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Anonymous Posted 16 years ago
Grammar

Auxiliary verbs

is in "may have been" just may the auxiliary verb or does it also contain have?

greetz mike
  

Top answer

I'm not sure what exactly you mean. May is a defective auxiliary, also known as a modal auxiliary. Have been is a parfect infinitive but have can also be called an auxiliary even though it isn't of course a modal auxiliary or a part of may.

— Cool Breeze

  • I'm not sure what exactly you mean.
  • May is a defective auxiliary, also known as a modal auxiliary.
  • Have been is a parfect infinitive but have can also be called an auxiliary even though it isn't of course a modal auxiliary or a part of may.
  • Been is a past participle.
  • CB
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2 Answers
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I'm not sure what exactly you mean. May is a defective auxiliary, also known as a modal auxiliary. Have been is a parfect infinitive but have can also be called an auxiliary even though it isn't of course a modal auxiliary or a part of may. Been is a past participle.

CB
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Anonymousis in "may have been" just may the auxiliary verb or does it also contain have?
All verbs in the verb phrase except the last one are auxiliaries.

Auxiliaries underlined:

He may have been seen by others.
He may have been ill.
He may have a suggestion.

CJ
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