The compound verbal predicate can be divided into two types according to the meaning of the finite verb:

• the compound verbal modal predicate;
• the compound verbal aspect ¹

The compound verbal modal predicate shows whether the action expressed by a non-finite form of the verb is considered as possible, impossible, obligatory, necessary, desirable, etc. These shades of meaning are expressed by the first component of the predicate.

The compound verbal modal predicate may consist of the following components:

#1. A modal verb and an infinitive.

Here belong the combinations of such verbs as can, may, must, should, would, ought, dare, and need with an infinitive.

You can prove everything and nothing. (London)
His aunt would not give him the photograph. (Hardy)

#2. Modal expressions: to be + Infinitive, to have + Infinitive.

The loudspeaker operation was to take place in С. Company’s sector. (Heym)
I have to work for my living. (Jerome)

#3. A verb with a modal meaning² and an infinitive or a gerund. Here belong such verbs as to hope, to expect, to intend, to attempt, to try, to endeavour, to long, to wish, to want, to desire, etc.

He wanted to throw himself into the whirlpool of Paris. (Heym)
We intend going to Switzerland, and climbing Mount Blanc. (Ch. Bronte)
Of course she longs to have a ball in her honour. (Du Maurier)
Certainly I don’t mean to take advantage of my position. (Wilson)
Harris tried to open the tin with a pocket knife and broke the knife and cut himself badly. (Jerome)

#4. Modal expressions and an infinitive.

They are synonymous with modal verbs or verbs with a modal meaning. Here belong the combinations of such expessions as to be able, to be obliged, to be bound, to be willing, to be anxious, to be capable, to be going with an infinitive.

Baring had been obliged to forego making friends. (Wilson)
I am going to leave Paris. (Heym)
We are most anxious to cooperate. (Heym)

#5. Verbs and expressions used in the predicate of sentences containing the Subjective Infinitive Construction (Nominative-with-the-Infinitive Construction).

These words and expressions show the attitude of the speaker towards the person or thing expressed by the subject.

A ship — the Vestris — is reported to be arriving at Joppa. (Douglas) С
About 4,000 port workers are believed to be on strike. (Daily Worker)
Naturally all this had some chilling discouraging effect on him, but he appeared not to hold it against her. (Wescott)
Never mind who told me. I happen to know his car was seen here yesterday afternoon. (Du Maurier)
Just at this moment you seem to be having difficulty with your left hand. (Wilson)

The compound verbal aspect predicate expresses the beginning, repetition, duration, or cessation of the action expressed by the non-finite form of the verb. It consists of such verbs as to begin, to start, to commence, to fall, to set about, to go on, to keep on, to proceed, to continue, to stop, to give up, to finish, to cease, to come and an infinitive or a gerund.

Here also belong would and used + Infinitive, which denote a repeated action in the past.

Elaine, this ill-advised behaviour of yours is beginning to have results. (Erskine)
That view had come to give him a feeling of ease and happiness. (Lindsay)
His bones ceased to ache. (Lindsay)
She had stopped asking Yates about the time. (Heym)
Meanwhile armored infantry continued to feel its way in a northerly direction. (Heym)
I kept glancing at her through the rest of the play. (Braine)
I used to write poetry myself when I was his age. (Herbert)
I lived with a man once who used to make me mad that way. He would loll on the sofa and watch me doing things by the hour. (Jerome)

1. It should be borne in mind that by ‘aspect’ we do not mean here the verbal category of aspect but the lexical meaning of certain verbs as denoting the beginning, the duration and the cessation of the action.
2. Verbs with a modal meaning should not be confused with modal verbs as such, which in the English language form a special group of defective verbs