Research in ESL shows that most mistakes made by learners result from misuse of verbs and if the learner can master thoroughly about 500 commonly-used verbs, he or she can communicate almost any ideas clearly.
      “以英語作為第二語言”的研究顯示，學員的文法錯誤多源自動詞的誤用。如果學員能徹底掌握大約五百個常用動詞的正確用法，便可清楚地表達任何意思。
      In the following paragraph there are some verb-related mistakes. Below the paragraph there is a list of verbs and the verb patterns that should be used. Use these patterns to correct the mistakes.
      在以下的段落裡有些與動詞有關的文法錯誤，跟下來有一組動詞及其正確的語法格式，請根據這些格式來更正錯誤。
      Yesterday John and I discussed about our plans after graduation. John told that he was considering to study in the United States. He had applied for a few universities in California and requested for more information.             However, only one had replied his application. When I asked him what subjects he was interesting in, he said he was not sure. I suggested him to see the school counsellor. She might provide him more information about universities in California. John agreed my suggestion. He then said he hoped me to study in the States with him.       I wanted to, but it wasted a lot of money to study in the States and my family could not afford me to do that. I said I would wait my provincial exam results to come out. If I succeeded to get good results I would study in B.C.

      Note: Sth = something. Sb = somebody
      I discuss sth
      I say that ….
      I tell sb that ….
      I consider doing sth
      I apply to sb (for sth)
      I request sth
      I reply to a question, a letter, etc
      I am interested in sth
      I sugges that ….
      I provide sb with sth
      I agree with sb
      I agree to a suggestion
      I hope that ….
      I want sb to do sth
      It takes time, money or effort to do sth
      I cannot afford to do sth or let sth happen
      I wait for sth
      I succeed in doing

      Answers:
      Yesterday John and I discussed our plans after graduation. John told me that he was considering studying abroad. He had applied to a few universities in California and requested more information. However, only one had replied to his application. When I asked him what subjects he was interested in, he said he was not sure. I suggested that he should see the school counsellor. She might provide him with more information about universities in California. John agreed to my suggestion. He then said he wanted me to study in the States with him. I wanted to, but it cost a lot of money to study in the States and my family could not afford to let me do that. I said I would wait for my pronvincial exam results to come out. If I succeeded in getting good results I would study in B.C.

      以上資料取材自 The Verb Guide （星島日報緬街辦事處有售）
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