Types of phrase 99

I Premodifier of noun (cf. 8.2)

He was also chairman of Labour's home policy committee. (NEws)

The economic growth figures have already been
marginally trimmed in the last month. (NEwst)
J Apposition (cf. 8.10)

He and the club's solicitor and director, Maurice

Watkins, sat either side of Edwards while on the flanks
were placed two more lawyers, one representing
Knighton's take-over firm, MK Trafford Holdings, and
the other, United's merchant bank, Ansbacher. (NEws)
K Premodifier in adjective or adverb phrase (cf. 2.7.3-4)

He spent the next few days among the sequoias on

Mount Tanzalpais, running a dozen miles every morning
among trees two hundred and fifty feet tall and twentytwo centuries old. (Ficr)
The story broke all right, but two weeks earlier than planned. (NEWS t)
In addition, noun phrases can be used as peripheral
elements in the clause: detached predicative (3.4.1),
parenthetical (3.4.2), preface (3.4.3), tag (3.4.4), and vocative
(3.4.6). Finally, they may occur independently of any clause
structure (3.15).
7.1.2 D i s c o n t in u o u s n ou n p h r a se s
Complex noun phrases may be split up under certain
circumstances, as in the following examples:

A rumour spread through the camp that a relieving

force from Dinapur had been cut to pieces on the
way to Krishnapur. (FicT)
The time was coming for me to leave Frisco or I would go crazy. (FIcT)
In this chapter a description will be given of the food
assistance programs that address the needs of the
family. (ACRD f)
This arrangement is in agreement with general principles
for the ordering of elements within the clause (11.1.1 and
11.1 3).

7.2 Verb phrases

Verb phrases contain a lexical verb (2.3.2) or primary verb
(2.4.3) as head or main verb, either alone or accompanied by
one or more auxiliaries (2.4.3-4). The auxiliaries specify the
way in which the action, state, or process denoted by the
main verb is to be interpreted. In addition, the first auxiliary has
the special role of operator (3.2.9). The main verb is in bold
in the following examples: .

was
walking
had been
making can
see

have said
These verb phrases are all finite (literally limited'), i.e.
specified for tense or modality. In addition, finite verb
phrases may be marked for aspect and voice. See the detailed
description in Chapter 6.
Note that the term 'verb phrase' or 'VP' is sometimes
used in other grammars to refer to the main verb plus
accompanying
elements,
including
objects
and
predicatives. This use corresponds to predicate (3.2) in our
treatment.
Non-finite verb phrases do not contain any specification. of tense and modality, and therefore
have fewer possibilities of variation:

1 00 WOR D A ND PH RA S E G RA MM A R

having gone
to be caught
to have gone being caught
Thus compare the following non-finite verb phrase with the fuller expression that
would be required by a finite verb phrase:
In view of your comments, I think we can safely tell the hotel what [to do] with
their bed. (NEws)
cf ... tell the hotel what they [should do] with their bed.
Regarding non-finite constructions, see also 3.12.
Both finite and non-finite verb phrases may be marked for the perfective aspect
(has gone, to have gone, etc.). Both also have passive forms (was being thanked, to be
killed, etc.). The passive auxiliary does not specify the verb in the same sense as
markers of tense, aspect, and modality. The passive is rather connected with the
way the participants in a situation are presented (3.6.2).
2.7.2.1The syntactic role of verb phrases

The only syntactic role of finite verb phrases is to serve as a central clause element
(3.2.2). Non-finite verb phrases have the same role in non-finite clauses (marked by
brackets in the following examples):
I hate [travelling by myself" (Ficr)
Already they have stopped [voting on racial lines]. (News)
With non-finite. verb forms, it is important to distinguish between their role as verb
phrase in the non-finite clause and the role which the non-finite clause as a whole has
in the larger structure. It may be difficult to uphold a clear distinction where the nonfinite clause consists only of the non-finite form:
Stop talking. (FicT)
Here, strictly, talking may be analysed as the central element in a minimal clause that
is the object of stop.
Many verb forms may have roles characteristic of nouns and adjectives. Such
uses are limited to participle forms (ending in -ed or -ing), originally so called
because they participate in more than one word class. In these cases, verb forms tend
to acquire the characteristics of nouns and adjectives. Compare: building and house
(nouns), exciting and dramatic (adjectives), tired and weary (adjectives); see 2.3.6.
2.7.2.2D i s c o n t in u o u s v e r b ph r a s e s
Unlike the other phrase types, verb phrases are often discontinuous. This'
frequently occurs in clauses with subject-operator inversion (3.6.1.1 and
11.2.3.2) and not-negation (3.8.2). In addition, adverbials are frequently placed
between the elements of the verb phrase:

You know the English will always have gardens wherever they find themselves. (Ficr)
The current year has definitely started well. (News)
As regards the placement of adverbials with complex verb phrases, see 10.1.3. Quite
a different type of split-verb phrase is found where verbs are fronted for the
purposes of contrast or cohesion (11.2.2.3-4).