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Part of
Grammar of Spoken and Written English
Douglas Biber, Stig Johansson, Geoffrey N. Leech, Susan Conrad and Edward Finegan
[Not in series 232] 2021
► pp. 449–500

Chapter 6
Variation in the verb phrase

Tense, aspect, voice, and modality

Article outline
  • 6.1Structure and meaning distinctions in the verb phrase
  • 6.2Tense
    • 6.2.1Basic tense and time distinctions
      • 6.2.1.1Simple present tense marking past or future time
      • 6.2.1.2Past tense in reported speech
      • 6.2.1.3The marking of future time
    • 6.2.2Register distribution of tense and modality
      • corpus findings ,
      • discussion of findings
    • 6.2.3Lexical associations of present and past tense
      • corpus findings ,
      • discussion of findings
  • 6.3Aspect
    • 6.3.1Perfect and progressive aspect across registers and dialects
      • 6.3.1.1Register distribution of perfect and progressive aspect
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.3.1.2Perfect and progressive aspect across dialects
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
    • 6.3.2Perfect aspect
      • 6.3.2.1Lexical associations of present perfect aspect
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.3.2.2Present perfect forms of get and have across dialects
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.3.2.3Present perfect aspect v. simple past tense
      • 6.3.2.4Lexical associations of past perfect aspect
        • corpus findings , ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.3.2.5Past perfect aspect v. simple past tense
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
    • 6.3.3Progressive aspect
      • 6.3.3.1Lexical associations of progressive aspect
        • corpus findings , ,
        • discussion of findings
  • 6.4Active and passive voice
    • 6.4.1Register distribution of active and passive voice
      • corpus findings ,
      • discussion of findings
    • 6.4.2Lexical associations of the passive
      • 6.4.2.1Verbs that commonly occur in the passive
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.4.2.2Verbs common with the get passive
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.4.2.3Verbs uncommon in the passive
        • corpus findings
        • discussion of findings
  • 6.5Complex combinations of aspect and voice
    • corpus findings ,
    • discussion of findings
  • 6.6Modals and semi-modals
    • 6.6.1Distribution of modals and semi-modals
      • corpus findings ,
      • discussion of findings
    • 6.6.2Individual modals/semi-modals across registers and dialects
      • corpus findings , ,
      • discussion of findings
    • 6.6.3Lexical associations of modality
      • CORPUS FINDING
      • discussion of findings
    • 6.6.4Extrinsic v. intrinsic uses of individual modals
      • 6.6.4.1The permission/possibility/ability modals
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.6.4.2The obligation/necessity modals and semi-modals
        • corpus findings ,
        • discussion of findings
      • 6.6.4.3The volition/prediction modals and semi-modals
        • corpus findings , ,
        • discussion of findings
  • 6.7Combinations of modal verbs with marked aspect or voice
    • CORPUS FINDING
    • discussion of findings
  • 6.8Sequences of modals and semi-modals
    • corpus findings
    • discussion of findings