How to Use Verbs & Verb Phrases

Here is a basic review of verbs and verb phrases.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. A verb is an action word. Some examples are: jump, throw, sing, talk, type – you get the idea.

2. There are regular and irregular verbs. All verbs have different form that show when the action takes place.

3. Examples of the different forms for a regular verb: jump, jumps, jumped, jumped, jumping.

4. Examples of the different forms for an irregular verb: begin, begins, began, begun, beginning.

5. The verb “be” does not follow the pattern of regular or irregular verbs forms. Forms of the verb “be”: am, is, are, was, were, been, being. They can be used as helping verbs.

6. Verb phrases consist of a verb and helping verb(s). Example: She was reading a book. Was is the helping verb and reading is the verb. The verb phrase is: was reading.

7. She wasn’t helping with the chores. In this sentence the helping verb is in a contraction. The helping verb is was and the main verb is helping. The helping verb would be was helping. You do not include not from wasn’t as part of the helping verb. That would be true for all contractions.

[TeryLynne]

on 12/9/2008 Great article. 5*