Verbs2

Verbs 2: Phrases and Auxiliaries

Materials by Liz Siler

Review Point

• In our first slides we looked at a FORM-based way to consider verbs.

• We will now look at a different way to consider verbs --- a functional, role-based way.

Lexical and Auxiliary Verbs

• Verbs can be divided into two sub-categories: lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs.

• Together these form verb phrases.

Definition: Verb Phrase

• A verb phrase is a group of words that consists of a lexical verb and all its auxiliaries if there are any.

• If there are any adverbs between the lexical verb and the auxiliaries, they are part of the verb phrase.

Examples of verb phrases

• Is (The whale is under the ship.)

• Is going (My husband is going to Antarctica.)

• Had (Her sister had a rough time last night.)

• Had known (The dog had known his master for ten years!)

• Did (He did his homework.)Did not want (He did not want an aspirin.)

Lexical Verbs• In a verb phrase, the lexical verb is the

furthest verb to the right. This verb is sometimes called the “main” verb.

Examples of Lexical Verbs• Is (The whale is under the ship.)

Lexical verb? IS (-s form ) • Is going (My husband is going to Antarctica.)

Lexical verb? GOING (-ing participle form)• Had (Her sister had a rough time last night.)

Lexical verb? HAD (past tense form)• Had known (The dog had known his master for ten years!)

Lexical verb? KNOWN (past participle form)• Did (He did his homework.)

Lexical verb? DID (past tense form).• Did not want (He did not want an aspirin.)

Lexical verb? WANT (base form)

Auxiliary Verbs

• Only verb phrases with 2 or more verbs have auxiliary verbs.

• The auxiliary verbs are the verbs that are not the lexical verbs.

• Auxiliary verbs serve many important functions.

• Sometimes auxiliary verbs are called “helping” verbs.

Examples of Auxiliary Verbs• Is (The whale is under the ship.)

Lexical verb? IS (-s form). NO AUXILIARY VERB. • Is going (My husband is going to Antarctica.)

Lexical verb? GOING (-ing participle form ). AUXILIARY VERB: IS (-s form ).

• Had (Her sister had a rough time last night.) Lexical verb? HAD (past tense form). NO AUXILIARY VERB.

• Had known (The dog had known his master for ten years!)Lexical verb? KNOWN (past participle form). AUXILIARY VERB: HAD (past tense form).

• Did (He did his homework.) Lexical verb? DID (past tense form). NO AUXILIARY VERB.

• Did not want (He did not want an aspirin.) Lexical verb? WANT (base form). AUXILIARY VERB: DID (past tense form).

Types of Auxiliaries

• There are basically two kinds of auxiliaries: primary and modal.

Primary Auxiliaries

• Primary auxiliaries are formed with forms of the verbs to have, do, and be.

Examples: Primary Auxiliaries

She has (-s form of “to have”) known him for ten years.

They did (past tense form of “to do”) not like him very much.

I am (irregular additional present tense form of “to be”) preparing a lesson!

The Verb To Do

• “Do” can be a primary auxiliary or a lexical verb.

• It’s an important verb --- so learn it in all its forms.

Do• Base: Do

• Infinitive: To do

• -S Form: Does

• Past tense form: Did

• -Ing Participle Form: Doing

• Past Participle Form: Done

Do/Auxiliary

• I do not like cigarette smoke.

• What does that mean?

• I do like Sake cocktails.

Do/Lexical Verb

• I do too much housework!

• He did his math.

• She is doing her best.

• They have done the work.

Do/Auxiliary and Lexical

• You did not do well.

• That child does do her work well.

The Verb To Be

• “Be” can be a primary auxiliary or a lexical verb.

• It’s a very important verb --- learn it!

Be

• Base: Be• Infinitive: To be• -S form: Is• Past tense forms: Was/Were• Ing participle form: Being• Past Participle form: Been• Also: Present tense forms: are/am/is

Note: is --- both the –s form AND present tense

Be/Auxiliary

I am not going.

She has been found.

They were told the truth.

Be/Lexical Verb

• I am the teacher.

• That is my dog.

• We are in the United States.

• He has been sick.

Be/Auxiliary and Lexical

• You are being weird.

• He has been being rather strange.

The Verb To Have

• “Have” can be a primary auxiliary or a lexical verb.

• It is also an important verb --- so learn it!

Have

• Base: Have

• Infinitive: To have

• -S form: Has

• Past tense form: Had

• -ing participle form: Having

• Past participle form: Had

Have/Auxiliary

• I have told the truth.

• He has been going with her for three years.

• They had never seen the strange man before.

Have/Lexical Verb

• He had a Labrador.

• They did not have a Rottweiler.

• I am having a good time.

Have/Auxiliary and Lexical

• He has had it rough this semester.

• She has been having a rough semester.