Chapter 3 Flashcards
verb phrase
Words that together make up the predicator
simple verb phrase
Consists of one word
complex verb phrase
Consists of two to five words
lexical (main) verb
Names the process taking place, has the most meaning; if there’s more than one verb, the lexical verb always comes last, and every sentence must have a lexical verb
auxiliary (helping) verbs
Stand in front of the lexical verb and help indicate when the process takes place or how the speaker feels about the process
finite (tensed) verb forms
First verb, either in present or past tense; tells you whether the process took place in the past or present. It’s limited in tense, person, and number. If the verb form changes with the tense or subject change, it’s finite
non-finite verb forms
Forms that are not finite
present participle
Non-finite, -ing form
past participle
Non-finite, -ed form or irregular form
plain infinitive
Non-finite, plain form of the verb
to infinitive
Non-finite, plain infinitive preceded by ‘to’
progressive ‘be’ + present participle
Auxiliary verb, in the actual process of the verb; event is taking place now. Past progressive refers to the event having taken place at a particular moment in the past
perfect ‘have’ + past participle
Auxiliary verb, implies some connection with the present, even though the event took place in the past
modals + (‘to’) infinitives
Auxiliary verb, the process has not taken place, but is a possible event
central modals
May, will, would, can, could, might, shall, should, must
