Verbs  A verb is a word that expresses action (main verb) or a state of being. Examples: Jesse ran around the house three times. We celebrated the Chinese New Year yesterday. After that, Jesse was very thirsty The holiday is usually in February. (The verbs is and was does not tell about an action. Instead, they tell something about the subjects state of being.)

Main Verbs and Helping Verbs Verbs have four principal parts that are used to form all tenses. The chart below show how the principal parts of most verbs are formed.. Principal Parts of Verbs Base FormPresent Participle Past FormPast Participle jumpjumpingjumped The principal parts of verbs are often combined with helping verbs to form verb phrases.

Helping Verbs

Helping Verbs and Verb Phrases A verb phrase consists of one or more helping verbs followed by a main verb. The students are jumping rope now. Helping verb Main verb

Helping Verbs: help the main verb express action or a state of being. Examples: - can speak - will learn - should have been fed

Together, the main verb and its helping verb or verbs are called a verb phrase. Examples : Examples : - Many students can speak Spanish. - Many students can speak Spanish. - I will be learning about helping verbs today. - I will be learning about helping verbs today.

Together, the main verb and its helping verb or verbs are called a verb phrase. Examples : Examples : - Many students can speak Spanish. - Many students can speak Spanish. - I will be learning about helping verbs today. - I will be learning about helping verbs today. HelpingMain

Together, the main verb and its helping verb or verbs are called a verb phrase. Examples : Examples : - Many students can speak Spanish. - Many students can speak Spanish. - I will be learning about helping verbs today. - I will be learning about helping verbs today. HelpingMain Helping

Some words can be used as both helping verbs and main verbs. Helping Verb : Helping Verb : - I do enjoy the movies. - I do enjoy the movies. Main Verb : Main Verb : - I will do the dishes. - I will do the dishes.

Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by another part of speech. Examples : Examples : - Students should not forget their homework. - Students should not forget their homework. - Did you call your friends this weekend? - Did you call your friends this weekend? Adverb Pronoun The word NOT and its contraction, - n’t, are adverbs telling to what extent ; neither is part of a verb phrase.

Helping Verbs Song (sung to the tune of “Jingle Bells”) Helping verbs, helping verbs, There are twenty-three: AM, IS, ARE, WAS and WERE BEING, BEEN, and BE….oh! HAVE, HAS, HAD, DO, DOES, DID, SHALL, WILL, SHOULD, and WOULD. There are five more helping verbs: MAY, MIGHT, MUST, CAN, COULD.

Practice Practice In the following sentences, identify the verb phrase. Both main and all helping verb. Draw a line under the helping verbs.

They are watching television.

Verb Phrase: are watching

They are watching television. Verb Phrase: are watching Type: helping/main

Ann was cooking dinner in the kitchen.

Verb Phrase: was cooking

Ann was cooking dinner in the kitchen. Verb Phrase: was cooking Type: helping/main

The boys were playing in the park.

Verb Phrase: were playing

The boys were playing in the park. Verb Phrase: were playing Type: helping/main

Randy is studying for his grammar test.

Verb Phrase: is studying

Randy is studying for his grammar test. Verb Phrase: is studying Type: helping/main

We have learned a lot about verbs.

Verb Phrase: have learned

We have learned a lot about verbs. Verb Phrase: have learned Type: helping/main

He could have been a great comic.

Verb Phrase: could have been

He could have been a great comic. Verb Phrase: could have been Type: helping/main

Great job!