Example of Verb Phrases In English [Verb Phrases]

With the name of verb phrases, two types of structures are known.

Verbal This first structure consists of the presence of a verb that can be used in the impersonal forms: infinitive, gerund or participle, to which objects and complements are added and function as a single phrase, which can fulfill various functions in the prayer. The three types of verb phrases are:

Infinitive phrase, which uses the form to + verb, plus objects + complements. It can function as a noun, adjective, or adverb.

Participle phrase, which contains a verb with the participle form (ending –ed in the past participle of regular verbs and ending –ing in the present participle), + objects + complements; which works as an adjective.

Gerund phrase (verb ending in –ing + objects + complements) which works as a noun in the sentence.

They are called only verbal (verbals), since in them the verb does not express an action, but fulfills another grammatical function (noun, adjective or adverb).

Verbal phrase. Verb structures that are made up of one or more auxiliary verbs (auxiliary verb, also sometimes called helping verb) and a main verb are commonly called verb phrases. This structure is most commonly known as a verb phrase. It is also called a verb string (

verb string).

One of the main uses of verb strings is the conjugation of some verb tenses:

Future: will + verb; shall + simple verb
Present continuous: verb to be in present + verb in gerund
Present perfect: have / has + simple verb
Present perfect continuous: have / has + been + gerund verb
Past continuous: verb to be in the past + verb in gerund
Past perfect: had + verb in participle.

Among other conjugations.

In addition to the verbs to be and to have, in English there are other auxiliary verbs. Some of the main ones are:

1. Dog
2. may
3. Must
4. Do

Verbal phrases do not lose their unity even when they are interrupted in negative or interrogative forms:

You should not go to the movies today

My computer cannot work anymore.
Do you remember when we go to the beach last year?
Did Maria came late yesterday?

These verb phrases should not be confused with phrasal verbs or simply phrasal verbs, which consist of in the unit formed by a verb and a preposition that function as a single structure (as happens for example with the verb turn: turn, change; adding the prepositions on and off, we have turn on: turn on, and turn off: turn off).

Examples of verb phrases:

Verbals:

• To take a bath with warm water, listening Bob Marley, is the only I want finishing a long, long day.
• Somewhere, going to the field, we saw a beautiful horse.
• The students choosen yesterday came to the trip.
• I will go to the city. I hope to come back some day.
• Jennifer is a valued customer.

Verb strings:

• Have you seen my glasses?
• I have been running all day long.
• The horse can carry you to the ranch.
• Excuse me. Have you been studying for the test?
• She haven’t got enough money.
• If energy fails, you she may have been writing for nothing.
• My bicycle should have been repaired immediately.
• We must not go to the beach.
• They can’t understand the English lesson.
• Perhaps you may smoke out there.
• We must tell them about the match.
• Robert you have been working in the World Trade Center.
• I was spending much money.
• Yolanda he has waited for Rose around an hour.
• The magician he has been disappeared the lady in the chair.