The verb group
Main points
1-) In a clause, the verb group usually comes after the subject and always has a main verb.
2-) The main verb has several different forms.
3-) Verb groups can also include one or two auxiliaries, or a modal, or a modal and one or two auxiliaries.
4-) The verb group changes in negative clauses and questions.
5-) Some verb groups are followed by an adverbial, a complement, an object, or two objects.
1-) The verb group in a clause is used to say what is happening in an action or situation. You usually put the verb group immediately after the subject. The verb group always includes a main verb.
* I waited.
* They killed the elephants.
2-) Regular verbs have four forms: the base form, the third person singular form of the present simple, the ‘-ing’ form or present participle, and the ‘-ed form used for the past simple and for the past participle.
| ask |
asks |
asking |
asked |
| try |
tries |
trying |
tried |
| reach |
reaches |
reaching |
reached |
| dance |
dances |
dancing |
danced |
| dip |
dips |
dipping |
dipped |
Irregular verbs may have three forms, four forms, or five forms. Note that ‘be’ has eight forms.
| cost |
costs |
costing |
|
|
| think |
thinks |
thinking |
thought |
|
| swim |
swims |
swimming |
swam |
swum |
| be |
am/is/are |
being |
was/were |
been |
3-) The main verb can have one ortwo auxiliaries in front of it.
* I had met him in Zermatt.
* The car was being repaired.
The main verb can have a modal in front of it.
* You can go now.
* I would like to ask you a question.
The main verb can have a modal and one or two auxiliaries in front of it.
* I could have spent the whole year on it.
* She would have been delighted to see you.
4-) In negative clauses, you have to use a modal or auxiliary and put ‘not’ after the first word of the verb group.
* He does not speak English very well
* I was not smiling.
* It could not have been wrong.
Note that you often use short forms rather than ‘not’.
* I didn’t know that.
* He couldn’t see it.
5-) In ‘yes/no’ questions, you have to put an auxiliary or modal first, then the subject, then the rest of the verb group.
* Did you meet George?
* Couldn’t you have been a bit quieter?
In wh’-questions, you put the ‘wh’-word first. If the wh’-word is the subject, you put the verb group next.
* Which came first?
* Who could have done it?
If the wh’-word is the object or an adverbial, you must use an auxiliary or modal next, then the subject, then the rest of the verb group.
* What did you do?
* Where could she be going?
6-) Some verb groups have an object or two objects after them. See Units 72 and 73.
* He closed the door.
* She sends you her love.
Verb groups involving link verbs, such as ‘be’, have a complement after them. See Unit 80.
* They were sailors.
* She felt happy.
Some verb groups have an adverbial after them.
* We walked through the park.
* She put the letter on the table.
