diff --git a/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-blocks.ts b/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-blocks.ts
index a721103..efe2423 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-blocks.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-blocks.ts
@@ -22,31 +22,31 @@ export function parseBlocks(
   if (tokens.length === 0) {
     return returnParseResult(tokens, { blocks, kids });
   }
+  const inPreVerbSection = blocks.every(
+    (b) =>
+      b.type !== "PH" &&
+      b.type !== "VB" &&
+      b.type !== "welded" &&
+      b.type !== "negative"
+  );
   const prevPh: T.ParsedPH | undefined = blocks.find(
     (b): b is T.ParsedPH => b.type === "PH"
   );
-  const vbExists = blocks.some((b) => "type" in b && b.type === "VB");
 
-  const allResults: T.ParseResult<T.ParsedBlock | T.ParsedKidsSection>[] = [
-    ...(prevPh ? [] : parseAP(tokens, lookup)),
-    ...(prevPh ? [] : parseNP(tokens, lookup)),
-    ...(vbExists || prevPh ? [] : parsePH(tokens)),
-    ...parseVerb(tokens, lookup),
-    ...parsePastPart(tokens, lookup),
-    ...parseEquative(tokens),
-    ...parseNeg(tokens),
+  const allBlocks: T.ParseResult<T.ParsedBlock | T.ParsedKidsSection>[] = [
+    ...(inPreVerbSection
+      ? [...parseAP(tokens, lookup), ...parseNP(tokens, lookup)]
+      : []),
+    // ensure at most one of each PH, VBE, VBP
+    ...(prevPh ? [] : parsePH(tokens)),
+    ...(blocks.some(isParsedVBE)
+      ? []
+      : [...parseVerb(tokens, lookup), ...parseEquative(tokens)]),
+    ...(blocks.some(isParsedVBP) ? [] : parsePastPart(tokens, lookup)),
+    ...(blocks.some((b) => b.type === "negative") ? [] : parseNeg(tokens)),
     ...parseKidsSection(tokens, []),
   ];
-  // TODO: is this necessary?
-  // if (!allResults.length) {
-  //   return [
-  //     {
-  //       tokens,
-  //       body: { blocks, kids },
-  //       errors: [],
-  //     },
-  //   ];
-  // }
+  const allResults = [...allBlocks, ...parseKidsSection(tokens, [])];
   return bindParseResult(allResults, (tokens, r) => {
     const errors: T.ParseError[] = [];
     if (r.type === "kids") {
@@ -108,3 +108,17 @@ function getPhFromVerb(v: T.VerbEntry, base: "root" | "stem"): string {
   }
   return "و";
 }
+
+function isParsedVBP(b: T.ParsedBlock): boolean {
+  return (
+    (b.type === "VB" || b.type === "welded") &&
+    (b.info.type === "ability" || b.info.type === "ppart")
+  );
+}
+
+function isParsedVBE(b: T.ParsedBlock): boolean {
+  return (
+    (b.type === "VB" || b.type === "welded") &&
+    (b.info.type === "verb" || b.info.type === "equative")
+  );
+}
diff --git a/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-vp.ts b/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-vp.ts
index ef2d966..41bc64c 100644
--- a/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-vp.ts
+++ b/src/lib/src/parsing/parse-vp.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@ import { equals } from "rambda";
 // learn to use jq to edit selected json in vim ?? COOOL
 
 // TODO: test grammatically transitive stuff
-// test bo ba ye dzee
 // test raaba ye wree
 
 // TODO: somehow make sure ALL BLOCKS ARE USED UP
@@ -33,6 +32,8 @@ import { equals } from "rambda";
 // TODO: way to get an error message for past participle and equative
 // not matching up
 
+// TODO: negative with perfect forms
+
 export function parseVP(
   tokens: Readonly<T.Token[]>,
   lookup: LookupFunction
@@ -894,6 +895,15 @@ function getTenseFromRootsStems(
   }
 }
 
+// possible neg setups
+// NEG VBE
+// PH NEG VBE
+// NEG (Non-و PH) VBE
+
+// (PH) NEG VBE VBP
+// (PH) VBP NEG VBE
+// (with non-و negative things?)
+
 function negativeInPlace({
   neg,
   v,