Verb Phrases - English Grammar Today - Cambridge Dictionary

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Order of verbs in verb phrases

The continuous, perfect and passive meanings of auxiliary verbs may be combined in a verb phrase, and auxiliary verbs may combine with modal verbs.

The order of the different types (and meanings) of verbs in the verb phrase is shown in the table as 1–5, from left to right.

1

2

3

4

5

subject

modal verb

perfect have

continuous be

passive be

main verb

must be followed by base form

must be followed by -ed form

must be followed by -ing form

must be followed by -ed form

Prices

rose.

She

will

understand.

The builders

had

arrived.

The show

is

starting.

Four people

were

arrested.

Seats

cannot

be

reserved.

The printer

should

be

working.

He

must

have

forgotten.

Temperatures

have

been

rising.

William

has

been

promoted.

You

could

have

been

killed!

A combination of all the auxiliary meanings plus a modal verb is possible but is very rare:

She may have been being interviewed for a job. Perhaps that’s why she was there. (modal may + perfect have + passive been + continuous being + main verb interviewed)

See also:

  • Questions: interrogative pronouns (what, who)

  • Modality: introduction

  • Negation

  • Passive

  • Past continuous (I was working)

  • Past perfect simple (I had worked)

  • Present continuous (I am working)

  • Present perfect simple (I have worked)

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