In traditional grammar, what term describes the combination of auxiliary and main verbs functioning together as in 'have been studying'?

• A. verb phrase
• B. phrase
• C. hedging
• D. extrinsic modality

Answer: (A)

The main concept here is the verb phrase—the unit that combines the main verb with its auxiliary verbs to form a single predicate. In have been studying, the auxiliaries have and been work with the main verb studying to express the perfect progressive aspect. Together they function as the predicate of the clause, carrying tense and aspect information, and they can be negated or inflected as a unit. That makes it the correct term, since it specifically names the construction of auxiliary verbs plus a main verb. The other terms don’t fit: a plain phrase is too broad, hedging refers to language used to soften statements, and extrinsic modality concerns modality expressed by factors outside the main verb construction, not the combined verb unit itself.