Verb phrases can be built up out of a main verb and one or more helping (auxiliary) verbs.
Immigration figures are rising every year.
Immigration figures have risen every year.
Verb phrases have strict rules of order. If you try to rearrange the words in either of these sentences, you will find that most alternatives are impossible. You cannot say Immigration figures rising are every year.
| Modal | Perfect Have | Progressive Be | Passive Be | Main Verb | ||
| Sonia | — | has | — | been | invited | to visit a family in Prague. |
| She | should | — | — | be | finished | with school soon. |
| The invitation | must | have | — | been | sent | in the spring. |
| She | — | has | been | — | studying | Czech. |
| She | may | — | be | — | feeling | nervous. |
| She | might | have | been | — | expecting | to travel elsewhere. |
| The trip | will | have | been | — | planned | for a month by the time she leaves. |
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LearningCurve > For multilingual writers: Verbs and verb phrases