive pattern (verb + object + to + base verb), a structure shared with verbs like "enable", "permit", and "expect". Option B incorrectly substitutes a gerund for the required to-infinitive after the object. Option C incorrectly tries to use a that-clause, which "allow" does not take in this construction. Option D omits the required "to" before the base verb, producing a bare infinitive after the object, which is ungrammatical with "allow" (though it would be correct with causative verbs like "make", e.g., "makes developers query" — the pattern depends entirely on the specific verb).
3 / 18
A design doc states a requirement. Choose the sentence with the correct complementation pattern for "require":
"Requires the service to handle" is the most natural and common complementation pattern for "require" in technical specifications: object + to-infinitive. Option B ("requires that the service handles") is grammatically acceptable in formal register using a that-clause, but note it uses the indicative "handles" rather than the subjunctive base form — mixing this with the subjunctive pattern ("requires that the service handle", without "s") is a separate, distinct construction and inconsistent verb forms across a document should be avoided; as a standalone pattern choice here, the to-infinitive form is cleaner and more standard in specs. Option A incorrectly uses a gerund ("handling") after the object, which "require" does not take in this pattern. Option D drops the required "to", producing a bare infinitive that is only correct in the separate subjunctive-that-clause pattern, not after a direct object without "that".
4 / 18
Choose the sentence with the correct complementation pattern for "avoid":
"Avoid hardcoding" is correct: "avoid" is one of a fixed group of verbs (along with "suggest", "consider", "recommend", "risk", "involve") that take only a gerund complement, never a to-infinitive. Option A incorrectly uses the to-infinitive pattern, a common overgeneralization from verbs like "want" or "need". Option C incorrectly introduces an unnecessary that-clause; "avoid" does not take this pattern. Option D uses the bare infinitive form with no complementizer at all, which is ungrammatical directly after "avoid".
5 / 18
Which sentence correctly uses "remember" to distinguish between a completed action and a mental note, based on gerund vs. infinitive complementation?
"Remember configuring" (gerund) vs. "Remember to configure" (to-infinitive) is the correct pairing: "remember + gerund" refers to recalling a past action that already happened ("I remember configuring it" = I have a memory of doing it), while "remember + to-infinitive" refers to not forgetting a future obligation ("remember to configure it" = don't forget to do it). This is one of a small set of verbs (also "forget", "stop", "try", "regret") whose meaning changes depending on which complement form is used. Options B, C, and D all mix up which form pairs with which meaning, or combine "to" with an -ing form ("to configuring"), which is never grammatical in standard English.
6 / 18
During a code review, Sarah says to David: 'I think we should investigate the performance bottleneck in the API call.' Which sentence best completes this statement using the correct verb complementation pattern?
This question tests the object + infinitive pattern. The correct phrasing emphasizes that *David* is performing the action of investigation. Options A and D incorrectly rephrase the sentence into a statement about the result. Option C uses an incorrect passive construction, while option B accurately reflects the intended meaning with the verb 'investigate' followed by the infinitive 'to investigate.'
7 / 18
During a standup meeting, Maria says: 'The development team will prioritize the critical bug fixes.' Which sentence correctly utilizes the correct verb complementation pattern for 'prioritize'?
This question tests the object + infinitive pattern for 'prioritize'. The correct sentence indicates that *the team* is undertaking the action. Options A and D are awkward phrasing or unnecessary qualifiers. Option B accurately reflects the intended meaning with 'prioritizes' followed by the infinitive 'to prioritize.'
8 / 18
During a code review, Sarah says to David: 'I think we should investigate the performance bottleneck in the API call.' Which sentence best completes this statement using the correct verb complementation pattern?
This question tests the object + infinitive pattern. The correct phrasing emphasizes that *David* is performing the action of investigation. Options A and D incorrectly rephrase the sentence into a statement about the result. Option C uses an incorrect passive construction, while option B accurately reflects the intended meaning with the verb 'investigate' followed by the infinitive 'to investigate.'
9 / 18
During a standup meeting, Maria says: 'The development team will prioritize the critical bug fixes.' Which sentence correctly utilizes the correct verb complementation pattern for 'prioritize'?
This question tests the object + infinitive pattern for 'prioritize'. The correct sentence indicates that *the team* is undertaking the action. Options A and D are awkward phrasing or unnecessary qualifiers. Option B accurately reflects the intended meaning with 'prioritizes' followed by the infinitive 'to prioritize.'
10 / 18
A senior developer, Alex, is explaining a new security protocol to the team. He says: 'We need to implement stricter authentication checks on all API endpoints.' Which of the following best completes this statement, correctly using a verb complementation pattern?
This question tests the 'require' pattern – to require something is to demand it. The other options use less direct phrasing and don't accurately reflect the demanding nature of a security requirement. Using 'to enforce stronger controls' directly aligns with the 'require' pattern.
11 / 18
During a Slack discussion about optimizing database queries, Ben suggests: 'Let's reduce the number of full table scans.' Which sentence demonstrates the most appropriate verb complementation for this suggestion?
The 'allow' pattern (object + infinitive) is used when something is permitted or facilitated. 'For enhanced query performance' accurately describes what Ben is suggesting – allowing for improved speed. The other options present less direct and less grammatically correct constructions.
12 / 18
A project manager, Chris, is writing a PR description for a code change that fixes a critical bug. He states: 'The team will avoid introducing regressions in the core functionality.' Which sentence correctly uses the verb complementation pattern to express this avoidance?
The 'avoid' pattern (object + infinitive) is used when something is deliberately left out or avoided. 'With minimal disruption to existing features' directly reflects the intention of avoiding regressions. The other options are less precise and don't capture the core meaning.
13 / 18
During a code review, Liam comments to Anya: 'The system needs to validate the user's input before processing it.' Which sentence best completes this statement using the correct verb complementation pattern?
A. The team should implement stricter validation rules for the user's input.
B. The team will validate the user's input before processing it.
C. The team needs to validate the user's input before processing it.
D. The system must validate the user's input before processing it.
This question tests the object + infinitive pattern. When expressing a need or requirement regarding an action, we typically use 'need', 'require', 'suggest' followed by 'to + verb'. Option C correctly uses this pattern – 'needs to validate' – accurately reflecting the situation described in the scenario. Options A and D are less precise and don't fit the standard complementation structure.
14 / 18
In a Slack message to the DevOps team, Ben writes: 'We should monitor the application's logs for any unusual patterns.' Which sentence demonstrates the most appropriate verb complementation for this suggestion?
A. The team monitors the application's logs for any unusual patterns.
B. We should monitor the application's logs for any unusual patterns.
C. Monitoring the application's logs is necessary to identify any unusual patterns.
D. The team will monitor the application's logs for any unusual patterns.
This question assesses the use of 'should' followed by an infinitive. The 'should' expresses a recommendation or suggestion – a common use case for verb complements. Option B directly reflects this usage and is the most natural phrasing within a Slack message. The other options introduce unnecessary complexity (e.g., stating 'the team should' when the speaker is making the suggestion).
15 / 18
During a code review, David is pointing out a potential issue with the new authentication service. He says to Emily: 'We need to ensure that all requests are properly authenticated.' Which of the following completes this statement most accurately using the correct verb complementation pattern?
This scenario uses the 'object + infinitive' pattern after 'ensure'. The key here is that 'ensure' requires an infinitive phrase to express the action being taken. Options A and B use the correct structure; options C and D incorrectly use 'will' which doesn't fit this complementation pattern.
16 / 18
As part of a sprint planning meeting, Mark asks the team to investigate a performance issue. He says: 'The developers should optimize the database queries.' Which sentence best completes this statement using the correct verb complementation pattern?
This question tests the 'suggest' + object + infinitive pattern. 'Suggest' is often followed by 'should' + an infinitive to make a recommendation. Option B uses this structure correctly and represents the most natural way to phrase the suggestion in a professional setting.
17 / 18
During a Slack discussion about potential security vulnerabilities, Lisa suggests: 'The team should implement rate limiting on all incoming requests.' Which sentence demonstrates the most appropriate verb complementation for this suggestion?
This scenario employs the 'suggest' + object + infinitive pattern, a common way to propose actions. 'Suggest' is frequently paired with 'should' plus an infinitive, indicating a recommendation. Option B incorrectly uses 'is implementing' which implies ongoing action.
18 / 18
In a PR description for a new feature, Robert writes: 'The system needs to handle large datasets efficiently.' Which sentence correctly utilizes the correct verb complementation for 'handle'?
This question assesses the 'need' + object + infinitive pattern after verbs like 'handle', 'consider,' or 'manage'. It's a common structure for specifying requirements. Option B incorrectly suggests an ongoing state and options D is overly forceful.
What will I practise in "Verb Complementation Patterns in Technical English — IT Grammar Exercise"?
Practise choosing the correct complement structure — that-clause, to-infinitive, gerund, or object + infinitive — required by specific verbs like suggest
How many exercises are in this module?
This module has 18 multiple-choice exercises, each with instant feedback and a full explanation of the correct answer.
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Articles explain grammar rules in prose; this exercise tests and reinforces those rules through active recall with immediate feedback — the two work best together.
Who writes these exercises?
Every exercise is written by the CoderSlingo team, drawing on real workplace English used in IT roles, then reviewed for accuracy and clarity.