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Verb Phrase

This document defines and provides examples of verb phrases. It explains that a verb phrase contains a main verb and may also include a helping verb. Verb phrases express an action or state of being and include the subject. The document outlines the different types of verbs that can be included in a verb phrase such as helping verbs, modal verbs, and main verbs. It also distinguishes verb phrases from verbal phrases which use verbs as other parts of speech.

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228 views5 pages

Verb Phrase

This document defines and provides examples of verb phrases. It explains that a verb phrase contains a main verb and may also include a helping verb. Verb phrases express an action or state of being and include the subject. The document outlines the different types of verbs that can be included in a verb phrase such as helping verbs, modal verbs, and main verbs. It also distinguishes verb phrases from verbal phrases which use verbs as other parts of speech.

Uploaded by

Sam Bahra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VERB PHRASE

Verb Phrase: Definition and Structure


Can you identify the verb phrase in a sentence? Understanding verb phrases is helpful when
speaking, writing and avoiding grammar mistakes. Keep reading for the definition of a verb

Defining a Verb Phrase


What is a verb phrase? Verb phrases are one of the eight types of phrases in a sentence. They
include the helping verb and main verb in a sentence. For example:

 The author is writing a new book.


 I must make an "A" in this class.
 The dog might eat the cake.
 He was walking to work today.
 We got married after college.

You can also create verb phrases without helping verbs at all. These sentences can only be set in
present or past verb tenses. For example:

 The author wrote a new book.


 I made an "A" in this class.
 The dog eats the cake.
 He walked to work today.
 We married after college.

Like all phrases, verb phrases express an idea but cannot stand alone as a sentence. They can also
include modifiers, complements, and direct or indirect objects as complete verb phrases.

Verb Phrase Structure


Proper sentence structure requires both a subject and a verb. But unless that verb is in the past or
present tense, sentences use verb phrases. Using the correct verb phrase structure depends on the
verb tense, the subject and the mood of the sentence. When forming verb phrases, it’s helpful to
know which verbs go in each position.

Helping Verbs in Verb Phrases

Helping verbs are also known as auxiliary verbs or linking verbs. They are short words that
connect the subject with the rest of the sentence. Some examples of helping verbs include:

 forms of “to be” (am, is, are, was, were)


 forms of “to have” (have, has, had)
 forms of “to do” (do, does, did)

In verb phrases, these short verbs function as finite verbs, which establish tense, speaker and
mood, but don’t make sense on their own. They use nonfinite verbs to indicate what is happening
in the sentence. For example:

Tom is tutoring his brother.

The verb phrase “is tutoring” contains the finite verb “is.” It indicates that the sentence is in
present tense, the speaker is singular, and that the mood is indicative. The word “tutoring” is
a participle, which is a verb used as an adjective (“tutoring” describes Tom in this sentence).

More examples of helping verbs in verb phrases include:

 I don’t know what channel the game is on.


 Are you going to the dance tonight?
 The doctor has taken an oath to protect her patients.
VERB PHRASE
 Do you understand the essay question?
 My friends are planning a surprise party for me.

Forms of the helping verb “to be” create verb phrases for progressive verb tenses. Similarly,
forms of “to have” create verb phrases for perfect verb tenses. When you combine forms of “to
be” and “to have” in a verb phrase, you establish perfect progressive tenses. Notice that even in
the question examples above, a helping verb appears before the main verb phrase and how it is
structured in different types of sentences.

Modal Verbs in Verb Phrases

Modal verbs are another kind of helping verb. These verbs express possibility, obligation and
suggestions. They include:

 can
 could
 ought
 may
 might
 must
 should
 will
 would

Modal verbs are also finite verbs. They aren’t conjugated in different tenses, but they do
establish the speaker and mood. Examples of sentence verb phrases that have modal verbs are:

 You may finish your homework tomorrow.


 Should we drive to the concert together?
 The team must raise enough money for new uniforms this year.
 Beth will buy a gift for Stephanie before the party.
 Can everyone hear my instructions?

The modal verb “will” appears in sentences set in the future tense. Other modal verbs let
listeners know that they have permission or obligation to complete the other verb in the verb
phrase.

Main Verbs in a Verb Phrase

Now that you know how helping and modal verbs work, it’s time to look at the other part of the
verb phrase. Main verbs establish the action of the sentence. They can function on their own or
with a helping verb in a verb phrase.

Examples of the main verb from the sentences above include:

 I don’t know what channel the game is on.


 Are you going to the dance tonight?
 The doctor has taken an oath to protect her patients.
 Do you understand the essay question?
 My friends are planning a surprise party for me.

Unlike helping verbs, main verbs provide more details about what the subject is doing. They
work with the helping verbs in their verb phrases to create a full picture of the sentence’s action.

How to Use Verb Phrases


Identifying verb phrases is simple enough. But can you use them effectively in a sentence?
Check out the different ways you can use verb phrases as sentence predicates and modifiers.

Verb Phrases as Sentence Predicates


VERB PHRASE
A verb phrase can be the predicate of a sentence or a clause. In this case, there will usually be a
helping verb in addition to the verb. Here are some examples of a verb phrase as a predicate:

 Your teachers have finished your report card.


 My sister hasn’t decided what dessert she wants.
 The shoes don’t fit his feet.
 I should ask the director his opinion.
 We aren’t allowed to go in there.

These verb phrases follow the subject of the sentence and function as the action in the sentence.
Verb phrases can include all of these words in the predicate, or the helping and main verb only. It
depends on how the phrase is used.

Verb Phrases vs Verbal Phrases


Verb phrases can only be used as verbs in a sentence. This might be confusing when you
see verbal phrases, which are phrases that use verbs and the words that follow them as nouns,
adverbs and adjectives. These verbals do not show the action of the verb; that’s the verb phrase’s
job.

Verbal phrases include infinitive phrases, participial phrases and gerund phrases. Definitions and


examples of these verbal phrases include:

 infinitive phrases – These phrases start with an infinitive plus a simple form of a verb.


They can act like a noun, adjective or adverb.
Example: She wanted to show off her new dress. (The phrase is the direct object of the
verb “wanted,” so it is acting like a noun.)
 participial phrases – This phrase will act as an adjective and begins with a participle. A
participle is an adjective that has been made from a verb, like “talked” or “swimming.”
Example: We have to replace the window broken by the hail. (The phrase modifies the
noun "window", so it is functioning like an adjective. “Have to replace” is the verb
phrase.)
 gerund phrases – These phrases act like a noun and start with a verb ending with an
"ing". They can be subjects or objects.
Example: Lying to the IRS is never a good idea. (The phrase acts as the subject in this
sentence. “Is” is the only verb in this sentence.

Don’t be fooled by these tricky verbals. Just because they use verbs doesn’t mean they are verb
phrases. Understanding the difference between verb phrases and verbal phrases is especially
helpful when diagramming sentences or proofreading writing.

Learning All About Verbs


Verb phrases are effective ways to show the action in their sentences. Since verbs are all
about action, get moving with some fun practice exercises! Ten fun verb games are sure
to entertain young learners, while a list of helping verb games is a great way to reinforce
important grammar skills.
VERB PHRASE
VERB PHRASE

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