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Ordering of elements in complex verb phrases
214b
The table shows (from left to right) how the different elements that may occur in
complex verb phrases are ordered. The elements are labelled 1 to 5.
The maximum number of different elements is five, but to find all five in one
verb phrase is extremely rare.
Ordering of elements in complex verb phrases
1
2
3
4
5
examples A
it
might
rain
B
she
has
arrived
C
they
were
working
D
Jamie
had
been
looking
E
it
might
have
been
used
F
we
may
have
been
being
followed
type of verb
modal
perfect
progressive
passive
lexical verb
verb
auxiliary
auxiliary
auxiliary
have
be
be
ordering
must be
must be
must be
must be
principles
followed
by
followed followed followed
by
base form
by -ed
by -ing
-ed participle
participle
participle
meaning
verb phrase
verb phrase
verb phrase
verb phrase
has modal
has perfect
has
is passive
meaning
aspect
progressive
voice
aspect
396 | Verb phrase 1: structure of verb phrases
Cambridge Grammar of English
The ordering principles in the table mean that if, for example, there is just a modal
verb + the lexical verb, the base form of the lexical verb must be used (example A in
the table). If the modal is followed by auxiliary have and a lexical verb, then the
next auxiliary or the lexical verb must be in the -ed participle form (example E).
Example A consists of (1) modal verb (might) + (5) base form.
Example B consists of (2) auxiliary verb (has) + (5) -ed participle.
Example C consists of (3) auxiliary verb (were) + (5) -ing participle.
Example D consists of (2) and (3) two auxiliary verbs (had + been) + (5) -ing
participle.
Example E consists of (1) modal verb (might) + (2) and (4) two auxiliary verbs
(have + been) + (5) -ed participle.
Example F consists of (1) modal verb (may) + (2) and (3) and (4) three auxiliary
verbs (have + been + being) + (5) -ed participle.
Here are further examples of ordered combinations of the elements. The numbers
refer to the table opposite:
combination
example
modal + progressive
I
might be seeing Bob.
1 3 5
modal + perfect
They
should have finished a long time ago.
1 2 5
modal + passive
If I
may be allowed to say so, …
1 4 5
perfect + progressive
Two men
had been plotting to rob the train.
2 3 5
progressive + passive
We
’re being fooled.
3 4 5
perfect + passive
I
’ve been asked to write this report.
2 4 5
modal + perfect + progressive
She
must have been talking to Anthea.
1 2 3 5
modal + perfect + passive
But, I mean, I
could have been killed.
1 2 4 5
modal + progressive + passive
The nucleic acid
may be being reproduced in the nucleus …
1 3 4 5
perfect + progressive + passive
It
’s been being repaired for the last two years.
2 3 4 5
Û
539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms
Verb phrase 1: structure of verb phrases | 397
Indication of person and number
214c
The first element of the verb phrase indicates person (first, second or third) and
number (singular or plural). However, modal verbs do not show person or
number.
Verb phrases indicating person and number
example
person and number
example subject pronouns
work
first person singular or plural
I, we
second person singular or plural
you
third person plural
they
works
third person singular
he, she, it, one
have worked
first person singular or plural
I, we
second person singular or plural
you
third person plural
they
has worked
third person singular
he, she, it, one
was working
first person singular
I
third person singular
he, she, it, one
were working
first person plural
we
second person singular or plural
you
third person plural
they
will work
no person or number indicated
any subject pronoun
Indication of tense
214d
The first element of the verb phrase indicates tense (present or past). Modal verbs
do not show tense.
Verb phrases indicating tense
example
tense
look
present
has spoken
present
lifted
past
were laughing
past
might break
no tense
Û
380b Modal verbs and tenses for historical tense contrasts between can/could,
shall/should
, will/would and may/might.
TENSED AND NON-TENSED VERB PHRASES
215
General
215a
Tensed verb forms indicate whether a verb is present or past tense. The -s form
and the past form of the verb are tensed forms.
The -ing participle and the -ed participle are non-tensed forms.
The base form may be tensed or non-tensed. When it has a subject, it is tensed
(and is called the present form); when it is used as the infinitive form (with or
without to), it is non-tensed.
398 | Verb phrase 1: structure of verb phrases
Cambridge Grammar of English
Verb phrases which begin with a tensed verb form are tensed verb phrases.
They must have a subject, except when they are in the imperative. Verb phrases
with modal verbs are treated as tensed (
Û
215b, below
). Verb phrases which begin
with a non-tensed verb form are non-tensed verb phrases. Examples are given in
the table.
Examples of tensed and non-tensed verb phrases
examples
comments
tensed
I hate carrots.
first person singular, present tense
She was very nice.
third person singular, past tense
We spoke a few months ago.
first person plural, past tense
They may get here by six o’clock.
modal verb phrase
non-tensed
Pointing at my forehead, he asked if I
-ing participle; no person, tense or
had been fighting.
number indicated
Accompanied by Professor Saito, she
-ed participle form; no person, tense or
strode round the island.
number indicated
To get there, you take the lift to the
base form used as infinitive with to; no
third floor.
person, tense or number indicated
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