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Verb phrase

We will learn what a 'verb phrase' is. 

What is a 'verb'?

A verb is a word to describe the 'action' or 'state'.

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Action: I ate chocolates.

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State: I live in London.

What is a 'verb phrase'?

It is the verb and the noun phrase together. For example:

I ate chocolates. = this is not a verb phrase because it has a subject.

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watch a film = this is a verb phrase because it has the verb (watch) and and the noun phrase (a film) together.

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watch a film = a verb phrase includes a noun phrase.

verb phrase = verb + noun phrase

What is a 'gerund phrase'?

It is the gerund and the noun phrase together. For example:

I like eating. = this is not a gerund phrase because it has a subject.

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eating French food = this is a gerund phrase because it has the gerund (eating) and the noun phrase (French food) together.

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eating French food = a gerund includes a noun phrase.

gerund phrase = gerund + noun phrase

Why is it important?

When grammar becomes more complicated it is easier to add chunks like 'verb phrase' or 'gerund phrase' rather than say 'verb + noun phrase' all the time.

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It is easier to build on existing knowledge.

What is not in a verb phrase?

A verb phrase contains everything needed for the sentence to make sense in context. For example:

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I went.

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This sentence can make sense in context. 

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I went to the bank.

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This sentence, with 'to the bank' added, is usual with the verb 'went'.

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I went to the bank yesterday.

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'Yesterday' is not part of the verb phrase because we do not need it for the sentence to make sense.

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Let's look at another one:

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I ate.

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This sentence makes sense in context.

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I ate a delicious pizza.

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We have added 'what' the person ate. It is very normal to say what someone ate. 

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I ate a delicious pizza at that new restaurant.

Examples and review

LOCATION CHUNK

TIME CHUNK

DURATION CHUNK

FREQUENCY CHUNK

Like

Subject + like to + verb phrase

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Subject + like + gerund phrase

My friend likes to go to the supermarket.

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My friend likes to go to the supermarket on Sunday.

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My friend likes going to the supermarket.

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My friend likes going to the supermarket every Sunday.

Want

Subject + want to + verb phrase

The dog wants to go for a walk in the park

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That man wants to read his newspaper.

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We want to wear the same colour tie for your wedding.

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I want to have a glass of wine for dinner.

Because

Subject + verb phrase + because + nounverb phrase

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Because + noun + verb phrase + subjectverb phrase

I started going to University because I want to get a good job.

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Because I want to get a good jobI started going to University.

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My sister doesn't like vegetables because our mum made her eat lots.

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Because our mum made my sister eat lots of vegetablesshe doesn't like them.

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The film is very good because it has great actors.

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Because the film has great actorsit is very good.

Present perfect

Subject + have / has + past participle verb phrase

I have eaten very strange things.

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I have eaten very strange things on holiday.

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My sister has lived in Japan, Korea and China.

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My sister has lived in Japan, Korea and China for three years.

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We have had our dog for two months.

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We have been on holiday to Italy every year since 2009.

Going to

Subject + verb 'be' + going to + verb phrase

I am going to see a new film.

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I am going to see a new film at the cinema.

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I am going to see a new film at the cinema tomorrow.

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My boss is going to have a meeting with me for three hours.

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My boss is going to have a meeting with me next week.

Should

Subject + should + verb phrase

He should study English.

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He should study English every day.

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He should study English every day for thirty minutes.

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They should eat more vegetables to make them healthier.

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My daughter should exercise more.

May / Might / Could

Subject + may / might / could + verb phrase

We might go.

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We might go next week.

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She could drive to their house in the countryside.

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My grandad may come on holiday with us.

Can

Subject + can + verb phrase

I can cook lots of different things.

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We can go to the theme park.

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We can go to the theme park next Tuesday.

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You can't do that.

If (zero and first conditionals)

If + subjectpresent tense verb phrase, nounpresent tense verb phrase.

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If + subjectpresent tense verb phrase, nounfuture tense verb phrase.

If I buy the ingredients, you cook the food.

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If the weather becomes bad, we will need an umbrella.

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If it is Saturday tomorrow, we don't have to get-up at 6am.

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If she doesn't study every day, she might not get the job she wants.

Conclusion

'Verb phrases' and 'gerund phrases' are grammar chunks which have a 'verb' or 'gerund' and a 'noun phrase'.

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