A verb phrase, also known as a predicate, is a group of words composed of a sentence’s main verb and any words that assist the main verb, including modifiers and auxiliary verbs, objects, and complements. Verb phrases express actions, occurrences, or states of being within a sentence.
Examples of verb phrases
- Verb phrase with main verb and modifier: She runs daily.
- Verb phrase with auxiliary verbs, main verb, and modifier: She has been running daily.
Components of a verb phrase
- Main Verb: The central verb that indicates the primary action or state
- Auxiliary (Helping) Verbs: Verbs like be, have, and do, which assist the main verb in forming different tenses, moods, or voices
- Modifiers: Adverbs or adverbial phrases or clauses that provide additional information about the action
- Objects and Complements: Objects are nouns or pronouns that receive the action of the main verb. Complements are nouns, pronouns, or adjectives that provide more details about the subject or an object.
Types of verb phrases
There are five main types of verb phrases, each with a certain basic structure.
Intransitive verb phrases
When the main verb of a verb phrase is intransitive, the verb phrase won’t contain objects or complements but may contain auxiliary verbs and/or modifiers. This is also the only structure in which the verb phrase might be only the main verb itself:
- The pleasant weather held.
- The pleasant weather would hold long enough for us to finish our picnic.
Linking verb phrases
Linking verb phrases include subject complements along with any auxiliary verbs and modifiers:
- She is a performance artist.
- She had become quite accomplished.
Transitive verb phrases
When the main verb of a verb phrase is transitive, the phrase must contain a direct object and may contain modifiers and auxiliary verbs:
- He washed the muddy car thoroughly.
Ditransitive verb phrases
Ditransitive verb phrases are anchored by main verbs that have both an indirect object and a direct object:
- The board gave the director a raise.
Complex transitive verb phrases
The transitive verbs in complex transitive verb phrases are followed by both a direct object and an object complement:
- I left the door open on purpose.
