LES 1: The verb phrase
The English Verb Phrase Structure
- A verb phrase consists of a word group headed by a verb, which can
be either simple (single verb) or periphrastic (with auxiliaries +
main verb)
Basic Verb Forms
- English has 5 fundamental forms:
o Base/unmarked form (eat, run)
o S-form (eats, runs)
o Preterite (ate, ran)
o Ing-form (eating, running)
o Ed-participle (eaten, run)
Functions of Basic Forms
- Base form: used for non-progressive present tense, imperatives,
subjunctives, and infinitives
- S-form: exclusively for 3rd-person singular present tense
- Preterite: non-progressive past tense
- Ing-form: used in progressives, non-finite clauses, and gerunds
- Ed-participle: used for perfect aspect, passive voice, and non-finite
clauses
Finite vs. Non-finite Forms
- Finite verbs are marked for number, person, tense, mood, and voice
- Non-finite forms (infinitives, participles) lack these markings
- Only base form and ed-participle can function as both finite and
non-finite
Auxiliaries and Their Role
- Auxiliaries:
o Help other verbs
o Appear in periphrastic phrases
o Form a closed class
o Carry more grammatical/abstract meaning
o Cannot stand independently
Sentence Structure and Verb Usage
- Standard structure follows subject-verb order in positive-affirmative
sentences
- Negative sentences require an auxiliary verb or the operator ‘do’
, - Questions (both content and yes-no) require subject-verb inversion
and auxiliary verbs
- Emphatic statements need auxiliary verbs to stress validity
LES 2: Anomalous and non-anomalous verbs
Anomalous Verbs (AVs) – Key Features
- AVs form a closed class with distinct morphological features:
o No non-finite forms (e.g., no *to must)
o Unmarked 3rd person singular present tense
o Usually followed by bare infinitive (except be, have, ought)
Syntactic Properties
- NICE properties – AVs are used for:
o Negation (e.g., “should not”)
o Inversion in questions
o Clausal tags (e.g., “wasn’t she?”)
o Emphasis (e.g., “I DO like you”)
- Mid-position adverbs appear post-finite with AVs, unlike with NAVs
Complex Verb Patterns
- Several verbs show mixed AV/NAV behavior:
o ‘do’: functions as operator (AV) or lexical verb (NAV)
o ‘be’: mostly AV in finite forms, with exceptions like ‘behave
like’
o ‘dare’: varies between AV/NAV in questions and negatives
o ‘need’: patterns differently based on meaning and context
‘Have’ – Multiple Functions
- Shows complex behavior patterns:
o Perfect auxiliary: always AV
o Causative and experiential: NAV
o Possession: usually NAV (AV in formal contexts)
o Obligation (have to): typically NAV
Tense and Aspect System
- Tense-time relationship is complex:
o Present tense can express future time
o Past tense can express hypothetical situations
o Future forms can express present probability
Aspect
- 2 main aspectual distinctions:
, o Perfect vs. non-perfect: marked by have + ed-participle
o Progressive vs. non-progressive: marked by be + -ing
- Verb classification
o Dynamic verbs: express events, actions, changes
o Stative verbs: express states, relations, mental conditions
o Some verbs can shift between categories with meaning
changes
LES 3: Present-time reference
Present-Time Reference in English: Comprehensive Overview
Tense-Aspect Combinations
- English features 12 possible tense-aspect combinations across
present, past, and future tenses, each combining with progressive
and perfect aspects in various ways
- These combinations form a complete system allowing speakers to
express nuanced temporal relationships and action states (e.g., “I
sing” vs. “I am singing” vs. “I have sung” vs. “I have been singing”)
Present Progressive
- Actions occurring at the moment of speaking that began before and
will continue after (e.g., “I am talking about the English present
progressive right now”)
- Temporary habits limited to a specific timeframe (e.g., “I’m reading
the assigned sections in Foundations every Monday evening this
semester)
- Background settings for other actions (e.g., “She just runs into my
room, while I’m trying to study”)
- Repeated actions that are surprising, unexpected, or annoying,
typically with adverbs like “always”, “constantly”, or “perpetually”
(e.g., “My neighbor is constantly banging the wall at night”)
Present Non-Progressive
- Used with stative verbs to express ongoing states rather than
actions (e.g., “She adores waking up early”)
- Expresses habitual or repeated activities (e.g., “She always wakes
up early”)
- Indicates universally valid statements or “all-inclusive time” (e.g.,
“Water boils at 100ºC)
- Present actions as complete or global rather than in progress,
particularly with punctual verbs (e.g., “Someone knocks. Who could
it be?”)
The English Verb Phrase Structure
- A verb phrase consists of a word group headed by a verb, which can
be either simple (single verb) or periphrastic (with auxiliaries +
main verb)
Basic Verb Forms
- English has 5 fundamental forms:
o Base/unmarked form (eat, run)
o S-form (eats, runs)
o Preterite (ate, ran)
o Ing-form (eating, running)
o Ed-participle (eaten, run)
Functions of Basic Forms
- Base form: used for non-progressive present tense, imperatives,
subjunctives, and infinitives
- S-form: exclusively for 3rd-person singular present tense
- Preterite: non-progressive past tense
- Ing-form: used in progressives, non-finite clauses, and gerunds
- Ed-participle: used for perfect aspect, passive voice, and non-finite
clauses
Finite vs. Non-finite Forms
- Finite verbs are marked for number, person, tense, mood, and voice
- Non-finite forms (infinitives, participles) lack these markings
- Only base form and ed-participle can function as both finite and
non-finite
Auxiliaries and Their Role
- Auxiliaries:
o Help other verbs
o Appear in periphrastic phrases
o Form a closed class
o Carry more grammatical/abstract meaning
o Cannot stand independently
Sentence Structure and Verb Usage
- Standard structure follows subject-verb order in positive-affirmative
sentences
- Negative sentences require an auxiliary verb or the operator ‘do’
, - Questions (both content and yes-no) require subject-verb inversion
and auxiliary verbs
- Emphatic statements need auxiliary verbs to stress validity
LES 2: Anomalous and non-anomalous verbs
Anomalous Verbs (AVs) – Key Features
- AVs form a closed class with distinct morphological features:
o No non-finite forms (e.g., no *to must)
o Unmarked 3rd person singular present tense
o Usually followed by bare infinitive (except be, have, ought)
Syntactic Properties
- NICE properties – AVs are used for:
o Negation (e.g., “should not”)
o Inversion in questions
o Clausal tags (e.g., “wasn’t she?”)
o Emphasis (e.g., “I DO like you”)
- Mid-position adverbs appear post-finite with AVs, unlike with NAVs
Complex Verb Patterns
- Several verbs show mixed AV/NAV behavior:
o ‘do’: functions as operator (AV) or lexical verb (NAV)
o ‘be’: mostly AV in finite forms, with exceptions like ‘behave
like’
o ‘dare’: varies between AV/NAV in questions and negatives
o ‘need’: patterns differently based on meaning and context
‘Have’ – Multiple Functions
- Shows complex behavior patterns:
o Perfect auxiliary: always AV
o Causative and experiential: NAV
o Possession: usually NAV (AV in formal contexts)
o Obligation (have to): typically NAV
Tense and Aspect System
- Tense-time relationship is complex:
o Present tense can express future time
o Past tense can express hypothetical situations
o Future forms can express present probability
Aspect
- 2 main aspectual distinctions:
, o Perfect vs. non-perfect: marked by have + ed-participle
o Progressive vs. non-progressive: marked by be + -ing
- Verb classification
o Dynamic verbs: express events, actions, changes
o Stative verbs: express states, relations, mental conditions
o Some verbs can shift between categories with meaning
changes
LES 3: Present-time reference
Present-Time Reference in English: Comprehensive Overview
Tense-Aspect Combinations
- English features 12 possible tense-aspect combinations across
present, past, and future tenses, each combining with progressive
and perfect aspects in various ways
- These combinations form a complete system allowing speakers to
express nuanced temporal relationships and action states (e.g., “I
sing” vs. “I am singing” vs. “I have sung” vs. “I have been singing”)
Present Progressive
- Actions occurring at the moment of speaking that began before and
will continue after (e.g., “I am talking about the English present
progressive right now”)
- Temporary habits limited to a specific timeframe (e.g., “I’m reading
the assigned sections in Foundations every Monday evening this
semester)
- Background settings for other actions (e.g., “She just runs into my
room, while I’m trying to study”)
- Repeated actions that are surprising, unexpected, or annoying,
typically with adverbs like “always”, “constantly”, or “perpetually”
(e.g., “My neighbor is constantly banging the wall at night”)
Present Non-Progressive
- Used with stative verbs to express ongoing states rather than
actions (e.g., “She adores waking up early”)
- Expresses habitual or repeated activities (e.g., “She always wakes
up early”)
- Indicates universally valid statements or “all-inclusive time” (e.g.,
“Water boils at 100ºC)
- Present actions as complete or global rather than in progress,
particularly with punctual verbs (e.g., “Someone knocks. Who could
it be?”)
