The document discusses the different structures that use a single verb in English. It provides examples of sentences using verbs like "be", "have", and "do" in the present and past simple tense. It then categorizes verbs as primary verbs, auxiliary verbs, modal verbs, or modal-auxiliary hybrids. The rest of the document analyzes the grammatical functions of these different types of verbs, such as forming questions, negatives, short answers, and abbreviations. It also discusses inversion structures in English involving verbs.

1. Grammar verbs

2. How many different structures
can you think of that use only
one verb?

3. example tense +/-/?
I’m English. present simple (to be) +ive
He isn’t my friend. present simple (to be) -ive
Are you hungry? present simple (to be) ?ive
They were at work. past simple (to be) +ive
We weren’t on holiday. past simple (to be) -ive
Was she late? past simple (to be) ?ive
They live in Milan. present simple +ive
We worked hard. past simple +ive
Who wants an ice-cream? present simple (subject q.) ?ive
What happened yesterday? past simple (subject q.) ?ive
Look for the answer! imperative +ive

4. all the other constructions in
English need at least 2 verbs

5. ALL…

6. grammar verb main verb +/-/?
do / does
INF (infinitive –to) -ive / ?ive
did
can will shall may must
INF (infinitive –to) -ive / -ive / ?ive
could would should might
am / is / are -ive
ING (present participle) / -ive / ?ive
was / were
have / has -ive
PP (past participle) / -ive / ?ive
had
am / is / are -ive
PP (past participle) / -ive / ?ive
was / were

7. grammar verb main verb grammar meaning
do / does
INF (infinitive –to) indicative
did
can will shall may must
INF (infinitive –to) modal
could would should might
am / is / are
ING (present participle) continuous
was / were
have / has
PP (past participle) perfect
had
am / is / are
PP (past participle) passive
was / were

9. 5 pillars of English

10. big distinction between
grammar verbs
and
main verbs

11. grammar verbs form
questions
main verbs don’t*

12. grammar verbs form
questions
main verbs don’t*
*except subject questions in present and past tenses

13. grammar verbs form
negatives
main verbs don’t

14. grammar verbs form
short answers*
main verbs don’t
*and other very short sentences

15. grammar verbs allow
abbreviations
main verbs don’t

16. grammar verbs have
weak/strong pronunciation
main verbs don’t

17. grammar verbs go before
mid-position adverbs
main verbs go after

18. grammar verbs main
questions yes only subject questions
negatives yes no
short answers etc yes no
abbreviations yes no
weak / strong pronunciation yes no
mid-position adverbs verb before verb after
only primary and modal
meaning yes
verbs

19. 3 types of grammar verb
(and 1 hybrid)

20. 1. primary verb(s)
be / (have)
grammar and main verb in one
conjugated

21. 2. auxiliary verbs
do / be / have / be
form tenses for main verb
conjugated

22. 3. modal verbs
can / would / must / should etc
add meaning to main verb
zero conjugation

23. modal-auxiliary hybrids
will / would / shall / should
form tenses for main verb
zero conjugation

24. primary aux modal modal/aux main
do do
be be be
(have) have have
can
could
will will
would would
shall shall
should should
may
might
must
make
like
ask
want
etc

25. identify the verbs in yellow

26. primary / aux / modal /
categorise the verbs in yellow
modal-aux / main
I’m English.
I’m working.
Have you been to Paris?
Would you like to work there?
He wanted to go.
May I help you?
I don’t like it.
He does it every day.
It’s made in Italy.
It’s working correctly.
It’s mine.

27. primary / aux / modal /
categorise the verbs in yellow
modal-aux / main
I’m English. primary
I’m working. aux
Have you been to Paris? aux
Would you like to work there? modal-aux
He wanted to go. main
May I help you? modal
I don’t like it. aux
He does it every day. main
It’s made in Italy. aux
It’s working correctly. aux
It’s mine. primary

28. primary / aux / modal /
categorise the verbs in yellow
modal-aux / main
I don’t have a dog.
I haven’t a dog.
I haven’t got a dog.
He might have been waiting to go.
He might have been waiting to go.
He might have been waiting to go.
It has been raining.
It’s being used.
Is it being written?
It hasn’t been written.
Don’t be stupid!

29. primary / aux / modal /
categorise the verbs in yellow
modal-aux / main
I don’t have a dog. aux
I haven’t a dog. primary
I haven’t got a dog. aux
He might have been waiting to go. modal
He might have been waiting to go. aux
He might have been waiting to go. main
It has been raining. aux
It’s being used. aux
Is it being written? aux
It hasn’t been written. main
Don’t be stupid! main

30. grammar verbs are used in
several short sentences

31. 1. short answers
Yes, I do.
No, you shouldn’t.
etc

32. 2. agreeing replies
So does she.
Neither would you.
etc

33. 2. agreeing replies
So does she.
Neither would you.
etc

34. 3. contradicting replies
She doesn’t.
You would.
etc

35. 4. prompting questions
Can you?
Were they?
etc

36. 5. question tags
You speak German, don’t you?
She wouldn’t ask, would she?
etc

37. inversion

38. 1. questions
Do you like Pink Floyd?

39. 2. exclamations
Isn’t it cold?

40. 3. with ‘may’
May the best man win!

41. 4. after so/neither
in agreeing replies
So / neither do I.

42. 5. after ‘as’, ‘than’ and ‘so’
She was very religious,
as were most of her friends.
So ridiculous did he look that…

43. 6. removing ‘if’ from some
conditionals
Were she my daughter…

44. 7. after negative and restrictive
expressions
At no time were we aware…
Only then did I realise…

45. Under no circumstances…
At no time…
Not until…
Only then…
Hardly…
Seldom…
Little…
Not only…

46. NB no inversion after:
Not far…
Not long…

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