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In English grammar, defective verb is a traditional term for a verb that doesn't exhibit all the typical forms of a conventional verb. English modal verbs ( can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will , and would) are defective in that they lack distinctive third-person singular and nonfinite forms.
from English Grammar Today. May: forms. Affirmative (+) form. May comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): It may be possible for him to get home tonight. May can’t be used with another modal verb: This may hurt you. Not: This may could hurt you. or This could may hurt you. Negative (−) form.
The most commonly recognized [citation needed] defective verbs in English are auxiliary verbs—the class of preterite-present verbs — can/could, may/might, shall/should, must, ought, and will/would ( would being a later historical development). Though these verbs were not originally defective, in most varieties of English today, they occur ...
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The most commonly recognized defective verbs in English are auxiliary verbs — the class of preterite-present verbs — can/could, may/might, shall/should, must, ought to, and will/would (would being a later historical development).
There are also compounds formed from a verb followed by a noun that is its object, and they tend to be styled as solid (carryall, pickpocket). Vice versa, there are noun compounds consisting of a verb form preceded by a noun that is its object ( fish fry , eye-opener , roadblock ), and adjective + noun compounds that are written open ( genetic ...
a sliding door. is a compound referring to a type of door which can slide (but is probably static at the time of talking about it). Type 2 compounds are object + verb – the dress is made, the DVD is played and the window is cleaned. Whether the noun precedes or follows the verb is somewhat unpredictable.
If the object of a two-word separable transitive phrasal verb is a pronoun, where must the object go? How is the verbal used in the sentence: "My favorite activity is running."? How are reflexive verbs used?
