LoginVerb Phrases
In this lesson we learn about verb phrases, which are essential groups of words that include a verb and its complements, objects, or modifiers. Clear explanations and practice exercises to help you learn.
What Are Verb Phrases?
A verb phrase is a group of words built around a main verb that functions as a single unit to express an action, state, or occurrence in a sentence. A verb phrase consists of a main verb and its dependents.
These dependents can be auxiliary verbs, modals, modifiers, and sometimes complements. In other words, a verb phrase is an independent clause without the subject and is similar to the predicate.
What Do Verb Phrases Do?
Verb phrases are essential for indicating the aspects and tenses, including continuous and perfect aspects. Furthermore, they help indicate the mood or provide other important information about the sentence.
I was watching a movie when Ken came over.
Verb Phrase: Structure
A verb phrase can consist of a main verb alone or a combination of a main verb and one or more modal or auxiliary verbs as well as modifiers, which are words or phrases that provide additional information about the verb, such as adverbs or prepositional phrases. It can also include objects and complements, which are words or phrases that complete the meaning of the verb.
When forming a verb phrase, it's important to pay attention to the order of the words. For instance, the main verb always comes after the modal and auxiliary verbs and the object, complement, and modifiers come after the main verb. Pay attention to the examples:
She played the song.
Here, "played" is the main verb and "the song" is the direct object, together forming the verb phrase.
She can play the song.
Here, "can" is a modal verb and "play" is the main verb, with "the song" as the object.
She will have been playing the song for three hours.
Here, "will have been" is the auxiliary for future perfect continuous tense, "playing" is the main verb, "the song" is the object, and "for three hours" is the modifying adverb.
Verb Phrases: Types
There are two types of verb phrases:
Simple verb phrases
Complex verb phrases
Simple Verb Phrases
A simple verb phrase consists of only one verb, which is the main verb. In declarative sentences, a simple verb phrase follows a subject. But in imperative sentences, a single simple verb phrase can be a sentence on its own.
I work in the fashion industry. (declarative)
Pass the salt. (imperative)
Negation
In the imperative form, if we want to stop someone from doing something, we need to use the auxiliary verb 'do' in the verb phrase, which makes it a complex verb phrase.
Don't come near me.
Don't just sit there.
Complex Verb Phrases
A complex verb phrase may consist of a modal verb along with one or more auxiliary verbs before the main verb. It's important to note that modal verbs always appear before the auxiliary verbs in the verb phrase.
Verb Order
Auxiliary verbs can be combined within a verb phrase to express continuous and perfect aspects as well as the passive voice. Additionally, auxiliary verbs can also be combined with modal verbs. In such cases, the order of appearance of elements within the verb phrase will be as follows:
I could have been promoted!
She must have gone.
As you can see, the modal verb comes before the auxiliary.
The project might have been being delayed indefinitely by poor management.
Here, "might" is the modal, "have been being" is the auxiliary for passive present perfect continuous, and "delayed" is the main verb.
Negation and Conjugation
When negating complex verb phrases with modals, the modal is negated; but when there is no modal, the first auxiliary is negated. However, when conjugating a verb phrase with a modal, no part of the verb phrase changes, since modals have the same form for all subjects and are always used with the base form of the verb. But when there is no modal, the first auxiliary changes based on the subject. Look at the examples:
The test could have been canceled. → The test could not have been canceled.
When the verb phrase includes a modal verb, negation applies to the modal.
The project has been delayed. → The project has not been delayed.
When there is no modal in the verb phrase, the first auxiliary is negated.
They might have been delayed. → She might have been delayed.
Modals do not change based on subject and are always followed by the base form of the verb.
They have been delayed. → She has been delayed.
When there is no modal, the first auxiliary is conjugated.
Auxiliaries in Verb Phrases
English auxiliary verbs include:
In verb phrases, auxiliary verbs function as finite verbs, indicating the tense and mood of a sentence. However, they do not convey a complete meaning on their own. For example:
She is talking to his friend.
The verb phrase 'is talking' has the finite verb 'is.' It shows that the sentence is in present tense, the speaker is singular, and that the mood is declarative.
I don't know the answer to your question.
Modals in Verb Phrases
Modal verbs express possibility, obligation, suggestions, etc. They include:
Modal verbs also function as finite verbs. Although they cannot be conjugated in different tenses, they do show the speaker and mood.
You might need more information about that.
Verb Phrases as Predicates
Verb phrases can function as predicates of sentences or clauses. In such cases, there is typically an auxiliary verb accompanying the main verb within the verb phrase.
Our friend hasn't arrived yet.
Ian didn't write that letter.
Tip!
Verb phrases typically follow the subject of a sentence and indicate the action within the sentence. A verb phrase can consist of all the words in the predicate, or it can consist of just the auxiliary and main verbs, depending on how the phrase is used.
Review
Verb phrases can be only one verb (simple) in a sentence or they can include two or more verbs (complex). Here are different parts of a verb phrase.
head: verb
dependent: auxiliary verbs, modals, objects, complements, modifiers
Quiz:
Which of the following is an example of a simple verb phrase?
She will have been studying.
He is reading a book.
I work every day.
They must have gone home.
Which of the following sentences contains a verb phrase with a combination of a main verb, auxiliary verb, and object?
She is running to the store.
They walked quickly to the park.
He could have been reading the book.
I am cooking dinner for everyone.
Match each part of the verb phrase to its description: "She should have finished her homework by now."
Sort the words to make a grammatically correct sentence.
Negate each verb phrase.
She might have understood the instructions. → She
the instructions.
They will have finished by now. → They
by now.
I have played the guitar for years. → I
the guitar for years.
She has been delayed. → She
.
He should have spoken to her. → He
to her.
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