Title: Verb Phrase
1Verb Phrase
Verb phraseconsists of a main verb preceded
by at least one helping verb (auxiliary verb)
Besides all forms of the verb be, helping verbs
include
2Forms of Be
am is are was were be being been
3Forms of Do
Do does did
Forms of Have
Have has had
4Other Helping Verbs
can could should may must would might
shall will
5Notice how helping verbs work together with
main verbs to make a complete verb phrase.
6EXAMPLE
is leaving may become might have remained had
seemed should move might have thought
shall be going could jump does sing
7 Sometimes the parts of a verb phrase are
interrupted by other parts of speech.
8- Did you hear President Bushs speech?
- Has the D.J. played the new CD for you?
9EXAMPLE
She had always been thinking of her future. We
could never have moved the bleachers.
10NOTE The word not is always an adverb. It is
never part of a helping verb, even when it is
joined to a verb as the contraction nt.
11He should not have borrowed his book. He
shouldnt have borrowed his book.