LEARNER'S ENGLISH GRAMMAR 2004 by Masaya Oba

16-1 [Complex Combinations of V EPDs]
We have studied the combinations of the obligatory V EPD {Agreement} plus one of four optional V EPDs; a {Modal} EPD(MOD), a {Perfect} EPD(PERF), a {Progressive} EPD(PROG) and a {Passive} EPD(PASS). Diagrams:

      (1)             V
                      
            EPD[AGR]       V
           (PRS/PST)      
                   (EPD[MOD])  V
                   (EPD[PERF])
                   (EPD[PROG])
                   (EPD[PASS])

As you can imagine, these four optional V EPDs sometimes go in twos, threes, and even fours.

    (2) The computer will have written a novel in a week.
                 ("will" + "have-en" + "write a novel")
    (3) A novel will have been written ø by the computer by next
        month.
                 ("will" + "have-en" + "be-en" + "write a novel")
    (4) A novel will have been being written ø for 10,000 hours
        by the computer tomorrow morning.
                 ("will" + "have-en" + "be-ing" + "be-en" + "write
                  a novel")

     The verb phrases in (2), (3) and (4) include the complex combination of V EPDs.

16-2  [Diagrams and Examples]
     The sentence (2), for instance, is made as in (5).

 (5) The computer + PRS + will + have-en + write a novel + in a week
                                        
 (6) The computer    will        have    written a novel   in a week.

Diagram:

      (7)  (will have written a novel)
                       V
                       
              EPD[AGR]      V
               (PRS)        
                    EPD[MOD]     V
                     (will)      
                          EPD[PERF]   V
                          (have-en) (write a novel)

The following diagrams (8) and (9) correspond to examples (3) and (4) respectively.

      (8)  (will have been written ø )
                       V
                       
              EPD[AGR]      V
               (PRS)        
                    EPD[MOD]     V
                     (will)      
                          EPD[PERF]    V
                          (have-en)   
                               EPD[PASS]   V
                                (be-en)  (write a novel)

      (9)  (will have been being written ø )
                       V
                       
              EPD[AGR]      V
               (PRS)        
                    EPD[MOD]     V
                     (will)      
                          EPD[PERF]    V
                          (have-en)   
                               EPD[PROG]    V
                               (be-ing)    
                                    EPD[PASS]   V
                                     (be-en)  (write a novel)

Other examples:

      (10)  The parrot will have mastered English in a year.
      (11)  I must be dreaming.
      (12)  Tom will be invited ø to the party.
      (13)  We have been expecting your call.
      (14)  A new shopping center is being built ø in the suburbs.
      (15)  I have been being underpaid ø too long.

16-3 [Number/Order in Complex Combinations of V EPDs]
Notice that you must keep a certain order when you use these optional V EPDs in twos, threes, and fours. For example, the following orders are not acceptable.

      (16)   * (PRS/PST) + have-en + will (+ V)
                       (ex.*has willen write a novel)
      (17)   * (PRS/PST) + be-ing + have-en (+ V)
                       (ex.*is having written)
      (18)   * (PRS/PST) + be-en + be-ing (+ V)
                       (ex.*is been writing)

The V EPD "have-en", for example, never occurs ahead of "will", "be-ing" never occurs ahead of "have-en", and "be-en" never occurs ahead of "be-ing". In short, the order of these optional V EPDs is:

 (19) PRS/PST  "will",etc  "have-en"  "be-ing"  "be-en"  V

The arrangement system of the verb expansion is shown in (20).

 (20) PRS/PST (MOD)(PERF)(PROG) (PASS)   V
                                    ( ( )means "optional")

From the single formula (20), we can generate sixteen combinations as follows. (Examples are those with PRS(3rd-person singular) as an AGR, "will" as a MOD, and "write a novel" as a V.)

  (21)a. PRS/PST + V
                  (ex.  writes a novel)
      b. PRS/PST+will + V
                  (ex.  will write a novel)
      c. PRS/PST+have-en +V
                  (ex.  has written a novel)
      d. PRS/PST+be-ing + V
                  (ex.  is writing a novel)
      e. PRS/PST+be-en + V
                  (ex.  is written ø)
      f. PRS/PST+will + have-en + V
                  (ex.  will have written a novel)
      g. PRS/PST+will + be-ing + V
                  (ex.  will be writing a novel)
      h. PRS/PST+will + be-en + V
                  (ex.  will be written ø)
      i. PRS/PST+have-en + be-ing + V
                  (ex.  has been writing a novel)
      j. PRS/PST+have-en + be-en + V
                  (ex.  has been written ø)
      k. PRS/PST+be-ing + be-en + V
                  (ex.  is being written ø)
      l. PRS/PST+will + have-en + be-ing + V
                  (ex.  will have been writing a novel)
      m. PRS/PST+will + have-en + be-en + V
                  (ex.  will have been written ø)
      n. PRS/PST+will + be-ing + be-en + V
                  (ex.  will be being written ø)
      o. PRS/PST+have-en + be-ing + be-en + V
                  (ex.  has been being written ø)
      p. PRS/PST+will + have-en + be-ing + be-en + V
                  (ex.  will have been being written ø)

Some linguists, however, label the examples from (21h) down "rare".