ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1
UNIT 3
VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
CONTENTS
Definition of verb

Forms of verb

Classification of verb

VERBS Grammatical categories of verb

AND VERB PHRASE
Definition of verb phrase

Classification of verb phrase

The structureof the verb phrase

 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
I. DEFINITION OF VERB.
I.1. DEFINITIONS.
THE VERB IS A PART OF SPEECH WHICH DENOTES AN ACTION. THE VERB HAS THE FOLLOWING GRAMMATICAL
CATEGORIES: PERSON, NUMBER, TENSE, ASPECT, VOICE AND MOOD. THESE CATEGORIES CAN BE EXPRESSED BY
MEANS OF AFFIXES, INNER FLEXION (CHANGE OF THE ROOT VOWEL) AND BY FORM WORDS. VERBS MAY BE TRANSITIVE
AND INTRANSITIVE.
VERBS HAVE FINITE FORMS WHICH CAN BE USED AS THE PREDICATE OF A SENTENCE AND NON-FINITE FORMS WHICH
CANNOT BE USED AS THE PREDICATE OF A SENTENCE
VERB IS A WORD BELONGS TO THE OPEN-CLASS ITEM AND INDICATES AN ACTION, A STATE, AN EVENT, A FEELING
I.2.SOME OTHER CONCEPTS:
VERBS (OR MAIN VERBS OR LEXICAL VERBS OR FULL VERBS) FUNCTION AS THE HEAD OF A VERB PHRASE, EITHER
ALONE OR PRECEDED S ONE OR MORE AUXILIARIES. FOR EXAMPLE, THE MAIN VERB PREPARE IN ITS VARIOUS FORMS:
[1] THEY PREPARED THE MEAL [2] THEY MAY PREPARE THE MEAL
[3] THEY SHOULD HAVE PREPARED THE MEAL [4] THEY MAY HAVE BEEN PREPARING THE MEAL
IN EXAMPLES [1] AND [4], THE VERB PHRASES FUNCTION AS THE VERB OF THE SENTENCE. FOLLOWING ARE SOME
TYPICAL VERB ENDINGS:
-ATE: TRANSLATE, INCORPORATE, ABBREVIATE, CONTAMINATE, ASSASSINATE, DEMONSTRATE
- EN: SICKEN, HAPPEN, MADDEN, TOUGHEN, STRENGTHEN, LISTEN
- IFY: MAGNIFY, CLARIFY, BEAUTIFY, OBJECTIFY, TYPIFY, AMPLIFY
- ISE OR -IZE: BAPTIZE, AGONISE, POPULARIZE, POPULARIZE, SUMMARIZE, COMPUTERIZE
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

II. FORMS OF VERB

normally has a S (present or hidden) and a
Finite verb
tense ( tensed verb)

Verb
form

Non-finite
has no S-V concord, no tense and no mood
verb

Refer RQ/3/23/P38&39
Refer to RQ/P26 &SG/P117 to121
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

• II. FORMS OF VERB (CONTINUED)

can be S, C or predicate, O, Attributive, Adjunct or appear in a
(1) Infinitive with to
set pattern

(2) Infinitive without to can be as a part of predicate, used to make imperative

sentence, express an idea of concession or set pattern
(3) –s form
Forms play the function of the predicate without the help of the others
(4) Past form
of used with “to be” in the continuous aspect; functions as C,
Verb (5)-ing form
attributive, Adjunct or appear in set pattern.
used with “to have” to form the perfect aspect; forms passive
voice; functions as predicate (C), attributive, adjunct, appear in
(6) –ed form
set pattern

(7) gerund functions S, O, C, Attributive, Adjunct or appears in set pattern

Note 1: (3) and (4) are always used as finite verbs Note 2: (2) is used as either finite or non-finite verbs
Note 4: - 1 verb can form one verb phrase
•NoteVERB FORM
3: (1), (4), (5), (6)VER
and (7) are always used as non-finite verbs
- 1 non-finite verb form can form 1 finite verb phrase or 1 non-finte
clause
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS
(1) according to morphological structure, accordingly, verbs can be simple,
derived, compound , and composite

(2) according to syntactic function of verbs, which depend on the extent to

Verbs are which they retain, weaken or lose their meaning.
classified
(3) according to the way in which the past indefinite and past II (or the past
participle) are formed. As a result, verbs can be divided into regular, irregular
and mixed ones.
(4) according to verb complementation, in which verbs can be transitive and
intransitive

(5) In line with their lexical meaning, accordingly verbs are classified into
terminative, non-terminative and verbs of double lexical (aspect) character.

Besides, the verb has grammatical categories of person, number, tense, aspect, voice and mood.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.3. Classification of verbs (continued)

III.3.1. According to morphological structure. Verbs can be classified into

simple verbs derived verbs compound verbs composite verbs

Verbs of the English verbs can be composite ones, which

Verbs of the Verbs of the English
English language means that these verbs consist of a verb and a
English language can be derived postposition of adverbial origin. E.g.: sit down, go
can be compound
language can be ones. It means that these away, give up. The modern term for these verbs is
ones. i.e.
simple ones. verbs have affixes. E.g.: phrasal verbs. The postposition often change the
consisting of two
For example: magnify, fertilize, meaning of the verb with which it is associated.
stems. E.g. The meaning of the composite verbs can be
read, live, hide, captivate, undo,
daydream, different from the meaning of the components
speak … decompose, ….
browbeat,… (bring up, do away) or can be the original meaning
of the components (stand up, come in, go out, put
on)

• III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)
• III.3.2. ACCORDING TO SYNTACTIC FUNCTION,
notional verbs
Notional verbs are those which
have a full meaning of their own
and can be used without any
additional words as a simple
predicate. Here belong such verbs
as to write, to read, to speak, to
know, to ask,…
E.g.: Ricky surrounded her with
great care and luxury. (Stern)
•SheHE WAS
knew what he was thinking.
(Galsworthy)
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
verbs can be divided into
auxiliary verbs link verbs
Auxiliary verbs are those which have lost their
Link verbs are verbs which to a
meaning and are used only as form words, thus
smaller or greater extent have lost
having only a grammatical function. They are used
their meaning and are used in the
in analytical forms. E.g.: to do, to have, shall, will,
compound nominal predicate.
would, may..
E.g.: The house was too big
E.g.: I don’t recollect that he ever did anything, at
(Galsworthy)
least in my time (Galsworthy)
The old face looked worn and
Their father had come from Dorsetshire near the
hollow again (Galsworthy)
beginning of the century (Galsworthy)
Manson no longer felt
But all this time James was musing (Galsworthy)
despondent, but happy, elated,
He would have succeeded splendidly at the bar
hopeful (Cronin)
(Galsworthy)
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)

ALTHOUGH, ACCORDING TO THE SYNTACTIC FUNCTION, ENGLISH VERBS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO NOTIONAL (LEXICAL), AUXILIARY AND
LINK VERBS, IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS THE SAME VERB CAN BE USED AS A NOTIONAL VERB AND AN AUXILIARY VERB OR A LINK
VERBS.
E.G. ... SHE TURNED HER HEAD SULLENLY AWAY FROM ME. (COLLINS) (NO­TIONAL VERB)
E.G. SHE... TURNED DEADLY PALE. (COLLINS) (LINK VERB)
E.G. NO ONE WAS THERE TO MEET HIM. (LINDSAY) (NOTIONAL VERB)
E.G. SHE WAS NOT A TEN-YEAR-OLD GIRL ANY MORE... (DREISER) (LINK VERB)
E.G. SHE WAS CONSTANTLY COMPLAINING OF BEING LONELY. (SHAW) (AUXI­LIARY VERB)
THERE IS A SPECIAL GROUP OF VERBS WHICH CANNOT BE USED WITHOUT ADDITIONAL WORDS, THOUGH THEY HAVE A MEANING OF
THEIR OWN. THESE ARE MODAL VERBS SUCH AS CAN, MAY, MUST, OUGHT, ETC.
E.G. A SLOW SWELL OF FEELING CHOKED THE LITTLE BOY'S HEART. THOUGH HE COULD NOT, DARED NOT QUESTION THE CONSUL'S
STRICT COMMAND, ITS PURPOSE LAY BEYOND HIS COMPREHENSION. (CRONIN)
E.G. "WE OUGHT TO HAVE STAYED IN ITALY," HE SAID. "WE OUGHT NEVER TO HAVE COME BACK TO MANDERLEY." (DU MAURIER)
THE SAME VERB IN DIFFERENT CONTEXTS CAN BE MODAL AND AUXILIARY.
E.G. I CROUCHED AGAINST THE WALL OF THE GALLERY SO THAT I SHOULD NOT BE SEEN. (DU MAURIER) (AUXILIARY VERB)
E.G. I DON'T HONESTLY THINK LADY CROWAN WAS EXAGGERATING WHEN SHE SAID SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE IN YOUR HONOUR.
(DU MAURIER) (MODAL VERB)
E.G. I HAD NO IDEA SHE WOULD DO THAT. (DU MAURIER) (AUXILIARY VERB)
E.G. HE NEEDED A COOK. WHY COULDN'T SHE APPLY FOR THE JOB? BUT MORRIS WOULD NOT HEAR OF IT. (PRICHARD) (MODAL VERB)
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)
III.3.3. ACCORDING TO THE WAY IN WHICH THE PAST INDEFINITE AND PAST II (OR THE PAST
PARTICIPLE) ARE FORMED,
verbs can be divided into regular, irregular and mixed ones

Irregular Mixed verbs

verbs

Regular verbs form the Past indefinite and the Past participle by adding –ed to the stem of the verb, or only –d if the stem of the verb ends
in –e.
E.g.: To want  wanted To unite  united
To open  opened To live  lived
The pronunciation of –ed/-d depends on the sound preceding it. The inflection is pronounced [d], [t] or [id]. {Refer to Kaushanskaia P76}
a) Final –y is changed into {i} before the addition of –ed if letter {y} is preceded by a consonant.
E.g.: To carry  carried to reply  replied.
However, letter {y} remains unchanged if it is preceded by a vowel.
E.g.: to enjoy  enjoyed to play  played
ISb)If
DOUBLED
a verb ends in a consonant preceded by a short stressed vowel, the final consonant is doubled. For example: to stop  stopped; to
occur  occurred. However, the consonant is not doubled if it is preceded by a dipthong, e.g.: to appear appeared. Besides, final –l is
doubled is preceded by a short vowel stressed or unstressed.
E.g.: to compel  compelled and to quarrel  quarrelled
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)
III.3.3. ACCORDING TO THE WAY IN WHICH THE PAST INDEFINITE AND PAST II (OR THE PAST
PARTICIPLE) ARE FORMED,
verbs can be divided into regular, irregular and mixed ones

Regular verbs Mixed verbs

Irregular verbs are the verbs which do not form the past indefinite and the past participle in a regular way. Here belong to the following
groups
a) Verbs which changed their root vowel.
E.g.: to sing sang  sung; to meet  met  met; to win won won …
b) Verbs which changed their root vowel and add –en for the past participle
E.g.: to speak spoke spoken; to write  wrote  written; to take  took  taken …
c) Verbs change their root vowel and add –d or –t. E.g.: to sell  sold sold; to bring  brought  brought…
d)Verbs change their final –d into –t. E.g.: to send  sent sent; to build built  built…
e)Verbs which have the same form for the infinitive, the past indefinite and the past participle
E.g.: to put put, to set  set  set; to shut  shut  shut…
f) Verbs whose forms come from different stems
E.g.: to be  was/were  been; to go  went  gone …
g) Special irregular verbs, e.g. To have  had  had; to make  made  made; to do did  done …
h) Defective(anomalous-irregular)verbs: can  could; may  might; will  would; shall should
However, must and ought remain the same.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)

III.3.3. ACCORDING TO THE WAY IN WHICH THE PAST INDEFINITE AND PAST II (OR THE PAST
PARTICIPLE) ARE FORMED,
verbs can be divided into regular, irregular and mixed ones

Regular verbs Irregular verbs

Mixed verbs form their past indefinite forms in a regular way
(by adding either –ed or –d to the the verb stem), but they form
their past participle forms in an irregular way.
E.g.: to show  showed  shown
to sow  sowed  sown
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)

III.3.4. ACCORDING TO VERB COMPLEMENTATION, ENGLISH VERBS CAN BE DIVIDED INTO
TRANSITIVE AND INTRANSITIVE. English Verbs

Transitive verbs can take a direct object, i.e. they express an action which passes on onto a person or thing directly.
Intransitive
Here belong such verbs as to take, to give, to send, to make, to see, to show, to bring, to love, etc.
verbs cannot
E.g.: Jon had never loved her so much as in that minute which seemed to falsify Fleur's fears and to release his soul.
take a direct
(Galsworthy)
object. Here
E.g.: Youth only recognizes Age by fits and starts. Jon, for one, had never really seen his father's age till he came back
belong such verbs
from Spain. (Galsworthy)
as to stand, to
sleep, to laugh,
There are some transitive verbs which are hardly ever used without a direct object, such as to take, to make, to give, to
to think, to lie, to
have.
swim.
E.g.: Arthur signed the receipt, took his papers and went out in dead silence. (Voynich)
E.g.: She shrank
slowly away
There are other verbs which can be used either with or without a direct object, such as to read, to write, to hear; to see.
from him, and
E.g.: On Friday night about eleven he had packed his bag and was leaning out of his window... when he heard a tiny
stood quite still.
sound, as of a finger-nail, tapping on his door. (Galsworthy)
(Voy- nich)
E.g.: The starch, as he soon heard, was valued at ten dollars a barrel and it only brought six. (Dreiser)
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)

There are verbs whose primary meaning is transitive and whose secondary meaning is intransitive. Here
belong such verbs as to sell, to read, to add, to act, etc.
E.g.: This book sells well.
E.g.: Though Dora tried hard the figures would not add.
There are verbs whose primary meaning is intransitive and whose secondary meaning is transitive. Here
belong such verbs as to work, to starve, to walk, to run, etc.
E.g.: For that man, I've been running people through the front line! (Heym)
E.g.: The stream which worked the mill came bubbling down in a dozen rivulets. (Galsworthy)
In these examples the verbs are used in a causative meaning, i. e. the person or thing denoted by the object
is made to perform the action denoted by the verb.
There are verbs which in different contexts can be transitive or intransitive. As far as Modern English is
concerned, it is impossible to say which meaning is primary and which is secondary. Here belong such verbs
as to open, to move, to turn, to change, to drop, etc.
E.g.: The woman opened the door at once almost breathlessly. (Hardy)
E.g.: While she stood hesitating, the door opened, and an old man came forth shading a candle with one hand.
(Hardy)
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.3. CLASSIFICATION OF VERBS (CONTINUED)

III. 3.5. ACCORDING TO THE LEXICAL MEANING OF THE VERBS, THEY CAN BE DIVIDED INTO TERMINATIVE, NON-
TERMINATIVE AND VERBS OF DOUBLE LEXICAL (ASPECT) CHARACTER
English verbs

Terminative verbs denote an action Non-terminative verbs

implying a certain limit beyond which it
cannot go. Here belong simple and
composite verbs, such as to come, to bring,
to build, to give, to take, to receive, to
find, to fall, to kill, to die, to become, to
stand up, to sit down, to come to.
E.g.: He went to the kitchen and brought
him a cake and a plate of biscuits. (Carter)
E.g.: Every head turned. Row after row of
men and women stood up to see who it
was making his way to the front. (Carter)
denote a certain action which
does not imply any limit.
Here belong such verbs as to
live, to exist, to sleep, to
love, to be, to have, to
possess, to work, to speak, to
respect, to hope, to sit, etc.
E.g.: She sat erect in the hard
chair, her gloved hands
gracefully folded in her lap
Verbs of double lexical character in
certain contexts have a terminative
meaning, and in others, a non-
terminative meaning.
Here belong such verbs as to see, to
hear; to write, to read, to translate.
E.g.: Arthur looked round the room,
saw that everything was hidden, and
unlocked the door. (Voynich)
E.g.: I don't believe in fairies. I
never see any. (Galsworthy
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

Grammatical categories of verbs

Tense Aspect Mood Voice

Progressive

Present Indicative Active

Perfective

Past Imperative Passive

Perfective-
progressive
Subjunctive
Simple
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

Tense
= the correspondence between the form of the verb and
our concept of time
• language specific
• while TIME: universal, non-linguistic
• includes PAST and PRESENT
• no FUTURE TENSE because there’s no verb form
corresponding to future time.
E.g.: She is studying now.
(verb form: ing-participle + present time: now
 present time)
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

Aspect • the manner in which a verbal action is experienced or regarded

with respect to time

• progressive aspect: verbal action experienced as in progress
• perfective aspect: verbal action experienced as completed
E.g.: I am writing with a special pen. (progressive aspect)
I have written with a special pen. (perfective aspect)
• Tense & aspect are intermingled.
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

Tense & Aspect

Tense Simple Complex

Progressive Perfective Perfect progressive

Aspect

Present Present Present progressive Present Present perfect

simple perfect progressive

Past Past Past progressive Past perfect Past perfect

simple progressive
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

= a grammatical category that relates the verb action to such

Mood conditions such as certainty, obligation, necessity, possibility

E.g.: She’s nice to me.

Indicative = statement of the fact (fact - indicative)
Be nice to me.
Imperative = command, request (command - imperative)
I suggest she be nice to me.
Subjunctive = non-fact, unreal (non-fact - subjunctive)
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase
III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

Subjunctive mood • Found in “-that clause” (verbs: recommend, demand,

request, insist, suggest, ask, it is necessary that)
• Form: the base
Mandative
• Aim: to be formal
• E.g.:
Found The
in chairman
clause in demands that
certain set the farmer kill all his
expressions
• Form:chicken.
the base
It is necessary that every student pay the tuition
E.g.: May god bless you.
Formulaic fee.
Long live the King.
God save the Queen.
Come what may, we’ll go ahead.
Subjunctive • Found in conditional & concessive clauses,
“were” subordinate clauses after verbs like Wish and Suppose
• Form: WERE
• Meaning: hypothetical/unreal
E.g.: If I were rich, I would buy you anything you wanted.
Just suppose everyone were to give up smoking.
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.4. Grammatical categories of verb

Voice
= a grammatical category that makes it possible to view the action
of a sentence in either of two ways, without change in the facts
reported
• include: passive and active voice
E.g.: He ate all the apples. (active)
The dog was bitten by our neighbor. (passive)
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.5. Verb phrase

III.5.1. Definition:
A verb phrase is a group of words consists of a main verb with or without auxiliary
verb(s). It consists of only one part of speech (lexical and auxiliary) without any
other parts of speech.
Ex: I go to school everyday by bus.
We want to go home early.
I am about to going home.
I am crazy about watching TV.
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.5.2. Finite and non-finite verb phrases

Finite
Non-finite
- Verb form: V-base; V-s; V-ed
- Verb form: V-base with or without “to”;
V-ing; V-ed
- Tense and mood distinction
- No distinction between tense and mood.
- There is no concord between the subject and
- There is person and number concord the verb element.
between the S and its finite VP.
Ex: I want her to go home early.
Ex: I go home./ She goes home.

- Often perform the function of S, O, C, A of the

- Often appears in simple, compound or main finite clause and make up the complete
complex sentence (making up finite clauses) complex sentence.
 3. Simple vs. Complex Verb Phrase

III.5.3. Simple vs. Complex Verb Phrase

III.5.3.1. Finite VP:

III.5.3.2. Non-finite VP:
The finite VP is simple when it consists of only one
The simple non-finite VP consists of only one
word, which may be present, past, imperative, or
V_infinitive or V_participle.
subjunctive.
Ex: Smoking cigarettes is dangerous.
Ex: He works hard. He worked hard. Work
The complex non-finite VP consists of two or
harder.
more words with the main V is a non-finite V.
The finite VP is complex when it consists of two or
Ex: Being examined by the police, the suspects
more words.
became nervous.
Ex: John has worked hard. John should be
working hard.
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.5.3.3. Combination of items of verbs in complex verb phrases

III.5.3.3.1. Finite complex VP:

Modal Aux = A; Perfective = B; Progressive = C; Passive = D
 There is a strict order of auxiliaries in a complex verb phrase and these auxiliaries also determine the form of
the verb that follows them.
a. 1 aux. + lexical V
- A + V_inf He can dance beautifully.
- B + V_ed2 We have finished our homework.
- C + V_ing We are learning English grammar now.
- D + V_ed2 He was killed by his wife last night.
b. 2 aux. + lexical V
- A + B + V_ed2 You must have finished them by now.
- A + C + V_ing He will be sleeping at 11 am tomorrow.
- A + D + V_ed2 The task will be finished by Monday.
- B + C + V_ing (C ed2) I have been learning English for six years.
- B + D + V_ed2 (Ded2) The task has been done.
- C + D + Ved2 (D ing) The report is being prepared.
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.5.3.3. Combination of items of verbs in complex verb phrases

c. 3 aux. + lexical V
- A + B +C + V_ing (B_inf; C_ed2)
She must have been working here for 5 years.
- A + B + D + V_ed2 (B_inf; D_ed2)
The task must have been done before.
- A + C + D + V_ed2 (C_inf; D_ing)
The crop will be being havested at the same time next year.
-B + C + D + V_ed2 (C_ed2; D_ing)
The house has been being built for at least ten years.
d. 4 aux. + lexical V: A + B_inf + C_ed2 + D_ing + V_ed2
He may have been being questioned by his wife.
 English grammar 1/unit 3: Verbs and Verb Phrase

III.5.3.3. Combination of items of verbs in complex verb phrases

3.3.2. Non-finite complex VP:

Modal Aux = A; Perfective = B; Progressive = C; Passive = D

a. 1 aux. + lexical V

- B + V_ed2 To have (Having) finished the work, he goes home.

- C + V_ing He seems to be following me.

- D + V_ed2 He seems to have been punished by his mother.

b. 2 aux. + V_ing (unsual)

- B + C + V_ing: to have been doing

- B + D + V_ed2: to have been done

- C + D + V_ed2: (to) be being done

 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

A VERB PHRASE HAS AS ITS HEAD A MAIN (LEXICAL) VERB. THE MAIN VERB MAY BE PRECEDED BY UP TO
FOUR AUXILIARIES (ALSO CALLED AUXILIARY VERBS). THE FUNCTIONAL FORMULA OF A VERB PHRASE
CAN BE AS FOLLOWS:

(AUXILIARY) + HEAD + (OBJECT/COMPLIMENT)+ (MODIFIER)

a) A VERB PHRASE MAY HAVE A HEAD ALONE. E.G.: MR. TRUONG WALKS; OR EVERYBODY DIES
b) A VERB PHRASE CONSISTS OF AN AUXILIARY AND A HEAD. E.G.: HE IS WALKING; SHE DOES NOT CRY
c) A VERB PHRASE CAN HAVE A HEAD+ OBJECT(S). E.G.: THE PRESIDENT DELIVERED A LONG SPEECH; SHE
GAVE ME A DRINK
d) A VERB PHRASE MAY CONSIST OF A HEAD+ COMPLIMENT. E.G.: THEY CONSIDER GRAMMAR A LIVING
THING.
e) A VERB PHRASE CAN CONSIST OF A HEAD + MODIFIER. E.G.: THE FATHER WORKS A GREAT DEAL; HE
STAYS UP VERY LATE
f) AND FINALLY, A VERB PHRASE CAN HAVE ALL ABOVE COMBINED.
E.G.: MR. TRUONG HAS CONSIDERED GRAMMAR A LIVING THING FOR A LONG TIME.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
III.6.The structure of the verb phrase
III.6.1. Auxiliaries in verbphrase
THE AUXILIARIES FALL INTO TWO MAJOR SETS: (1)THE PRIMARY AUXILIARY; AND (2) THE MODALS( MODAL OR
SECONDARY AUXILIARIES). BESIDES, THERE ARE SEVERAL MARGINAL AUXILIARIES. E.G.: DARE, NEED, OUGHT TO; AND
A NUMBER OF SEMI-AUXILIARIES SUCH AS: HAD BETTER AND HAD GO TO.
Auxiliaries

The primary auxiliaries are he, have, and do. Auxiliary he has two
functions: The modal auxiliaries are can, could,
(1) it forms the progressive in combination with a following -ing may, might, shall, should, will, would,
participle, must. The modals convey notions of
e.g. is playing, factuality, such as certainty (e.g. They
(2) it forms the passive in combination with a following -ed must he there), or of control, such as
participle, e.g. is played. Auxiliary have forms the perfect aspect in permission (e.g. You may play
combination with a following -ed participle, e.g. has played. Auxiliary outside).
do is the dummy operator: it functions as the operator to form (for They are followed by an infinitive
example) interrogative and negative sentences in the absence of any
other operator, e.g. Did they play? They didn't play

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase
III.6.1. Auxiliaries in verb phrase
It is not usual for all to be present in one verb
phrase, though it is certainlypossible, as in [1]:
[I] should (modal) have (perfect) been
(progressive) being (passive) played
(main verb)
In [1] each of the auxiliaries is followed by the
required verb form:
should (modal) have (infinitive)
have (perfect) been (-erf participle)
been (progressive) being (-ing articiple)
being (passive) played (-ed participle)
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
Here are examples of verb phrases with combinations of three
auxiliaries:
[2] Those who had parents who slapped their faces if they
misbehaved would have been making judgements about my
behaviour which were influenced by their own childhood
memories. (modal perfect progressive)
[3] Well there's no doubt at all that we would have wanted to
see sanctions run on for a longer period to see if Saddam
could have been removed from Kuwait without war (modal
perfect passive)
[4] If he were still alive, he would, at the very least, now be
being questioned very searchingly by Scotland Yard.
[Evening Standard, 26 June 1992,
(modal progressive passive)

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase
III.6.1. Auxiliaries in verb phrase
As [4] illustrates, the sequence of verbs in the verb
phrase may be interrupted by intervening adverbials.
Here are further examples of such interventions:
[5] Now I ‘ve just been working on this and the
problem has been to a certain extent the printer
[6] But if you had the choice would you prefer to
have a meal which has been freshly prepared with
uh fresh ingredients and so on
[7] The agreement could not even have been
considered further unless it had
been signed by all the members back in May
ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
In questions the operator precedes the subject and is
therefore separated from
the rest of the verb phrase:
[8] 'Was the Sharptor mine being worked the way it
should have been, before it went out of business?‘
The first or only verb in the verb phrase is bligatorily
marked for tense—
a main verb in [9] and [10] and an auxiliary in [11] and
[12]:
[9] Doug makes quince jelly sometimes, doesn't he?
[10] There's one I was going to show you because it
made my hair stand on end
[11] But time Is going slowly.
[12] Officially I was doing a unit of English.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE
III.6.The structure of the verb phrase
III.6.1. Auxiliaries in verb phrase

THE FIRST OR ONLY VERB IN THE VERB PHRASE IS ALSO MARKED FOR PERSON AND NUMBER
WHERE RELEVANT:
[13] I AM A SECRETARY (1ST PERSON SINGULAR)
[14] THEY ARE VERY VERY CONCERNED (3RD PERSON PLURAL)
THE FIRST OR ONLY VERB IN THE VERB PHRASE CAN FUNCTION AS THE OPERATOR, FOR
EXAMPLE IN FORMING QUESTIONS:
[15] CAN YOU REMEMBER THAT
THE DUMMY OPERATOR DO IS FOLLOWED ONLY (IF AT ALL) BY THE MAIN VERB IN THE
INFINITIVE: E.G.:
DO PLAY DOES GO DID SAY
THE ONLY AUXILIARY THAT CAN BE IN THE SUBJUNCTIVE IS AUXILIARY BE, WHICH MAY
FUNCTION AS THE PROGRESSIVE AUXILIARY OR THE PASSIVE AUXILIARY:
E.G.: IF SHE BE ACTING AS LEAD IF I WERE PLAYING
IF IT BE KNOWN IF HE WERE TOLD
SEMI-AUXILIARIES THAT BEGIN WITH BE CAN ALSO BE IN THE SUBJUNCTIVE:
E.G. WERE I TO TELL YOU IF HE WERE GOING TO WRITE
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioning as operators

Operators
The major characteristic of an auxiliary is that it can function as an
operator when it is the first auxiliary in the verb phrase. When a form of
(1)Negation the main verb be is the only verb in the verb phrase it can also function
as an operator (e.g. 'Are they upstairs?'); the same applies, especially in
British English, to the main verb have (e.g. 'Have you any children?'),
(2)Interrogation
although it is also treated as a main verb ('Do you have any children?').
In the absence of another potential operator, do is introduced as a
dummy operator.
(3) Emphasis
The operator is used for negation, interrogation, emphasis, and
abbreviation.
(4) Abbreviation
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

Operators
To form a negative sentence or negative finite clause, not is placed after the operator:
[1] He says that there should be one national police force.
[la] He says that there should not be one national police force
(1)Negation [2] It was pasteurised milk.
[2a] It was not pasteurised milk
(2)Interrogation [3] The countries around the world fit into neat and precise categories of climate and
weather.
[3a] The countries around the world do not fit into neat and precise categories of
climate and weather.
(3)Emphasis
Not can be contracted as n’t and attached as an enclitic to most operators.
[4] But wouldn’t she remember him?
[5] You can’t see from there.
(4)Abbreviation
[6] Perhaps this suggestion isn’t absurd.
[7] He didn’t play against England on Tuesday evening.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

To form an interrogative sentence or interrogative finite main clause, the

Operators
operator is placed before the subject:
[9a] How will they cope with the environmental problems that we have
created
(1) Negation [10][ The poison is in that one.
[10a]
8
]
Is the poison in that one
[11][ I told
You can you.
remember that.

(2)Interrogation 8
[11a] Can you remember that [SIB-041-22]
a Did I cope
They will tellwith
you the environmental problems that we have
] created.
[12] They went off to their parents.
[
[12a]
9
]
Where did they go off to
There is no subject-operator inversion in w/i-questions if the wh-item is the
(3)Emphasis subject
Citation [13a] contains a negative question with subject-operator inversion. The operator didn't
is negative:
[13] You didn't have enough sleep on the bus.
(4)Abbreviation [13a] 'Honest to God, Dorothy—didn't you have enough sleep on the bus?'
A more formal variant has the uncontracted negative particle not placed after
the subject.
[13b] Did you not have enough sleep on the bus?
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

Operators
Another rarer formal variant has the uncontracted negative particle immediately
after the operator, particularly if the subject is lengthy [13c], but not only then [14].
(1)Negation
[13c] Did not all those travelling with you have enough sleep on the bus?
[14] For instance why did not the author(s) use this information to compare the
(2)Interrogation relationship of social attributes and health?

Subject-operator inversion also occurs with initial negative expressions:

[15] Wo longer can any member of the tribe of Levi act as priest
(3) Emphasis [16] At no time were they prepared to do so
[17] Never were slaves so numerous as in Italy during the first century B.C.
[18] Rarely in human history has the idea of an obligation imposed on us by others
(4)Abbreviation seemed so constricting and suffocating
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

Operators The operator may be used to convey emphasis. In speech, the emphatic function is signalled by placing the
nuclear tone (a distinct pitch movement) on the operator; in writing, emphasis is occasionally signalled by
italics or (mostly in manuscripts) by underlining. (The same methods are used to signal emphasis for
words other than operators.) The emphasis on operator is usually intended to deny something that has
(1) Negation been mentioned previously or that may have been assumed, or to reject what has been said by somebody
else; e.g. an offer, invitation, advice, order.
The emphatic function of the operator is unequivocally conveyed even in writing by the positive forms
(2)Interrogation do, does, did when they are used in positive declarative sentences or cluases that are not abbreviated.
[19] I do apologise for that
[20] [. . .] it does actually face south-west not west
[21] Well I did think about it

(3)Emphasis The non-emphatic equivalents are 'I apologise' for [19], 'it actually faces' for [20], and 'I thought for [21].
Apart from such contexts, the operator do is not necessarily emphatic. For example, in [22] it is required as
a dummy operator to form the vWi-question:
[22] Why did you buy it
(4)Abbreviation
Did in [22] may also be emphatic, but the emphasis would be conveyed by the intonation. Similarly, the
negative forms of do (doesn't, don't, didn't) need not be emphatic, since they are used as dummy operators
for negation.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

Operators
Here are two examples of operators other than do that are used for emphasis. The context
shows that they are intended to be interpreted as emphatic:
(1)Negation
[23] I read that in the paper , so it must be true.
[24] "I think it will be all right," said Mr Hurd in a crowning sentence of elliptical emollience
in which every word can have a different stress which renders a different overall meaning. But
(2)Interrogation it won't be all right: the question is whether he, or any of the other questors after unity, can
now help to make it so.

Here are some examples from writing where the operator is shown to be
(3)Emphasis emphatic because it is in italics [25] or because it is underlined [26]-[27]:

[25] 'I want my d-daddy,' Tommy sobbed without looking up. 'He is alive. He is. [Italic in
original]
(4)Abbreviation
[26] Anyway, I really must go now. [underline in original]
[27] You can be certain that I love you. [ underline in original]
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

Operators

(1) Negation The operator may be used as an abbreviating device to avoid repetition of the verb
phrase, perhaps together with other parts of the predicate:

(2)Interrogation [28] I've got to phone Liz because she said she was going to phone on Monday
night but she hasn't ('she hasn't phoned")
[29] And W G Grace was coached by his mother and she didn't do a bad job and
neither did he ('neither did he do a bad job')
(3) Emphasis [30] A: Oh I wouldn't touch those ,
B: No I wouldn't either ('I wouldn't touch those either')

(4)Abbreviation
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.2. Auxiliaries functioned as operators

Operators

(1) Negation In British English an intransitive main verb do can be added to the abbreviating
operator. It serves as a substitute for the rest of the predicate:
[31] Yes please don't bother for a moment because merely I wanted to know
(2) Interrogation whether you disagree as I think you might do from what you've been saying with
that passage that I've quoted from Dr. Kendall's evidence
[32] Thank goodness I didn't say anything awful, because I could've done
Abbreviating operators are commonly used in tag questions
(3)Emphasis [33] She's company though isn't she
[34] Well you've got income coming in from the property I suppose haven't you
[35] Apparently he dithers, hardly surprising being a politician is it?
(4)Abbreviation [36] But you can't just pick them up off the counter, can you?

For further knowledge about

Modal auxiliaries, Please refer to
SG260-269
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.3. Finite and non-finite verb phrase Verb phrases may be either finite or non-finite

In a finite verb phrase the first or only verb is finite. A verb is finite if it displays
tense; that is, the distinction between present and past:

[1] What stops a Prime Minister or government from passing discriminatory legislation

[2] He added that the car stopped almost immediately and the young man, who was in a
“terrible sate”, told him he had hit two people.

In [1] stops is a finite verb phrase consisting solely of a finite verb in the present tense,
and in [2] stopped is likewise a finite verb phrase but this time the finite verb is in the
past tense.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.3. Finite and non-finite verb phrase Verb phrases may be either finite or non-finite

The finite verb phrases marked in [3]-[8] contain more than one verb, but
only the first verb in the verb phrase is finite:

[3] British and Irish nurses at a Baghdad hospital have stopped work in
protest at not being allowed to leave Iraq.
[4] Everything else has been stopped.
[5] The reason I have a new landlord is cos I'm starting work in Finchley today.
[6] The new contractors will be starting the week of the 22nd.
[7] Now before I can start the instrumentation we need to know a little
bit from maths of how we go from absorption measurement into
measurement of concentrations of haemoglobin and cytochrome
[8] Silvia kept me there 1% hours today and did start complaining about the electricity
board.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.3. Finite and non-finite verb phrase Verb phrases may be either finite or non-finite

If a non-finite verb is the first or only verb in the verb phrase, the phrase is a non-finite verb
phrase:

[9] Well will you tell her that you might save Rebecca from complete despair
because being exposed twice within a month would be rather awful for her
[10] It's right, it's on a sort of hill, and you've got lovely views looking out the South Downs
[11] I wouldn't really be looking forward to be getting dressed up on Friday.
[12] I broke my right wrist riding my bike in Germany.
[13] And I've got so many events to go to I mean I know that sounds a bit odd
but I mean I've got a few.
[14] Yeah he said he seemed quite happy to meet you.

A finite verb phrase can function as the verb of a simple sentence [15], theverb of a main clause within
a compound sentence [16], or the verb of a subordinate clause [17]-[18].
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.3. Finite and non-finite verb phrase Verb phrases may be either finite or non-finite

A finite verb phrase can function as the verb of a simple sentence [15], the verb of a main clause within a
compound sentence [16], or the verb of a subordinate clause [17]-[18]:
[15] Tonight I 'm going to my first cocktail party at the Commission, my dears!
[16] Now I've just been working on this and the problem has been to a certain extent the printer.
[17] Hackney has become fashionable among artists, actors and writers who want to live some way into
London but who don't have much money.
[18] We would get more information if they were asked for a doctor's letter to the College Occupational
Physician.
In [16] there are two co - ordinated main clauses, each with its own verb, the finite verb phrases 've been
working and has been. In [17] the finite verb phrases want and don't have function as the verbs in finite
relative clauses, a type of subordinate clause, the main verb of the sentence being has become. In [18] the
finite verb phrase were asked functions as the verb in a finite subordinate clause introduced by the
subordinator if, the main verb of the sentence being would get.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.3. Finite and non-finite verb phrase Verb phrases may be either finite or non-finite

A non-finite verb phrase normally cannot function as the verb of a simple

sentence or as the verb of a main clause within a compound sentence. It can,
however, function as the verb of a non-finite subordinate clause:

[19] I don't recall actually giving the name.

In [19] giving is the verb of an –ing participle clause. It is a transitive verb, and
its direct object is the name.

Imperative sentences and clauses are generally called finite, even though
the verb does not display a distinction in tense:
[20] [. . .] just feed in some of your tapes and say look this is what you've got to do

They are associated with other finite clauses because the imperative verb can
be the verb of a main clause. The same applies to clauses whose verb is a
subjunctive.
 ENGLISH GRAMMAR 1/UNIT 3: VERBS AND VERB PHRASE

III.6.The structure of the verb phrase

III.6.3. Finite and non-finite verb phrase Verb phrases may be either finite or non-finite