This document discusses different verb classes in English grammar. It defines a verb as having two main senses: as a finite verb in clauses like "she calls" and as a nonfinite verb in constructions like "to call". It then explains the different verb forms - the base form, third person -s form, past/-ed form, and -ing participle. These forms serve different functions in finite and nonfinite verb phrases. The document also discusses main modal auxiliaries, marginal modal auxiliaries, modal idioms, catenatives, and semi-auxiliaries. It provides examples and notes about the uses of different types of verbs.

1. English Grammar Topics
No 3
On Major Verb Classes
On what it is understood by <verb>
and its two main senses in English.
Copyright 2013
Jesús Lorenzo Vieites

2. The term
is used
in two senses:
A VERB PHRASE consists of one or more verbs (believe, can
think, thought, might be leaving, is basking, etc)

4. But do notice
that…
base form
-s form
-ing participle
-ed form
Irregular full verbs
vary regarding this;
for example,
‘speak’ has 5 forms
, but ‘cut’ has 3.
simple past, past participle or passive participle

5. The verb forms have different functions in finite and nonfinite verb phrases
-s form
-ing participle
-ed form (the past form)
-ed participles

6. The verb forms have different functions in finite and nonfinite verb phrases
-s form
-ed form (the past form)
She calls him every day
-ing participle
-ed participles
Calling early, she found
him at home
She has called twice today
finite
nonfinite
Called early, he ate a
quick snack
Having been called
early, he felt sleepy

7. the base form
The present tense in all persons and
numbers (except 3rd person sing.)
The imperative
The present subjunctive
But it is a Nonfinite verb in:
the bare infinitive
the to-infinitive
the -s form
3rd person sing present tense
-ed form (the past form)
-ing participle
a) Progressive aspect
following <be>
b) -ing participle clauses
-ed participles
a) The perfect aspect
following <have>
b) The passive voice
following <be>
c) -ed participle clauses

8. María is working hard
It has never been beaten
She has already finished
The soup must have been drunk
What have they been
doing at the cinema?

9. Marginal
Modal
Auxiliaries
Main Modal
Auxiliaries
Catenatives
Modal idioms
SemiAuxiliaries

10. Main Modal
Auxiliaries
Marginal Modal
Auxiliaries
+
Inf

11. Modal idioms
HAD BETTER
WOULD RATHER
HAVE GOT TO
BE TO

12. Semi-Auxiliaries
BE LIKELY TO
BE ABLE TO
BE ABOUT TO
BE BOUND TO
BE DUE TO
BE GOING TO
HAVE TO
BE SUPPOSED TO

13. Catenatives
start (working)
go on (taliking)
keep on (struggling)
get (trapped)
APPEAR TO
HAPPEN TO
SEEM TO

14. Regarding Marginal Modal Auxiliaries notice that…
 Always takes the to-infinitive and occurs
only in the past tense
He used to play in the garden when he was a kid
 With <do-support> it is used both
a) As an auxiliary
He usedn’t to dance / he used not to dance
b) As an main verb
He didn’t use to smoke
Did she use to drink?
She used to drink, didn’t she?

15. Regarding Marginal Modal Auxiliaries notice that…
 Normally has the to-infinitive form, but
the to is optional following ought in ellipsis
You oughtn’t to smoke so much so frequently
Ought I to stop smoking?
Yes, in my opinion you ought (to)

dare and need can be used as
a) modal auxiliaries (bare infinitive and with no
inflected forms; especially in negatives &
interrogatives)
She doesn’t dare (to) ask for help
She daren’t look at the naked body
b) main verbs (with to-infinitive, and with inflected
–s, -ing, and past forms)

16. English Grammar Topics
No 3
Copyright 2013
Jesús Lorenzo Vieites