PERFECTING THE LANGUAGE OF LAW: VERB PATTERNS (1)

Read the information above and complete the following sentences using a verb from the list below in its correct form. Use the table above to help you.

(a) negotiate (b) want (c) draft (d) protect (e) go (f) amend (g) fail (h) convince 1. We finished (1) ….. the witness statements for the claimant last week. 2. The defendant admits (2) ….. to ensure that the property was safe and accepts he was negligent. 3. We hope (3) ….. the judge to find in our client’s favour once we present all the evidence. 4. The employee’s representative was told to prepare (4) ….. to trial as there was no chance that the employer would admit that he had discriminated against her because of her gender. 5. I think we should discuss (5) ….. our client’s intellectual property rights as a priority. 6. In my law firm we practise (6) ….. in our weekly training session. 7. I think that we should offer (7) ….. the terms of the contract so that the other party can choose to terminate after two years instead of the three years that we proposed. 8. The client seems (8) ….. to go to court, despite our advice to the contrary.

VERB+TO-INFINITIVE AND VERB+-ING FORM Some verbs can be followed by both verb+ing or the infinitive and it will not result in a different meaning. An example of this is the verb ‘continue’ followed by another verb. So, it is accurate to say ‘they will continue to work on the report’, or, ‘they will continue working on the report’ and the two sentences mean the same thing. However, there are some instances where a verb can be followed by both verb+ing or the infinitive and it will result in a difference in meaning. For example, the verb ‘stop’ works in this way. It is possible to say ‘she stopped working on the case’ or ‘she stopped to work on the case’. In the first example, ‘she’ discontinues working on the case, whereas in the second example ‘she’ interrupts an action she was already performing in order to start to work on the case. There are some examples of other verbs that follow this rule in the table opposite.

Verb+to-infinitive or verb+-ing form (no difference in meaning) start begin love bother prefer The following verbs can also be followed by either verb form but with a difference in meaning:

Verb Verb+to-infinitive Verb+-ing form Remember Remember to research the case that I told you about. (you need to remember to do something now or in future)

I remember researching a case like this last year. (you have a memory of something that happened in the past)

Forget Don’t forget to give the client directions to our offices. (you must try not to forget to do something now or in future)

I forgot giving the client directions to our offices, but he told me that I did. (you have already done something but have no memory of doing it) Regret I regret to inform you that we are making you redundant. (to be sorry to give bad news to someone now)

I regret making so many of my staff redundant now. (to be unhappy about something that you did in the past)

Using the rules you have learned and the verbs given in brackets, complete the passage below by writing each verb in its correct form.

Many of the people who set up a business in the UK decide (1) ….. (instruct) a solicitor in order to avoid (2) ….. (make) any potentially costly errors during the establishment of the new venture. This is a wise decision, as it can be easy to forget (3) ….. (consider) all relevant law, tax implications and costs. If it is necessary to raise capital for the new business, a solicitor may suggest (4) ….. (meet) with several financial institutions in order to obtain the best possible rate on any financing that may be required. If a client has opted to set up as a sole trader or in a traditional partnership with one or more others, when calculating costs that client must remember (5) ….. (include) the price of purchasing insurance as cover against various types of personal liability. Many new business owners live to regret (6) ….. (take) the advice of unqualified family members or friends rather than that of a legal professional when they find they cannot pay debts and risk (7) ….. (lose) everything, perhaps even their home, because they have failed (8) ….. (protect) themselves adequately.

Using all of the information provided, complete the following email from a solicitor to a client by choosing the correct verb from the list below and writing it in the correct form. In some cases both forms of the verb can be used to produce a correct answer.

(a) inform (b) admit (c) move (d) take (e) say (f) lose (g) cause (h) collect I am writing regarding your recent email from which I understand that you wish (1) ….. legal action against your former employer, Steven Bell, as you believe that you have been unfairly dismissed from your position as Head Chef at his restaurant. This follows allegations of food poisoning from several customers. I understand that (2) ….. your job has caused you considerable financial difficulties. While you claim that the complaints are directly attributable to unsanitary practices introduced by Mr Bell himself, he has denied (3) ….. harm to customers and has refused (4) ….. any liability. However, I am pleased (5) ….. you that I believe that you have a strong case and I have therefore asked my secretary to contact you to make an appointment to come in and see me. I regret (6) ….. that I am unavailable this week but I will be available from Tuesday of next week. Please begin (7) ….. the necessary evidence and bring this with you to our meeting and we can then start (8) ….. forward with this matter.