Verb phrases
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] be very annoying!
- An apartment [MO] would [AUX] have [MV] cost less than a hotel for four of us.
- Tony [MO] might [AUX] have [AUX] been [MV] waiting outside 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 camera takes fantastic pictures. (present simple, declarative clause)
- Dress smartly. Arrive on time. (imperative clauses)
Complex verb phrases
A complex verb phrase may include one modal verb and one or more auxiliary verbs before 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] fall during the next six months. (modal verb + main verb)
- You [MO] may [AUX] have [MV] played this game before. (modal verb + one auxiliary verb)
- The work [MO] should [AUX] have [AUX] been [MV] finished by 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 + -ing form | I was thinking about you all day. |
| perfect | have + -ed form | The girls have all gone out together. |
| passive | be + -ed form | Val’s car was stolen from outside her house. |
| interrogative | do + subject + base form | Do they sell newspapers in your local shop? |
| negative | do + not + base form | It didn’t last very long. |
| emphatic | do (stressed) + base form | It does annoy me when they make so much noise. |
Order of verbs in verb phrases
The continuous, perfect and 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 | perfect have | continuous be | passive be | main verb |
| must be followed by base form | must be followed by -ed form | must be followed by -ing form | must be followed by -ed form | ||
| Prices | rose. | ||||
| She | will | understand. | |||
| The builders | had | arrived. | |||
| The show | is | starting. | |||
| Four people | were | arrested. | |||
| Seats | cannot | be | reserved. | ||
| The printer | should | be | working. | ||
| He | must | have | forgotten. | ||
| Temperatures | have | been | rising. | ||
| William | has | been | promoted. | ||
| You | could | have | been | killed! |
A combination of all the auxiliary meanings plus a modal verb is possible but is very rare:
- She may have been being interviewed for a job. Perhaps that’s why she was there. (modal may + perfect have + passive been + continuous being + main verb interviewed)
- 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 | |
| He has lost his keys. | present | third | singular |
| We were taken to a big room. | past | first | plural |
| I was hoping to see Professor Jones. | past | first | singular |
| I could meet you next week. | – | – | – |