Name____________________
Date_____________________
Period __________Table_____
L 7.1 I can identify and explain the function of the parts of speech.
Verb Phrases:
Parts of the verb be may serve another function besides that of linking verb.
They may be used as helping verbs in verb phrases.
A phrase is a group of related words.
A verb phrase consists of a main verb preceded by one helping verb or more. Besides all from
of the verb be, helping verbs include the following words:
Has
Have
Had
Shall
Will
Can
May
Should
Would
And, as a reminder: Forms of the verb be.
Be
Shall be
Being
Will be
Am
Has been
Is
Have been
Are
Had been
Was
Shall have been
Were
Will have been
Could
Might
Must
Do
Did
Does
Should be
Would be
Can be
Could be
Should have been
Would have been
Could have been
Helping verbs work together with main verbs as a unit. The helping verbs are in boldfaced type in the
following phrases:
is leaving
may become
might have remained
must have thought
had seemed
should move
does sing
shall be going
could jump
Sometimes the parts of a verb phrase are interrupted by other parts of speech.
EXAMPLES
She had always been thinking of her future.
She should not have borrowed that necklace.
We could never have moved the car alone.
Parts of verb phrases are often separated in questions.
EXAMPLES
Did you hear Jesse Jackson’s speech?
Could your aunt show us the slides?
Has my sister played her new album for you?
RCMS – ELA 7
taken from
Warriner’s English Composition and Grammar, Third Course, p. 359
rev 11/15-kmh