1

2
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Read between the lines
Required reading
Longman: Variation in the VP (Chapter 6)
Hewings, M. (2006): Subjunctive (Should in that-clauses)

Recommended reading
Greenbaum & Quirk, Chapter 4
Lewis, M. (1986) The English Verb. Hove/England: LTPublications.
Palmer, F. R. (1988) The English Verb. London, New York:
Longman.
Comrie, B. (1976) Aspect: An Introduction to the Study of Verbal
Aspect and Related Problems. Cambridge: Cambridge University
Press.
Leech, G. (2004) Meaning and the English Verb. London, New York:
Longman.
Declerck, R. (2006) The Grammar of the English Verb Phrase.
Berlin, New York: Mouton de Gruyter.
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Contrasts in the VP
1. tense > present/past/future(?)

 ‘itis not a single word’

 ‘it has other uses’
 ‘it is not obligatory’

(Declerck 2006: 93-108)

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Contrasts in the VP
1. tense > present/past/future(?) (Declerck 2006: 93-108)
2. aspect > ”the internal temporal constituency of a situation”
(Comrie 1976: 3)

simple(=unmarked)/perfect/progressive/
perfect progressive
3. voice > active/passive
4. modality > unmarked/marked
5. negation/question >
positive/negative/interrogative
6. mood > indicative/subjunctive/imperative
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Order of elements in
the complex VP
1 2 3 4 5
By June, you will have been being taught
syntax for three months.
1. modal (followed by an infinitive)
2. perfect (HAVE; followed by an -ed ptcp)
3. progressive (BE; followed by an -ing ptcp)
4. passive (BE, followed by an -ed ptcp)
5. MAIN verb
(Greenbaum & Quirk 1990: 42)
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Dynamic verbs ↔ stative verbs
Stative verbs
senses/perception > notice, hear
emotions/attitudes > adore, agree, desire, hate,
love, like, respect, want, wish
mental states > forget, know, realize, remember,
understand
possession > belong, have, owe, own, possess

You know, I was just getting to know you two crazy kids back
when all this went on. (Beverly Hills 90210, COCA)

(Thomson & Martinet 1995: 156-158)

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Progressive ↔ simple
I’m looking at you. <> I see you.
I’m listening to you. <> I hear you.
Talk to the hand ‘cause the face
won’t listen! (*hear)
> subject as agent (control over situation) >
simple/progressive forms
↔
> subject as experiencer (no control over
situation) > simple forms
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Tense ↔ time
You’re toxic, I’m slipping under...

The new teacher arrives tomorrow.

Napoleon strikes back.

(Declerck 2006: 357, 435)

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Present Simple
1. futurate (< future time) (Huddleston & Pullum 2005: 45)
2. historic present (Leech 2004: 11)
3. instantaneous present (Leech 2004: 7-8)
Beckham passes the ball to Kranjčar and K scores!
Now I put the cake-mixture into this bowl…

I pronounce you man and wife.

I name this ship Victoria.
I forgive you.
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Present Progressive
1. I’m dancing the night away while
Cinderella is cleaning the house.
2. I’m reading The Michelangelo Code.
3. They’re going out tonight.
4. He’s always buying me flowers.
We’re constantly improving our services.
They’re forever slamming doors!
(+ continually) (Leech 2004: 34 > persistent activity)
5. Are you wasting my time – are you just
being kind? (Leech 2004: 30-31)