Grammar-Quizzes › Verb Phrases
Recognize its parts
► What is a verb phrase? ▼ Explanation of term
A verb phrase:
- completes the idea about the subject in regards to what it does or is, and may include other items (objects) or people (recipients or beneficiaries) involved in the action along with information on timing, location, etc.
- includes elements required to complete the meaning of the verb:
- the predicate (verb or verb group). (She walks. She is walking.)
- a direct object (She walks the dog.)
- an indirect object. (She handed me the dog.)
- an adjectival complement. (She seems happy.)
- an adverb. (She does remarkably well.) (She walks briskly.)
- prepositional complements. (She handed the dog to me. (She walks in the park.)
- nonfinite complements–infinitive/gerund. (She likes to walk.) (She likes walking.)
- a clause. (She knows that walking is good exercise.) (She likes walking.)
- In traditional description, the predicate includes the subject, the verb or verb group and its dependents—adverbs, objects and phrases related to the action of the verb.
- In linguistic description, the predicate is a function that takes form as a verb or verb group. Only!
Diagram that differentiates: Verb, Verb Group, Verb Phrase
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