The document explains the structure and function of verb groups in clauses, detailing the forms of regular and irregular verbs, and their usage in various sentence constructions. It describes the placement of verb groups in relation to subjects and objects, the role of auxiliaries and modals, and how to form negative and interrogative sentences. The document is a guide for understanding the complexities of verb usage in English grammar.

1. The Verb Group

2. The Verb Group
• 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.

3. The Verb Group
• Regular verbs have four forms:
– The base form
– The third person singular form of the
present simple
– The ‘-ing’ form of the present participle
– The ‘-ed’ form used for the past simple and
the past participle
ask > asks > asking > asked
try > tries > trying > tried

4. The Verb Group
• Irregular verbs have three forms, four forms,
or five forms
– cost > costs > costing
– think > thinks > thinking > thought
– swim > swims > swimming > swam >
swum
Note: ‘be’ has eight forms.
– be > am/is/are > being > was/were > been

5. The Verb Group
• The main verb can have one or two
auxiliaries in front of it.
I had met him in London.
The car was being repaired.

6. The Verb Group
• The main verb can have a modal in front of it.
You can go now.
I would like to ask you a question.

7. The Verb Group
• 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.

8. The Verb Group
• 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: You often use short forms rather than
‘not’. I didn’ t know that.

9. The Verb Group
• 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?

10. The Verb Group
• In ‘wh’-questions, you have to put the verb
group first. If the ‘wh’-word is the subject, you
put the verb group next.
Which came first?
Who could have done it?

11. The Verb Group
• If the ‘wh’- word is the object or the adverbial,
you must use an auxiliary or a modal next,
then the subject, then the rest of the verb
group.
What did you do?
Where could she be going?

12. The Verb Group
• Some verb groups have an object or two
objects after them.
He closed the door.
She sends you her love.

13. The Verb Group
• Verb groups invloving linking verbs, such as
‘be’ have a complement after them.
They were sailors.
She felt happy.

14. The Verb Group
• Some verb groups have an adverbial after
them.
We walked through the park.
She put the letter on the table.

15. Questions?
For more slide presentations visit: