The compound verbal modal predicate

The compound verbal modal predicate shows whether the action expressed by a non-finite form of the verb is considered as possible, impossible, obligatory, necessary, desirable etc. These meanings are expressed by the first component of the predicate.

The compound verbal modal predicate may consist of the following components:

1. A modal verb / can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would, ought/ and an infinitive.

You can prove everything.

2. A semi-modal verb / dare, need, be, have/ and an infinitive.

I have to work for my living.

3 A modal expression / be able to, be obliged to, be bound, be willing, be anxious, be going/ and an infinitive.

I am going to leave Paris.

4. A verb with a modal meaning / hope, expect, intend, endeavour, long, wish, want, desire, feel/ and an infinitive or a gerund.

He wanted to throw himself into the river.

I feel like telling him everything.

THE COMPOUND VERBAL ASPECT PREDICATE

The compound verbal aspect predicate expresses the beginning, repetition, duration, or cessation of the action, expressed by the non-finite form of the verb – a gerund or an infinitive. It consists of such verbs as begin, start, commence, fall, set about, go on, keep on, proceed, continue, stop, give up, finish, cease, come and an infinitive or a gerund.

In the morning it began to rain again.

He started writing his composition a week ago.

At last I came to realize the problem facing me.

After the verbs go on, keep on, stop, give up, finish only the gerund is used as a part of a compound verbal predicate, while the infinitive performs a different syntactic function.

He went on talking without looking at us.

She cleaned the hall and went on to clean the kitchen. – Object

They stopped talking and looked at us.

Suddenly they stopped to look at the view. – Adverbial modifier of purpose.