Verb phrases can consist of a simple verb, or a combination with other types (auxiliary and/or modal verbs). The lexical verb is always the one that expresses the action or process:
rolled was rolling could roll would have rolled
lexical auxiliary + lexical modal + lexical modal + auxiliary + lexical
The simple verb makes the action either present or past tense, as does use of the auxiliary or modal verb at the start of the verb phrase. Modal verbs also show the writer’s orientation to the action: how sure or doubtful they are about it happening (eg will vs could).
Active and passive verb phrases
Active and passive verb phrases are both constructed with one (or more) auxiliary verb followed by a lexical verb:
- The active verb phrase begins with the auxiliary has/had (verb to have) and ends with the past participle.
- The passive verb phrase begins with the auxiliary is/was (verb to be) and ends with the past participle.
Active:
They have announced it. She has taken the book home. [have + past participle]
Passive:
It was announced. The book is being taken home. [be + past participle]
Contracted verb phrases
When speaking, we often contract the auxiliaries or modals in verb phrases to make the utterance shorter. When the word not is embedded in the verb phrase, it is often contracted with the preceding auxiliary or modal verb:
I’m he’s she’s it’s we’re you’re they’re
I’ll he’ll she’ll it’ll we’ll you’ll they’ll
you’re [= you are]
you’re not or you aren’t [= you are not]
you’d [= you had/would]
you’d not or you hadn’t/wouldn’t [= you had/would not]
See Apostrophes for information on other contracted words.
