Cambridge Grammar of English Hardback with cd-rom a comprehensive Guide

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539 Glossary for any unfamiliar terms

Introduction to word classes and phrase classes | 303

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VERB PHRASES

159

Verb phrases: forms

159a

Verbs act as the heads of verb phrases. The head is the first verb in the verb

phrase, and it determines the form of what may follow. 

A verb phrase may consist of a lexical verb only but may also include auxiliary

verbs or modal verbs. In the following examples verbs are in bold:

I 

asked you.

(main verb only: lexical verb ask)

I 

could.

(main verb only: modal verb could)

I 

have asked you.

(auxiliary verb have + main verb)

I 

must ask you.

(modal verb must + main verb)

Modal verbs and auxiliary verbs precede lexical verbs. A modal verb (modal) and

auxiliary verbs (aux) can occur together. The modal verb comes first. More than

one modal is not permitted but there may be several auxiliary verbs:

modal     aux

A: We should have bought it there and then.