Grammar verbs

How many different structures can you think of that use only

one verb?

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

all the other constructions in English need at least 2 verbs

ALL…

grammar verb main verb +/-/?

do / doesdid

INF (infinitive –to) -ive / ?ive

cancould

willwould

shallshould

maymight

mustINF (infinitive –to) -ive / -ive / ?ive

am / is / arewas / were

ING (present participle) -ive / -ive / ?ive

have / hashad

PP (past participle) -ive / -ive / ?ive

am / is / arewas / were

PP (past participle) -ive / -ive / ?ive

grammar verb main verb grammar meaning

do / doesdid

INF (infinitive –to) indicative

cancould

willwould

shallshould

maymight

mustINF (infinitive –to) modal

am / is / arewas / were

ING (present participle) continuous

have / hashad

PP (past participle) perfect

am / is / arewas / were

PP (past participle) passive

5 pillars of English

big distinction betweengrammar verbs

andmain verbs

grammar verbs formquestions

main verbs don’t*

grammar verbs formquestions

main verbs don’t*

*except subject questions in present and past tenses

grammar verbs formnegatives

main verbs don’t

grammar verbs formshort answers*

main verbs don’t

*and other very short sentences

grammar verbs allowabbreviations

main verbs don’t

grammar verbs haveweak/strong pronunciation

main verbs don’t

grammar verbs go beforemid-position adverbs

main verbs go after

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

meaningonly primary and modal

verbsyes

3 types of grammar verb(and 1 hybrid)

1. primary verb(s)

be / (have)grammar and main verb in one

conjugated

2. auxiliary verbs

do / be / have / beform tenses for main verb

conjugated

3. modal verbs

can / would / must / should etcadd meaning to main verb

zero conjugation

modal-auxiliary hybrids

will / would / shall / shouldform tenses for main verb

zero conjugation

primary aux modal modal/aux main

do do

be be be

(have) have have

cancouldwill

wouldshall

shouldmaymightmust

willwouldshall

should

makelikeask

wantetc

identify the verbs in yellow

categorise the verbs in yellowprimary / aux / modal / 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.

categorise the verbs in yellowprimary / aux / modal / 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

categorise the verbs in yellowprimary / aux / modal / 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!

categorise the verbs in yellowprimary / aux / modal / 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

grammar verbs are used in several short sentences

1. short answers

Yes, I do.No, you shouldn’t.

etc

2. agreeing replies

So does she.Neither would you.

etc

2. agreeing replies

So does she.Neither would you.

etc

3. contradicting replies

She doesn’t.You would.

etc

4. prompting questions

Can you?Were they?

etc

5. question tags

You speak German, don’t you?She wouldn’t ask, would she?

etc

inversion

1. questions

Do you like Pink Floyd?

2. exclamations

Isn’t it cold?

3. with ‘may’

May the best man win!

4. after so/neitherin agreeing replies

So / neither do I.

5. after ‘as’, ‘than’ and ‘so’

She was very religious,as were most of her friends.

So ridiculous did he look that…

6. removing ‘if’ from some conditionals

Were she my daughter…

7. after negative and restrictive expressions

At no time were we aware…

Only then did I realise…

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

NB no inversion after:

Not far…Not long…

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