1. Verb Phrases; Compound Sentence Parts
Grammar 1.2
Verb Phrases; Compound Sentence Parts

2. Main Ideas
When the tense of a verb is made up of more than one word, we call this a verb phrase.
Verb phrases are divided into multiple parts: a main verb and helping verb(s).
Sentences can have multiple subjects called compound subjects or multiple verbs called compound verbs.

3. Verb Phrases Simple Predicate review:
The simple predicate is the main word or words in the complete predicate.
The girl loves to laugh.
The girl [loves] to laugh.
The simple predicate, or verb, may consist of two or more words.
These words are called a verb phrase.
A verb phrase is made up of a main verb and one or more helping verbs.
A “smart house” may cook your food for you.
A “smart house” [may cook] your food for you.
may: helping verb
cook: main verb

4. Verb Phrases (cont.)
A main verb can stand by itself as the simple predicate of a sentence.
We imagine the city of the future.
We [imagine] the city of the future.
imagine: main verb
Helping verbs help main verbs express action or show time.
Computer networks will run smart houses.
Computer networks [will run] smart houses.
main verb: run
helping verb: will
The network has been turning the lights on and off.
The network [has been turning] the lights on and off.
main verb: turning
helping verbs: has, been

5. The Helping Verbs Song
My 8th grade English teacher taught me this song…
“The helping verbs are just these three:
To Do
To Have
To Be,
you see.
But these three verbs, in order to survive, need a little bit of help. So learn these five:
Can
Could
Shall
Should
Might”
Unfortunately, Mrs. Skidmore wasn’t entirely right...

6. Helping Verbs To DO, To HAVE, To BE: Forms of be:
is, am, are, was, were, be, been
Forms of do:
do, does, did
Forms of have:
has, have, had
Others:
may, might, can, should, could, would, shall, will

7. Helping Verbs Can Be Main Verbs
The main three helping verbs -- to do, to have, to be -- can function as main verbs (or the only verb). Look to see if the verb is attached to another to determine if it is a main verb or a helping verb.
ex. TO BE → am, is, are, was, were, been, being
MAIN VERB → I am happy today.
“Am” is the only verb in the sentence. It is the main verb.
HELPING VERB → I am dancing this evening.
“Am” is attached to the verb to dance in its -ing form. So, it is a helping verb.
Try for yourself. Use each of the following verbs as a helping verb AND as a main verb.
TO HAVE
I have tacos to eat. → main
I have danced before. → helping
TO DO
I do my homework. → main.
I do have time to play video games. → helping

8. Compound Sentence Parts
Sentences can have compound subjects and compound verbs.
A compound subject is made up of two or more subjects that share the same verb. The subjects are joined by a conjunction, or connecting word, such as and, or, or but.
Examples:
You and I giggled when Stubby pooted.
[You] and [I] giggled when Stubby pooted.
You: subject 1
I: subject 2
The dogs, the cats, and the children laughed in the meadow.
The [dogs], [cats], and [children] laughed in the meadow.
All three are subjects.

9. Compound Sentence Parts (cont.)
A compound verb is made up of two or more verbs that have the same subject. The verbs are joined by a conjunction such as and, or, or but.
Examples:
I abhor and loathe anyone who insults my friends.
I [abhor] and [loathe] anyone who insults my friends.
Abhor: verb 1
Loathe: verb 2
The bigot hampered my learning, attacked my character, and created too many problems.
The bigot [hampered] my learning, [attacked] my character, and [created] too many problems.
All three are main verbs.

10. Compound Sentence Parts (cont.)
Why do we need to learn this?
For editing your papers! So you don’t sound redundant!
Compound subjects…
The boy slept in class. So did the girl.
The [boy] and [girl] slept in class.
Compound verbs…
Last night, we ate. Then, we watched a movie. Finally, we talked.
Last night, we [ate], [watched] a movie, and [talked].