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

Interrogative and negative

Simple verb phrases are not used to form interrogatives or negatives. Interrogatives

and negatives are complex verb phrases (

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214

), in which auxiliary do must be used:

Do you know Shirley’s number?

(interrogative)

(Know you Shirley’s number?)

Going up to university just 

does not appeal to me.

(negative declarative)

(Going up to university just not appeals to me.)

Don’t tell Brian.

(negative imperative)

(Tell not Brian.)

Be

and have used as lexical verbs are exceptions, forming negatives and

interrogatives using simple verb phrases:

Are you ready? 

(lexical verb be: interrogative)

Has she not a right to be jealous?

(lexical verb have: interrogative and negative)

COMPLEX VERB PHRASES

214

Elements of complex verb phrases

214a

A complex verb phrase may include one or a combination of the following structures:

---

● Auxiliary or modal verb + lexical verb:

I 

do like pizza. 

(emphatic auxiliary do)

I 

can’t take any more. 

(modal can)

Only one modal verb may occur in a verb phrase:

He’

ll be able to get a lift.

(He will can get a lift.)

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378 Modal forms for a full list of modal verbs

● Perfect aspect (auxiliary have + -ed participle of lexical verb):

We

’ve talked about that.

● Progressive aspect (auxiliary be + -ing participle of lexical verb):

Tears 

were rolling down my face.

● Passive voice (auxiliary be + -ed participle of lexical verb):

A Laurel and Hardy film 

was banned.