A verb phrase consists of a main verb alone, or a main verb plus any modal and/or auxiliary verbs. The main verb always comes last in the verb phrase:
(mo = modal verb; aux = auxiliary verb; mv =main verb)
We all[MV]laughed.
Computers[MO]can[MV]bevery annoying!
An apartment[MO]would[AUX]have[MV]costless than a hotel for four of us.
Tony[MO]might[AUX]have[AUX]been[MV]waitingoutside for you.
Simple verb phrases
A simple verb phrase consists of a main verb. The verb in a simple verb phrase shows the type of clause (e.g. declarative, imperative):
Your cameratakesfantastic pictures.(present simple, declarative clause)
Dresssmartly.Arriveon time.(imperative clauses)
Complex verb phrases
A complex verb phrase may include one modal verb and one or more auxiliary verbsbefore the main verb. A modal verb always comes before any auxiliary verbs:
(mo = modal verb; aux = auxiliary verb; mv = main verb)
House prices[MO]could[MV]fallduring the next six months.(modal verb + main verb)
You[MO]may[AUX]have[MV]playedthis game before.(modal verb + one auxiliary verb)
The work[MO]should[AUX]have[AUX]been[MV]finishedby 30 January.(modal verb + two auxiliary verbs)
Meaning of auxiliary verbs in verb phrases
Auxiliary verbs give different types of meanings to a verb phrase.
meaning | auxiliary verb (+ form of main verb) | example | |
continuous | be + -ingform |
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perfect | have + -edform |
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passive | be + -edform |
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interrogative | do+ subject + base form |
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negative | do + not +base form |
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emphatic | do(stressed) + base form |
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Order of verbs in verb phrases
The continuous, perfectand passive meanings of auxiliary verbs may be combined in a verb phrase, and auxiliary verbs may combine with modal verbs.
The order of the different types (and meanings) of verbs in the verb phrase is shown in the table as 1–5, from left to right.
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | |
subject | modal verb | perfecthave | continuousbe | passivebe | main verb |
must be followed by base form | must be followed by-edform | must be followed by -ingform | must be followed by-edform | ||
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A combination of all the auxiliary meanings plus a modal verb is possible but is very rare:
Shemay have been being interviewedfor a job. Perhaps that’s why she was there.(modalmay+ perfecthave+ passivebeen+ continuousbeing+ main verbinterviewed)
See also:
Questions: interrogative pronouns (what,who)
Modality: introduction
Negation
Passive
Past continuous (I was working)
Past perfect simple (I had worked)
Present continuous (I am working)
Present perfect simple (I have worked)
The first verb
The first verb in a complex verb phrase indicates the time somebody did something and matches the person and number of the subject, except when it is a modal verb.
time | person | number | |
| present | third | singular |
| past | first | plural |
| past | first | singular |
| – | – | – |