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.
| 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)
The first verb
The first verb in a complex verb phrase indicates the time somebody did something and matches the person and number of the subject, except when it is a modal verb.
| time | person | number | |
| He has lost his keys. | present | third | singular |
| We were taken to a big room. | past | first | plural |
| I was hoping to see Professor Jones. | past | first | singular |
| I could meet you next week. | – | – | – |
Verbs: basic forms
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