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
himself…but the raft (helping verb) makes it better for
him.
It’s important to know the
common helping verbs:
 Do
 Did
 Does
 Am
 are
 Is
 Was
 Were
 Have
 Has
 Had
 Can
 May
 Will be
 Will have
 Can be
 Can have
 Must have
 Must have been
 Can have
 Could be
 Could have
 Will have been
 Might have
 Might have been
Let’s test your verb phrase knowledge…
Select the verb phrase in the following sentence:
Matthew had been sleeping in his bed.
A.
B.
C.
D.
had
been sleeping
been sleeping in
had been sleeping
Oops…Let’s 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.
I’m ready to try again!
Show me the
common helping
verbs
I need more review.
Common Helping Verbs
 Do
 Did
 Does
 Am
 are
 Is
 Was
 Were
 Have
 Has
 Had
 Can
 May
 Will be
 Will have
 Can be
 Can have
 Must have
 Must have been
 Can have
 Could be
 Could have
 Will have been
 Might have
 Might have been
I’m 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
Let’s do it! I’m ready.
FANTASTIC….Let’s 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
Sorry…Here’s 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.
I’m ready to try again!
Note: Sometimes a helping
verb is more than one word
too!
I need more review.
Common Helping Verbs
 Do
 Did
 Does
 Am
 are
 Is
 Was
 Were
 Have
 Has
 Had
 Can
 May
 Will be
 Will have
 Can be
 Can have
 Must have
 Must have been
 Can have
 Could be
 Could have
 Will have been
 Might have
 Might have been
I’m 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
Let’s do it! I’m ready.
Wow! You’re Good….Here’s 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
Let’s do it! I’m ready.
You’re a Verb
Phrase Master!
For more verb practice – Check this out: http://www.quia.com/pop/8096.html