Verb phrases

1. Verb phrases

2. What is a verb phrase? Verb phrases are verbs that are made up of more than one word. Dogs chase cats. (NOT a verb phrase, it has only one verb.) Dogs are chasing cats. (IS a verb phrase, because the verb is made up of are + chasing)

3. What are verb phrases made up of? Helping verbs and Main verb John is swimming in the race. (is-helping verb and swimming is your main verb) You will be swimming , too! (will and be are both helping, swimming is your main verb)

4. What are some usual helping verbs? Forms of “to be” (is, am, are was, were, has been, have been, will be, will have been and being) Could, would, should Can, will, shall Did, do, does May, might and must

5. The 23 Helping Verbs Chart   C  H  A  D       B.       S   W   I   M     can               have               am                 do                                   be                            shall                   will                  is               may   could             has                 are               does                              being                       should               would                               might                           had                                      did                                  been                                                     was                                  must                                                                                                                                                                               were