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Anonymous Posted 17 years ago
Grammar
Modal and Progressive Verb Groups.
In this sentence:
It must have been horrible standing in the rain.
Would i be correct in assuming that must is modal, whilst have been ... standing is progressive but theres the adjective, horrible, confusing me. Thanks for any help with this one.
It must have been horrible standing in the rain.
Would i be correct in assuming that must is modal, whilst have been ... standing is progressive but theres the adjective, horrible, confusing me. Thanks for any help with this one.
Top answer
Horrible (adjective) modifies the subject pronoun "it" The subject is "it" The verb is "must have been" The gerund phrase, "standing in the rain" also refers to the subject "it" Another way of saying this is: Standing in the rain must have been horrible.
- Horrible (adjective) modifies the subject pronoun "it" The subject is "it" The verb is "must have been" The gerund phrase, "standing in the rain" also refers to the subject "it" Another way of saying this is: Standing in the rain must have been horrible.
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5 Answers
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Horrible (adjective) modifies the subject pronoun "it"
The subject is "it"
The verb is "must have been"
The gerund phrase, "standing in the rain" also refers to the subject "it" Another way of saying this is:
Standing in the rain must have been horrible.
The subject is "it"
The verb is "must have been"
The gerund phrase, "standing in the rain" also refers to the subject "it" Another way of saying this is:
Standing in the rain must have been horrible.
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Anon:
"Must" is modal. The base verb is "be." The tense is present perfect. It is not progressive.
Here is an example of the progressive:
He is all wet! He must have been standing in the rain for a long time.
"Must" is modal. The base verb is "be." The tense is present perfect. It is not progressive.
Here is an example of the progressive:
He is all wet! He must have been standing in the rain for a long time.
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Hi
Please explain.
He must have been standing in the rain for a long time
And
He has been standing in the rain for a long time
They both give the sense that they have been in the rain. I read from the grammar book. It's like you say to someone" you has been running" even he's not running right now, but judging from his sweat acros
Please explain.
He must have been standing in the rain for a long time
And
He has been standing in the rain for a long time
They both give the sense that they have been in the rain. I read from the grammar book. It's like you say to someone" you has been running" even he's not running right now, but judging from his sweat acros
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Because he has been is definate. He must have been is like gueesing he has been standing in the rain due to his appearence etc
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