_VV stands for lexical verbs.
_VVG is the CLAWS 7 tag for ING forms.
This could include the non-finite verb form, gerunds, continuous form of verbs, some adjectives.
For example eating_VVG
*Tagging is never perfect.
Here is another group of A2 English Grammar Profile points that overlap multiple categories. Many of these could be all merged into one point. Point 3 in the category of QUESTIONS: yes/no AUXILIARY ‘BE’ + subject + the continuous A search in NOW corpus for: _VB _P _VVG 1 ARE YOU GOING 38887 2 ARE […]
BE | HAVE | DO (auxiliary verbs) Read More »
B1 FUTURE continuous NEGATIVE WITH ‘WILL’ (won’t)
English Grammar Profile
will not be VERBing Read More »
Let’s look at the most common examples of non-finite or ellipted clauses used after ‘not’. Usually, we would say: I am not sure if it is possible. But we can remove the subject and verb to make an ellipted clause: Not sure if it is possible. We can also say: This is a petrol car
‘Not sure if it is.’ (NOT + non-finite or ellipted clause) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 28 in the category of PAST is defined: past continuous question form Here’s an iWeb search for: was|were _P _VVG *not all these will lead to questions. 1 WERE YOU THINKING 2389 EXPERT EXAMPLE: What were you thinking? stuff.co.nz 2 WAS I GOING 2198 3 WERE THEY THINKING 1716 4 WERE YOU
past continuous question Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 31 in the category of PAST is defined: present perfect continuous: QUESTIONS with a limited range of verbs. Note that questions are generally low frequency in the CLC probably due to lack of spoken data. *Also note that there are no other entries for ‘range of verbs’ PELIC
present perfect continuous questions Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 37 in the category of PAST/continuous is defined: give a reason for something, often with ‘because’ PELIC STUDENT EXAMPLE: I could not focus on my reading at all, after a while because I was sweating hard. Chinese male, level 5, writing class An iWeb search for: because * _VBD _VVG 1 BECAUSE I WAS TRYING 1574 I only got you those bloody business cards because I was trying to be cute. listen
BECAUSE + past continuous Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, B1 point 39 in the category of PAST is simply defined as: past continuous NEGATIVE TLC STUDENT SPEAKING TEST example: (discussing saving money as a child) I was saving. I was not eating chocolates. I was just spending my money on my studies. male India B1 An iWeb search: _VBD _XX _VVG 1 WASN’T GOING 29202 2 WAS NOT GOING 16267 3
past continuous negative Read More »
Point 27 in the category of PAST is defined as: past perfect continuous: an action or event which began before a point in the past and was still continuing up to that point, often with ‘for’ or ‘since’, to give background information. Point 32 in the PAST is defined as: past perfect continuous: background action
had been + VERBing Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, A2 point 13 in the category of VERBS/phrasal-prepositional is defined as: ‘look forward to’ as a fixed expression followed by an ‘-ing’ form or noun phrase, usually at the end of correspondence. However, the English Vocabulary Profile lists this at: B1 to feel happy and excited about something that is
CHEAPER THAN BUYING | BETTER THAN GETTING | EASIER THAN TRYING
comparative adjective + THAN + verb-ING Read More »
A2 Verb Patterns expressing preference
love | hate | prefer + VERB-ing | to-INFINITVE Read More »
The non-finite subordinate clause is a subordinate clause that does not have a subject and verb relationship like a typical main clause. Instead, it uses verb forms such as the “-ing” form. The clause is introduced by the words “before” or “after” to indicate a specific point in time. Here’s an example to illustrate this:
before | after + VERBing Read More »
Point 35 in PRESENT continuous is defined as: question forms to ask rhetorical questions. For example, the first three questions asked the speaker does not expect an answer. So we said that we have seven million deaths caused by air pollution every year. Are we panicking? Are we keeping calm? Are we declaring a national
present continuous (rhetorical questions) Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile, C1 point 86 in the category of PAST is defined as: past simple to order sequences of events in the past in a complex way. *What constitutes ‘complex ordering’ is not clearly explained in the grammar description. The English Grammar Profile examples are: Following advice from a friend, I purchased
complex ordering of past events Read More »
In the English Grammar Profile at C1, point 33 in PASSIVES is defined as: ‘GET’ + OBJECT + ‘-ING’ to talk about causing someone or something to do something. For example: And working with Craig got me thinking. Not all of the following in iWeb match our grammar: GET * _VVG 1 GOT ME THINKING
GET + OBJECT + VERBing Read More »
C1 English Grammar Profile point 65 in the category of future is defined as: EXPECTATIONS WITH ‘MIGHT’ OR ‘MAY’ potentially in progress at a specified or understood time in the future. A search in iWeb: might|may_V be _VVG *Not all of these are about the future. 1 MAY BE WONDERING 10730 2 MAY BE LOOKING
may | might + FUTURE CONTINUOUS Read More »
Here are examples of negative non-finite clauses giving more information: I remember thinking very highly of Private Bell not wanting to see his record tarnished by a formal charge. listen Look into my eyes so you know what it‘s like to live a life not knowing what a normal life‘s like. listen C1 English Grammar Profile point 116 CLAUSES/subordinated is defined as: non-finite clause, introduced by ‘not’ + ‘-ing’, to give more information *This is hard to find any examples of online because there are many informally ellipted
not + verbING (subordinate clause) Read More »
‘As if’ means ‘as would be the case if’. Here’s an example of the subordinators as if + Verb-ing clause. She studied the bracelet as if trying to estimate its fair market value. Listen ‘trying to estimate…’ is a manner clause, it describes how she studied. We could ask the question, How did she study it? C2 point 133 CLAUSES/comparatives is defined as: ‘as if’ +
as if + NON-FINITE CLAUSE Read More »
Here are two points in the English Grammar Profile in the category of Verb patterns that depend on vocabulary range: Point 29 is B1 and defined as: a limited range of verbs followed by an ‘-ing’ form. Point 56 is B2 and is defined as: an increasing range of verbs followed by an ‘-ing’ form.
B2 point 54 in VERBS/patterns is defined as: some verbs connected with the senses + direct object + an ‘-ing’ form, to give emphasis to an ongoing activity. *I don’t believe B2 complexity should hinge on ‘activity’. It should also include a state. For example: I don’t see myself being with anyone else but you, Sarah. listen An iWeb search for: sense verbs
sense verb + OBJECT + VERB-ing Read More »
