Have you ever struggled to understand how verbs work together in an English sentence? Verb phrases might seem confusing at first, but once you understand their structure, grammar becomes much easier. Learning them can help you write clearer sentences and express your ideas more naturally.
I created this guide to help you understand verb phrases without complicated grammar rules or confusing explanations. Whether you are a student, an English learner, or someone looking to improve your writing, you will find simple explanations and practical examples to make learning easier.
You will discover what verb phrases are, how they work, and how to use them correctly in everyday English. By the end, you will be able to recognize common verb phrases, avoid frequent mistakes, and build stronger sentences with greater confidence.
What Are Verb Phrases?
A verb phrase is a group of words built around a main verb. In the common school-grammar definition, it includes the main verb and any helping verbs that work with it.
For example:
- is running — She is running in the park.
- has finished — He has finished his homework.
- will arrive — The train will arrive soon.
- might have forgotten — I might have forgotten the address.
- was being repaired — The road was being repaired.
In each example, the verb phrase tells you something about an action, event, or state.
A verb phrase can contain just one verb in some grammatical frameworks. For example, runs is the main verb in “She runs every morning.” Some school grammar lessons use verb phrase more narrowly to mean a main verb combined with one or more auxiliary, or helping, verbs. The exact definition depends on the grammar framework being used.
Verb Phrases Meaning and Structure
The meaning of a verb phrase depends on its main verb and any helping verbs that accompany it. These words can show tense, completion, duration, possibility, obligation, or whether the subject performs or receives an action.
Main Verbs
A main verb carries the central meaning of the verb phrase. It tells you what someone or something does, experiences, or is.
Examples include:
- eat: We eat dinner at seven.
- write: Maya writes short stories.
- sleep: The baby sleeps peacefully.
- think: I think about my future.
- seem: The plan seems reasonable.
Helping Verbs
Helping verbs, also called auxiliary verbs, work with a main verb to express grammatical information.
The primary helping verbs are be, have, and do. Modal auxiliaries include can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.
| Helping verb | Example | Function |
| Be | She is working. | Forms progressive constructions |
| Have | They have arrived. | Forms perfect constructions |
| Do | Do you understand? | Helps form questions and negatives |
| Can | He can swim. | Expresses ability or possibility |
| Must | We must leave. | Expresses necessity or obligation |
| Will | I will call. | Expresses future time or willingness |
| Should | You should rest. | Expresses advice or expectation |
A verb phrase can contain more than one helping verb. In “She might have been waiting,” the main verb is waiting, and the helping verbs are might, have, and been.
How Verb Phrases Are Formed
Common verb phrase patterns include:
- Main verb: laughs, walked, sleeps
- Be + -ing form: is laughing, were walking
- Have + past participle: has laughed, had walked
- Modal + base verb: can laugh, should walk
- Modal + have + past participle: might have laughed
- Be + past participle: was invited, is repaired
The helping verbs must agree with the subject and fit the intended meaning. For example, “She has finished” is correct, while “She have finished” is not standard English.
Types of Verb Phrases in English
Verb phrases have different forms depending on how the main verb combines with helping verbs. Learning these types makes it easier to understand English grammar and build correct sentences.
Simple Verb Phrases
A simple verb phrase contains a main verb without an auxiliary verb under the broad definition used here.
Examples:
- runs: Daniel runs every morning.
- laughed: Everyone laughed at the joke.
- sings: My sister sings beautifully.
- willow? No — willow is a noun, not a verb in this sentence.
The first three examples contain main verbs that express actions. Notice that a simple verb phrase can appear in the present or past tense.
Auxiliary Verb Phrases
An auxiliary verb phrase contains one or more helping verbs along with a main verb.
Examples:
- is cooking: Mom is cooking dinner.
- have arrived: The guests have arrived.
- did finish: I did finish my assignment.
- will be leaving: They will be leaving soon.
Auxiliary verbs help express tense, aspect, emphasis, questions, and negation. In “She does not agree,” for example, does helps form the negative construction.
Modal Verb Phrases
Modal verb phrases use modal auxiliaries to express ability, possibility, permission, advice, or necessity.
Examples:
- can drive: My brother can drive.
- might rain: It might rain tonight.
- should study: You should study for the test.
- must leave: We must leave now.
- could have won: Our team could have won the match.
A modal is followed by the base form of the next verb. Say “She can swim,” not “She can swim.”
Perfect Verb Phrases
Perfect verb phrases use a form of have followed by a past participle. They connect an event or state to a particular point in time.
Examples:
- has completed: Sara has completed her project.
- had eaten: We had eaten before the guests arrived.
- will have finished: By Friday, I will have finished the report.
The perfect construction can show a completed action, an earlier event, or an action expected to be complete by a future time.
Progressive Verb Phrases
Progressive verb phrases use a form of be followed by a verb ending in -ing. They commonly show an action in progress.
Examples:
- am reading: I am reading a novel.
- was sleeping: The cat was sleeping on the sofa.
- will be working: He will be working tomorrow.
The progressive form highlights an ongoing activity rather than presenting it simply as a whole event.
Passive Verb Phrases
Passive verb phrases use a form of be or, in some constructions, get with a past participle. They focus on the person or thing affected by an action.
Examples:
- was written: The letter was written yesterday.
- is being cleaned: The classroom is being cleaned.
- has been repaired: The machine has been repaired.
- got injured: The player got injured during the match.
In “The letter was written by Maya,” the sentence focuses on the letter rather than on the person who wrote it.
Perfect Progressive Verb Phrases
Perfect progressive constructions combine have with been and an -ing verb. They often emphasize duration or an activity continuing over time.
Examples:
- has been studying: She has been studying for two hours.
- had been raining: It had been raining before we left.
- will have been working: By noon, he will have been working for six hours.
These constructions can seem long, but the pattern is straightforward: a form of have, followed by been, followed by the -ing form of the main verb.
What Do All Verb Phrases Have in Common?
Verb phrases share a central feature: they are organized around a verb that expresses an action, event, process, or state. In school grammar, a verb phrase may consist of a main verb alone or a main verb with helping verbs.
Most verb phrases also have these characteristics:
- A main verb or verbal head: The main verb carries the central meaning, as eat does in “They have eaten.”
- A grammatical form: The verb may change to show tense, agreement, or other grammatical features.
- A clear role in the sentence: A verb phrase commonly functions as the predicate or as part of the predicate.
- Possible helping verbs: Auxiliary verbs can indicate time relationships, duration, possibility, obligation, or voice.
- A relationship with the subject: In standard English, the verb form must fit the subject where agreement is required.
For example, in “The children have been playing outside,” the verb phrase has a main verb, playing, and two helping verbs, have and been. Together, they describe an activity that began earlier and has continued over time.
20 Verb Phrase Examples With Sentences
Here are 20 useful verb phrases with simple examples. These include common action phrases, helping verb combinations, and longer grammatical constructions.
| No. | Verb Phrase | Example Sentence |
| 1 | Runs quickly | The athlete runs quickly. |
| 2 | Is reading | Emma is reading a book. |
| 3 | Has finished | He has finished his homework. |
| 4 | Will arrive | The bus will arrive soon. |
| 5 | Can swim | My cousin can swim well. |
| 6 | Should listen | You should listen carefully. |
| 7 | Was sleeping | The baby was sleeping peacefully. |
| 8 | Have been waiting | We have been waiting for an hour. |
| 9 | Might have forgotten | She might have forgotten the meeting. |
| 10 | Must complete | Students must complete the task. |
| 11 | Had already left | The guests had already left. |
| 12 | Is being repaired | The car is being repaired. |
| 13 | Could have helped | I could have helped you. |
| 14 | Will be studying | They will be studying tonight. |
| 15 | Has been working | Dad has been working all day. |
| 16 | Does understand | She does understand the lesson. |
| 17 | Was chosen | Liam was chosen for the team. |
| 18 | May visit | We may visit our grandparents. |
| 19 | Had been running | He had been running before breakfast. |
| 20 | Will have completed | By Monday, I will have completed the course. |
Tip: To identify the verb phrase, locate the main verb first. Then check whether helping verbs belong with it. For example, in “They might have been waiting,” the complete verb phrase is might have been waiting, not just waiting.
Action Verb Phrases and Examples
An action verb phrase describes something a person, animal, or object does. It may refer to a physical activity, such as running, or a mental activity, such as thinking.
Physical Action Verb Phrases
- Kicked the ball: Omar kicked the ball across the field.
- Is climbing: The child is climbing the ladder.
- Were dancing: The guests were dancing at the wedding.
- Has opened: The shop has opened for the day.
- Will carry: I will carry the bags upstairs.
Mental Action Verb Phrases
- Is considering: Nina is considering a new job.
- Have remembered: We have remembered the important details.
- Might understand: He might understand the problem now.
- Was wondering: I was wondering about your suggestion.
- Should reconsider: They should reconsider their decision.
Mental verbs describe thinking, remembering, deciding, or understanding. Not every verb expresses a visible physical action, but it can still describe an event or state within a verb phrase.
Verb Phrases List for Everyday English
The following list provides additional examples you can use to recognize verb phrases in reading and writing.
| Verb Phrase | Meaning or Function | Example |
| Wake up | Stop sleeping | I wake up at six. |
| Get ready | Prepare for something | We get ready for school. |
| Eat breakfast | Have the morning meal | She eats breakfast at home. |
| Go shopping | Visit shops to buy things | They go shopping on Saturday. |
| Take a break | Rest briefly | Let’s take a break. |
| Make a decision | Choose between options | He made a decision yesterday. |
| Keep trying | Continue making an effort | Keep trying until you succeed. |
| Look carefully | Pay close attention | Look carefully at the picture. |
| Has arrived | Has reached a destination | The package has arrived. |
| Is improving | Is becoming better | Your English is improving. |
| Can explain | Has the ability to explain | She can explain the rule. |
| Should practice | Ought to practice | You should practice daily. |
| Will return | Will come back | They will return tomorrow. |
| Was selected | Was chosen | Mia was selected as captain. |
| Have been learning | Have continued to learn | We have been learning English. |
Some entries contain a verb and its object or other complement, such as eat breakfast and make a decision. In detailed grammar, the distinction between a verb phrase and a verb plus its object depends on the grammatical framework. For school exercises, follow the definition your teacher or textbook uses.
Verbs and Verb Phrases: What Is the Difference?
A verb is a word that expresses an action, event, or state. A verb phrase is the main verb alone or, in many school grammar lessons, the main verb combined with one or more helping verbs.
| Verb | Verb Phrase | Example Sentence |
| Eat | Has eaten | She has eaten lunch. |
| Write | Is writing | He is writing a letter. |
| Play | Will play | We will play tomorrow. |
| Sleep | Was sleeping | The dog was sleeping outside. |
| Finish | Might have finished | They might have finished the work. |
| Go | Should go | You should go home. |
The main verb gives the central meaning, while helping verbs add grammatical information.
Consider these examples:
- Verb: sings
Sentence: Ava sings beautifully. - Verb phrase: is singing
Sentence: Ava is singing beautifully. - Longer verb phrase: might have been singing
Sentence: Ava might have been singing before the show.
The three examples all contain the main verb sing, but the longer constructions communicate additional information about time, possibility, and duration.
Noun Phrases and Verb Phrases
A noun phrase and a verb phrase have different grammatical roles. A noun phrase is built around a noun or pronoun and identifies a person, place, thing, or idea. A verb phrase expresses an action, event, or state.
Consider this sentence:
The young girl is reading a story.
- Noun phrase: The young girl
- Verb phrase: Is reading
- Object: A story
In traditional school grammar, is reading is the verb phrase, while a story is the object of the verb. Some broader grammatical frameworks include objects and other complements within the verb phrase, so the exact boundaries can vary.
Noun Phrase Examples
- The little puppy slept on the rug.
- My best friend called me yesterday.
- A beautiful red flower grew in the garden.
- Those three students completed the assignment.
- The old wooden house stands near the river.
Each bold expression is a noun phrase because it is organized around a noun.
Verb Phrase Examples
- The puppy was sleeping on the rug.
- My friend has called me twice.
- The flower is growing in the garden.
- The students will complete the assignment.
- The house has stood near the river for decades.
These bold expressions are verb phrases under the common school-grammar definition because they contain a main verb and, in most cases, a helping verb.
How to Identify a Verb Phrase in a Sentence
You can find a verb phrase by following a few simple steps.
- Find the main verb. Look for the word that expresses the action, event, or state.
- Look for helping verbs. Check whether words such as is, have, can, will, or should work with the main verb.
- Keep the verb combination together. Include the helping verbs that belong to the main verb.
- Check the sentence’s meaning. Make sure the words form one grammatical verb construction rather than unrelated verbs.
Practice Identifying Verb Phrases
Sentence: Maria has been preparing dinner.
- Subject: Maria
- Verb phrase: has been preparing
- Object: dinner
Sentence: The children will play outside.
- Subject: The children
- Verb phrase: will play
- Adverbial: outside
Sentence: The window was broken by the storm.
- Subject: The window
- Verb phrase: was broken
- Agent phrase: by the storm
Sentence: You should have told me earlier.
- Subject: You
- Verb phrase: should have told
- Object: me
- Adverbial: earlier
Remember that words between the subject and the main verb may belong to different parts of the sentence. Identify the grammatical verb construction instead of automatically including every word around it.
Verb Phrases in English and Spanish
English and Spanish both use verbs to describe actions, events, and states, but their verb systems work differently.
In English, helping verbs are commonly used to form constructions such as is studying, has studied, and will study. Spanish also uses multiword verb constructions, but it has a richer system of verb endings that can express information English often communicates through separate words.
| English | Spanish | Meaning |
| I am studying. | Estoy estudiando. | I am studying. |
| I have finished. | He is terminado. | I have finished. |
| I can speak. | Puedo hablar. | I can speak. |
| I am going to leave. | Voy a salir. | I am going to leave. |
| I have to work. | Tengo que trabajar. | I have to work. |
For example, estoy estudiando contains the auxiliary estoy and the gerund estudiando. In puedo hablar, the conjugated verb puedo is followed by the infinitive hablar.
If you are studying Spanish verb phrases, pay attention to verb conjugation, infinitives, auxiliary verbs, and the way different constructions express time and meaning. The basic idea is similar, but you should learn the grammar rules of each language separately.
Verb Phrases Worksheet and Exercises
Practice helps you recognize verb phrases and understand how they work in complete sentences. Try these exercises before checking the answer key.
Exercise 1: Identify the Verb Phrase
Read each sentence and write the complete verb phrase.
- Sarah is drawing a picture.
- The boys have finished their lunch.
- We will visit the museum tomorrow.
- My brother can play the guitar.
- The dog was barking loudly.
- They might have missed the bus.
- I should have called earlier.
- The classroom is being cleaned.
- She has been learning French.
- The team will have completed the project by Friday.
Exercise 2: Choose the Correct Verb Phrase
Select the correct option to complete each sentence.
- She _____ a book right now. (is reading / read)
- They _____ the assignment already. (has finished / have finished)
- He _____ swim when he was five. (could / can)
- We _____ leave before sunset. (must / must to)
- The cake _____ by my mother yesterday. (was baked / baked was)
- I _____ for two hours. (have been studying / has been studying)
- The train _____ arrive soon. (will / will be)
- You _____ your teacher for help. (should ask / should asked)
- The children _____ outside when it started raining. (were playing / was playing)
- By next month, she _____ the course. (will have completed / will has completed)
Exercise 3: Complete the Sentences
Fill in each blank with a suitable verb or helping verb.
- She _____ working on her science project.
- They have _____ the invitation.
- I will _____ you tomorrow.
- He can _____ very fast.
- We should _____ our homework before dinner.
- The room was _____ by the staff.
- You might have _____ the wrong address.
- She has been _____ English for a year.
- The students were _____ quietly.
- By tomorrow, I will have _____ the report.
Exercise 4: Identify the Main Verb and Helping Verbs
For each verb phrase, identify its main verb and any helping verbs.
- Is singing
- Has been waiting
- Will have finished
- Might have forgotten
- Should be studying
Verb Phrases Exercises With Answers
Check your answers below. The completed forms for Exercise 3 are examples; other grammatically correct answers may also be possible.
Answers to Exercise 1
- Is drawing
- Have finished
- Will visit
- Can play
- Was barking
- Might have missed
- Should have called
- Is being cleaned
- Has been learning
- Will have completed
Answers to Exercise 2
- Is reading
- Have finished
- Could
- Must
- Was baked
- Have been studying
- Will
- Should ask
- Were playing
- Will have completed
Answers to Exercise 3
- Is
- Accepted
- Call
- Run
- Finish
- Cleaned
- Entered
- Learning
- Working
- Completed
Answers to Exercise 4
| Verb Phrase | Helping Verb(s) | Main Verb |
| Is singing | Is | Singing |
| Has been waiting | Has, been | Waiting |
| Will have finished | Will, have | Finished |
| Might have forgotten | Might, have | Forgotten |
| Should be studying | Should, be | Studying |
Verb Phrases Quiz
Test your understanding with this short multiple-choice quiz.
1. Which option is a verb phrase?
The tall building
Has been sleeping
A red bicycle
2. What is the main verb in ‘She will be dancing’?
Will
Be
Dancing
3. Which sentence contains a passive verb phrase?
He runs daily.
The letter was delivered.
She can sing.
4. Which helping verb expresses ability in ‘I can swim’?
I
Can
Swim
5. Which is the correct verb phrase?
She has arrived.
She has arrived.
She has arrived.
Check My Answers
Frequently Asked Questions About Verb Phrases
What Is a Verb Phrase in Simple Words?
A verb phrase is a verb or a group of verbs that expresses an action, event, or state. For example, runs, is running, and has been running are verb phrases under a broad grammatical definition.
What Are the Main Types of Verb Phrases?
Common types include simple verb phrases, auxiliary verb phrases, modal verb phrases, perfect verb phrases, progressive verb phrases, passive verb phrases, and perfect progressive verb phrases. These categories describe different verb structures and functions.
What Do All Verb Phrases Have in Common?
Verb phrases are organized around a main verb or verbal head. In school grammar, they may contain helping verbs that express tense, aspect, possibility, necessity, or voice.
What Is the Difference Between a Verb and a Verb Phrase?
A verb is a single word, such as write or sleep. A verb phrase may contain that main verb alone or combine it with helping verbs, as in is writing or has been sleeping.
Can a Verb Phrase Contain More Than One Helping Verb?
Yes. For example, might have been waiting contains three helping verbs—might, have, and been—along with the main verb waiting.
What Is the Difference Between a Noun Phrase and a Verb Phrase?
A noun phrase is organized around a noun or pronoun, as in the young boy. A verb phrase is organized around a verb, as in is playing. In a sentence, the noun phrase may act as the subject while the verb phrase expresses what the subject does or experiences.
What Are Some Examples of Action Verb Phrases?
Examples include running, kicking the ball, will carry, opening, and dancing. These phrases describe physical activities or events. Mental activities such as thinking and remembering also contain verbs.
How Can I Teach Verb Phrases to Beginners?
Start with short sentences and ask learners to identify the main verb. Then introduce helping verbs such as is, have, can, and will. Use sentence examples, matching activities, fill-in-the-blank worksheets, and short quizzes to build confidence.
Conclusion
Verb phrases help you express actions, events, and states with greater accuracy in English. Once you understand main verbs, helping verbs, and common structures such as perfect, progressive, modal, and passive constructions, you can identify verb phrases more easily and build better sentences. Practice with example sentences and worksheets to strengthen your grammar skills. The more you recognize how verb phrases work, the more confidently you’ll use them in speaking, reading, and writing.
I’m Finley Ashford, a British author passionate about the fascinating world of English idioms and expressions. I write about the phrases people hear and use every day, explaining their meanings through clear examples and engaging stories. I believe learning idioms should feel less like studying and more like discovering how language truly works.
Books:
The Modern British Idiom Book
Everyday English, Explained
Archie Kensington
Theo Harrington