Verb Phrase
Verb Phrase
Verb Phrase
A verb phrase consists of an auxiliary, or helping, verb and a main verb. The helping verb always
precedes the main verb.
A helping verb includes forms of be, such as am, is, are, was, were, being, and been; forms of have, such
as has and had; forms of do, such as does and did; forms of can, such as could, will, would, and shall; and
forms of should, such as may, might, and must.
If a sentence has just one verb phrase, it is a finite verb phrase. The head verb is finite and either comes in
present or past form. For instance:
In this type of verb phrase, the head verb is participle, gerund, or infinitive. For instance:
“Is coming” is a verb phrase. “Coming” is the main verb, while “is” the helping verb.
Here “is reading” is a verb phrase, and “about history” is a subject compliment.
In this sentence, the verb phrase, “is interested,” is functioning as an objective phrase compliment “in
playing new games.”
Simple verb phrases
A simple verb phrase consists of a main verb. The verb in a simple verb phrase shows the type of clause
(e.g. declarative, imperative):
A complex verb phrase may include one modal verb and one or more auxiliary verbs before the main
verb. A modal verb always comes before any auxiliary verbs:
House prices [MO]could [MV]fall during the next six months. (modal verb + main verb)
You [MO]may [AUX]have [MV]played this game before. (modal verb + one auxiliary verb)
The work [MO]should [AUX]have [AUX]been [MV]finished by 30 January. (modal verb + two
auxiliary verbs)
perfect have + -ed form The girls have all gone out together.
interrogative do + subject + base form Do they sell newspapers in your local shop?
The continuous, perfect and passive meanings of auxiliary verbs may be combined in a verb phrase, and
auxiliary verbs may combine with modal verbs.
The order of the different types (and meanings) of verbs in the verb phrase is shown in the table as 1–5,
from left to right.
1 2 3 4 5
Prices rose.
There are various functions verb phrases perform. They serve as phrase heads, as predicates, modifiers,
compliments, and objects. Verb phrases also function as noun phrase modifiers, containing a word and
phrase, and describing noun or noun phrase. They also work as adjective phrase complements, and verb
phrase complements. In traditional grammar, verb phrases function as predicates, adding meaning to
sentences. In fact, verb phrases make a sentence semantically clear and comprehendible for readers.