Auxiliary versus main verb

Question

Hi Everyone,I'm going over some of my grammar basics to refresh myself before I start my new class in a week and half. That's why all the posts.  Can I please just check that 'is' is the main verb in the following sentence and 'have' is auxiliary?The challenge that I have is having to work an extra shift next week.I know that 'is having' is present continuous, but how would you describing 'having' by itself? Is it just a present participle?Many thanksCC

Cool Breeze · Accepted Answer

The way I see it:

1. Have is the main verb of the relative clause that I have.

2. Is is the main verb of the main clause The challenge is having to work an extra shift next week.

3. Having is a gerund.

CB

AlpheccaStars · Answer

Another analysis:

[that I have] A relative clause - subject: that, main verb: have

The challenge is having to work an extra shift next week.

Main clause: subject: challenge, main verb: is

complement: a non-finite clause [having to work an extra shift next week.] Some sources consider "have to" a modal auxiliary with a meaning of "must." However, it differs from the true modals in that the true modal auxiliaries are not inflected. They do not have present or past participles.

The form used here is the gerund-participial form, and the lexical verb is "work."

https://learnenglish.britishcouncil.org/en/intermediate-grammar/modals-1

BillJ · Answer

Cup cakeCan I please just check that 'is' is the main verb in the following sentence and 'have' is auxiliary?

The challenge [that I have] is [having to work an extra shift next week].

Yes, "be" is the 'main' verb of the sentence -- the other verbs, "have", "having" and "work" are located in the bracketed subordinate clauses. Incidentally, note that "be" is always an auxiliary verb even when it's the only verb in the sentence.

This is not the progressive (continuous) use of "be", but the specifying one, where the subordinate having clause specifies (i.e. identifies) "the challenge".

The gerund-participle verb "having" is head of the underlined gerund-participial clause functioning as predicative complement of "is".

Finally, this use of "have" expresses obligation, much like "must", but "have" is not itself a modal auxiliary.

CalifJim · Answer

Cup cakeThe challenge that I have is having to work an extra shift next week.I know that 'is having' is present continuous

Actually, it isn't present continuous in this sentence.

Note the difference below between two uses of "is having". 1) has the present continuous. 2) does not. It has only a linking verb.

1) Ellen | is having | a baby soon.
2) Wendy's problem | is | having a bossy older sister.

CJ

Auxiliary versus main verb

Top answer

Get the Weekly English Kit 📬

Related Questions