Verb Patterns for Plans and Regrets

Study the questions and tasks

Work through the material below, or start the interactive practice above to complete an attempt. Try the exercises before opening any answer or transcript sections, then use them to review your work.

Practice level

B2. Try this level if you can follow the instructions and understand most of the language; choose an earlier level if you need more support.

Question formats

Fill in the blank (text)

How to approach this practice

Read the complete context. Check both the meaning and the grammar, including word forms, collocations and links between sentences.

1. Question 1 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use tell: I regret ___ (tell) him the secret last night; now everyone knows.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   telling / having told

   Regret doing refers to an earlier action that is now regretted.

2. Question 2 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use say: We regret ___ (say) that your application has been unsuccessful.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to say

   Regret to say introduces unwelcome news being delivered.

3. Question 3 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use lock: I remember ___ (lock) the door; I can picture turning the key.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   locking / having locked

   Remember locking and remember having locked both recall the completed action; the perfect gerund makes the earlier timing explicit.

4. Question 4 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use call: Please remember ___ (call) the dentist tomorrow.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to call

   Remember to do refers to a future duty.

5. Question 5 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use drink: After walking for an hour, we stopped ___ (drink) some water before continuing.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to drink

   Stop to do interrupts an activity for a different purpose.

6. Question 6 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use complain: He finally stopped ___ (complain) about the food and ate it.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   complaining

   Stop doing means cease that activity.

7. Question 7 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use meet: We arranged ___ (meet) outside the theatre.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to meet

   Arrange takes a to-infinitive.

8. Question 8 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use delay: I can't justify ___ (delay) the decision any longer.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   delaying

   Justify takes an ing form.

9. Question 9 · Fill in the blank (text)

   Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

   Use try: She persuaded me ___ (try) the new route.

   Check answers and explanations

   Blank 1

   to try

   Persuade someone takes a to-infinitive.

10. Question 10 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use accept: He denied ___ (accept) the money, saying he had refused it.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    accepting / having accepted

    Deny takes an ing form; perfect ing also refers to the prior alleged action.

11. Question 11 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use work: We are committed to ___ (work) together on the project.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    working

    To in committed to is a preposition and takes an ing form.

12. Question 12 · Fill in the blank (text)

    Complete each blank with the missing word or phrase.

    Use change: The proposal involves ___ (change) the entire timetable.

    Check answers and explanations

    Blank 1

    changing

    Involve takes an ing form.

What to review next

Explain why each answer fits the meaning and structure. Record useful phrases and write a new example using each pattern you found difficult.

A focused practice result shows how you did on these tasks. Use several activities across skills to decide what to study next; one practice score does not certify an overall CEFR level.