How to use a verb group in English. For more English tutorials, please visit: https://www.thelecturette.com

1. The Verb Group

2. The Verb Group
• The verb group in a clause is used to say
what is happening in an action or situation.
• You usually put the verb group immediately
after the subject.
• The verb group always includes a main verb.
I waited.
They killed the elephants.

3. The Verb Group
• Regular verbs have four forms:
– The base form
– The third person singular form of the
present simple
– The ‘-ing’ form of the present participle
– The ‘-ed’ form used for the past simple and
the past participle
ask > asks > asking > asked
try > tries > trying > tried

4. The Verb Group
• Irregular verbs have three forms, four forms,
or five forms
– cost > costs > costing
– think > thinks > thinking > thought
– swim > swims > swimming > swam >
swum
Note: ‘be’ has eight forms.
– be > am/is/are > being > was/were > been

5. The Verb Group
• The main verb can have one or two
auxiliaries in front of it.
I had met him in London.
The car was being repaired.

6. The Verb Group
• The main verb can have a modal in front of it.
You can go now.
I would like to ask you a question.

7. The Verb Group
• The main verb can have a modal and one or
two auxiliaries in front of it.
I could have spent the whole year on it.
She would have been delighted to see you.

8. The Verb Group
• In negative clauses, you have to use a modal
or auxiliary and put ‘not’ after the first word of
the verb group.
He does not speak English very well.
I was not smiling.
It could not have been wrong.
Note: You often use short forms rather than
‘not’. I didn’ t know that.

9. The Verb Group
• In ‘yes/no’ questions, you have to put an
auxiliary or modal first, then the subject, then
the rest of the verb group.
Did you meet George?
Couldn’ t you have been a bit quieter?

10. The Verb Group
• In ‘wh’-questions, you have to put the verb
group first. If the ‘wh’-word is the subject, you
put the verb group next.
Which came first?
Who could have done it?

11. The Verb Group
• If the ‘wh’- word is the object or the adverbial,
you must use an auxiliary or a modal next,
then the subject, then the rest of the verb
group.
What did you do?
Where could she be going?

12. The Verb Group
• Some verb groups have an object or two
objects after them.
He closed the door.
She sends you her love.

13. The Verb Group
• Verb groups invloving linking verbs, such as
‘be’ have a complement after them.
They were sailors.
She felt happy.

14. The Verb Group
• Some verb groups have an adverbial after
them.
We walked through the park.
She put the letter on the table.

15. Questions?
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