Page 110 - New Grammar with a Smile 7

4. Verb Phrases

A phrase that consists of a helping verb and a main verb is called a verb phrase.
For example,
y He is writing a letter.
y Everybody was watching the match.
y We were playing cricket.

Form
A verb phrase

♦ consists of a helping verb (am/is/are) and a main verb in the continuous form.
For example,

y They are working hard.
y She is singing beautifully.
♦ consists of a helping verb (has/have/had) and a main verb in the past
participle form. For example,

y He has completed the task.
y They had prepared a lavish dinner for us.
♦ consists of a helping verb (has/have/had + been) and a main verb in the
continuous form. For example,

y He has been working on the project since Monday.
y Has she been waiting for us for two hours?
♦ consists of a modal and a main verb. For example,

y They will come soon.
y You should obey your teachers.
♦ consists of a modal and forms of helping verbs (be/have/have been) and a
main verb in past/present participle form. For example,

y She might have arrived at home.
y They must be watching television.
♦ in the passive form, consists of forms of helping verbs (be/have/have been)
and A past participle. For example,

y The car had been stolen from the bank.
y Was hockey being played by them?
Function
♦ A verb phrase forms a part of the predicate. For example,

y The naughty puppy was chewing on the legs of the table.
y I am reading a novel.

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