Got a Verb Phrase?

An interactive lesson plan

By Karen Peterson
English Teacher
Charlevoix High School

What is a Verb Phrase?

A verb phrase consists of two things:
1. The main verb
2. A helping verb
Helping verb

Main verb

Example: The brown cow is jumping over the rusty fence.

What is a Verb Phrase?

A verb phrase can be thought of like a boy and raft.

Main verb

Helping verb

The boy (main verb) could float in the water by

himselfbut the raft (helping verb) makes it better for
him.

Its important to know the

common helping verbs:
Do

Had

Can have

Did

Can

Could be

Does

May

Am
are
Is

Will be
Will have

Was

Can be

Were

Can have

Have

Must have

Has

Must have been

Could have
Will have been
Might have
Might have been

Lets test your verb phrase

knowledge

Select the verb phrase in the following sentence:

Matthew had been sleeping in his bed.

had
B. been sleeping
C. been sleeping in
D. had been sleeping
A.

OopsLets Review Verb

Phrases!
A verb phrase consists of two things:
1. The main verb
2. A helping verb
Helping verb

Main verb

Example: Molly is talking to Billy.

Im ready to try again!
Show me the
common helping
verbs

I need more review.

Common Helping Verbs

Do

Had

Can have

Did

Can

Could be

Does

May

Am
are
Is

Will be
Will have

Was

Can be

Were

Can have

Have

Must have

Has

Must have been

Could have
Will have been
Might have
Might have been
Im ready to try
again.

More Review
Look at these sentences:
1. Monica did go to the store.

3. I want to eat a peach, said Marcy.

did = helping verb

to = helping verb

go=main verb

eat=main verb

2.Juli is driving to the high school.

3. Mr. Gowell did teach students to use the internet.

is = helping verb

did = helping verb

driving=main verb

teaching=main verb

Lets do it! Im ready.

FANTASTIC.Lets try
another!
Select the verb phrase in the following sentence:

Sarah is giving a present to Mark.

A. is
B. giving
C. is giving
D. giving present

SorryHeres another
example!
A verb phrase consists of two things:
1. The main verb
2. A helping verb
Helping verbs

Main verb

Please show me common

verb phrases.

Example: Molly had to go to Billy.

Im ready to try again!
Note: Sometimes a helping
verb is more than one word
too!

I need more review.

Common Helping Verbs

Do

Had

Can have

Did

Can

Could be

Does

May

Am
are
Is

Will be
Will have

Was

Can be

Were

Can have

Have

Must have

Has

Must have been

Could have
Will have been
Might have
Might have been
Im ready to try
again.

More Review
Look at these sentences:
1. Monica did go to the store.

3. I want to eat a peach, said Marcy.

did = helping verb

to = helping verb

go=main verb

eat=main verb

2.Juli is driving to the high school.

3. Mr. Gowell did teach students to use the internet.

is = helping verb

did = helping verb

driving=main verb

teaching=main verb

Lets do it! Im ready.

Wow! Youre Good.Heres

another!
Select the verb phrase in the following sentence:

The girls basketball team did go to state.

A. did go
B. did go to
C. go
D. go to

More Review
Look at these sentences:
1. Monica did go to the store.

3. I want to eat a peach, said Marcy.

did = helping verb

to = helping verb

go=main verb

eat=main verb

2.Juli is driving to the high school.

3. Mr. Gowell did teach students to use the internet.

is = helping verb

did = helping verb

driving=main verb

teaching=main verb

Lets do it! Im ready.

Youre a Verb
Phrase
Master!
For more verb practice Check this out: http://www.quia.com/pop/8096.html