Phrases

verb phrases Definition: The verb phrase consist of the main verb and one or more helping verbs.

verb phrases A main verb can stand by itself as the simple predicate of the sentence. Example: Many different people lived in the American colonies.

verb phrases Helping verbs help the main verb express action or time. Example: Ships from England would bring supplies to the settlers.

verb phrases Common Helping Verbs: Forms of be is, am, was, are, were, be, been Forms of do do, does, did Forms of have has, have, had Others may, might, can, should, could, would, shall, will

Tips for finding the verb phrase: verb phrases Tips for finding the verb phrase: Identify the main verb Look at the words before the m. verb and ask yourself do these words help establish the action or the time of the verb?

Infinitives Definition: An infinitive is the present tense verb with the word “to” before it. All the math teachers have papers to grade today.

Infinitive phrases Definition: An infinitive phrase consists of the infinitive and the related words that follow the infinitive. Sandra wanted to buy the book.

Infinitive phrases Infinitive phrases are used as nouns, adjectives, or adverbs. I hate to do laundry. (What is the infinitive phrase and is it a noun, adjective, or adverb in the above sentence?) Answer = noun

Prepositions Definition: A preposition is a word that is placed before a noun to indicate its relationship to some other word in the sentence.

Prepositions Most common prepositions: Other common prepositions: at from on by in to for of with about before down out above behind during over across below inside through after beside into under around between near until

prepositional phrases Definition: A prepositional phrase is a group of words that begin with a preposition and end with a noun/pronoun (object).

prepositional phrases Examples: The man swam across the lake. Through the woods to grandmother’s house we go. Through the woods to grandmother’s house we go.