English Grammar: The Parts of Speech
Parts of Speech — Verb Phrases
A verb is not always a single word. When the verb is composed of two or more words, it is called a verb phrase. The verb form at the end of the verb phrase is always the principal verb. It is the verb form that indicates the nature of the action, if the verb expresses action. The other verb forms in the verb phrase are called auxiliary verbs or helping verbs.
The men work in the fields.
The men are working in the fields.
The men have been working in the fields.
The men must have been working in the fields.
In the first sentence the verb consists of one word, the verb work. The verb work tells the kind of action that is going on.
The verb in the second sentence consists of two words. The principal verb is working. The auxiliary, or helping verb is are. The verb phrase is are working.
The verb phrase in the third sentence is have been working. The principal verb is working, and the two helping verbs are have been.
The verb phrase in the fourth sentence is must have been working The principal verb is working and the three helping verbs are must have been.
One of the first things you should learn to do in your study of grammar is to be able to identify the verb or the verb phrase in any sentence. Some students have trouble in deciding what words belong in the verb phrase. You will never encounter this difficulty if you become familiar with the commonly used auxiliary verbs. A list of these auxiliary verbs follows. You should refer to this list constantly until you become familiar with the verbs that help make verb phrases.
REMINDER: A verb phrase is a group of words consisting of two or more verb forms.
Commonly Used Auxiliary Verbs
| am | have |
| is | has |
| are | had |
| was | have been |
| were | had been |
| will be | has been |
| shall be | shall |
| could be | will |
| do | should |
| did | must |
| does | should have |
| may | would have |
| can | must have |
| might | should have been |
| could | could have been |
| would | must have been |
VERB PHRASES USED IN SENTENCES
She has said that you will receive the money.
He was talking with the manager when you came in.
The new office building was destroyed by fire.
The books were inspected by the librarian.
