When we refer to verbal phrases, we soon have the idea of joining two verbs: one that it concentrates in itself the most significant meaning of the action expressed by the subject - called main; and another, which just follows the main, thus assuming an accessory idea – called auxiliary. Thus, although there are others, we can say that the auxiliaries are represented by the verbs to be, to be, to have and to have. In order to remember them, just access the texts "Auxiliary verbs - relevant aspects" and "Subjunctive, imperative and nominal forms of auxiliaries”. Still talking about them, we have the notion that the core of the predicate is always the verb, an extremely plausible finding. But what about verbal utterances? This head will therefore be both verbs: both the auxiliary and the main.
Elucidations effectively established, then, let's go to the real objective that guides the article in question: to point out about the inflection of these verbs, which make up the verbal locutions. So, let's see:
* In compound tenses, integrated by the auxiliaries "have" and "haver", the main verb, being in the participle, remains in the masculine singular. Take a look at some examples:
Do not stop now... There's more after the advertising ;)
Colleagues and teachers had done all to encourage you to stay in school.
Beatriz and Paulo have been working quite a lot these past few days.
* Regarding the auxiliary verbs "to be" and "to be", the participle, now assuming the function of an adjective, agrees in gender and number with the word to which it refers - in this case, the subject. So, notice some representative cases:
Resources were spent with these unfinished works.
In the evening, the lights are lit.
* In case the verb is in the infinitive (original) form, it always remains invariant. Check the following cases:
some students keep talking about what happened.
we should be happy with their arrival.
* In cases where the main verb is impersonal, the auxiliary also becomes so, thus remaining invariable (third person singular). Look:
Should be more specialized employees.
despite what Can have happened, I will always be by her side.
By Vânia Duarte
Graduated in Letters
Brazil School Team
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
DUARTE, Vânia Maria do Nascimento. "Plural of verbs in verbal utterances"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/gramatica/plural-dos-verbos-nas-locucoes-verbais.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.
