Unit 3 The verb group

Main points

• In a clause, the verb group usually comes after the subject and always has a main verb.
• The main verb has several different forms.
• Verb groups can also include one or two auxiliaries, or a modal, or a modal and one or two auxiliaries.
• The verb group changes in negative clauses and questions.
• 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
• dance* dances* dancing* danced
• reach* reaches* reaching* reached
• try* tries* trying* tried
• 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

See the Appendix for details of verb forms.

3 The main verb can have one or two 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.