This document discusses the structure of the verb phrase in English grammar. It explains that the verb phrase contains the main verb and any auxiliary verbs. It covers the different forms the main verb can take based on tense, person, number, and aspect. It also defines the primary auxiliary verbs of be, do, have and modal auxiliaries. Finally, it reviews the different tenses including past, present, future, present perfect, past perfect and future forms.

1. The Verb Phrase
Grammar II – 2015
Jorgelina Mecchia
UNVM

2. The Verb Phrase
 The garden is huge.
 Mark might have been waiting outside for you.

3. The Structure of the Verb Phrase
 Main Verb
 Forms of the main verb
 Tense
 Person
 Number
 Aspect
 Future time
 Auxiliary verbs
 Primary verbs
 Modal Auxiliaries
 The sequence of auxiliaries

4. Main Verb
Forms of the main verb
Base form: laugh, mention, give, speak, be
Present form: laughs, mentions, gives, speaks, is-are-am
Past form: laughed, mentioned, gave, spoke, was-were
-ed participle: laughed, mentioned, given, spoken, been
-ing participle: laughing, mentioning, giving, speaking, being

5. Main Verb
 Tense:
 Present
 Past
 Person:
 First person
 Second person
 Third person
 Number:
 Singular
 Plural
EXAMPLES:
- I am a dancer.
Tense: present
Person: first
Number: singular
- They played football yesterday.
Tense: past
Person: third
Number: plural

6.  Main Verb
 Forms
 Tense
 Person
 Number
 Aspect
 Future time
Main Verb
 Aspect:
 Perfective (auxiliary have + -ed participle)
I have closed the shop for the day.
The shop has closed for the day.
The police had closed the shops months ago.
 Progressive (auxiliary be+ -ing participle)
You are neglecting your work.
I am resting just now.
The children were fighting all morning.
I was waiting for you in the lobby.

7. The Structure of the Verb Phrase
 Main Verb
 Forms of the main verb
 Tense
 Person
 Number
 Aspect
 Future time
 Auxiliary verbs
 Primary verbs
 Modal Auxiliaries
 The sequence of auxiliaries

8. Auxiliary Verbs
 Primary Verbs: be – do – have
I am listening to music.
Do you always put the cat out at night?
I have never travelled to China.
 Modal Auxiliaries
 The sequence of Auxiliaries
 Modal auxiliary (You should be careful.)
 Perfect auxiliary (You should have been more careful.)
 Progressive auxiliary (You should have been cutting the carrots.)
Passive auxiliary (The room should have been cleaned yesterday.)

9. TENSES: REVIEW
PAST – PRESENT – FUTURE FORMS

15. Present perfect and past simple

16. Present perfect and past simple

18. Past Perfect Simple

19. Future Forms

20. Future Forms (2)

21. Future Forms (3)
Form Meaning/ Use Example
Future continuous Actions in progress at a
particular time in the
future
Future Perfect Activities that will be
completed before a
particular time in the
future