1. Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

2.  You know that every sentence has a verb in the predicate. The verb can be one word or several words. Kenneth walked home. I will be going home soon too.

3.  A verb that is made up of more than one word is called a verb phrase.  It contains a main verb and a helping verb or verbs.  The main verb expresses action or being in the sentence.  The helping verbs work with the main verb, but they do not show action.

4.  Sometimes the helping verb in one sentence is the main verb in another. Be sure to read the whole sentence before you identify a main verb and its helping verb. VerbMain VerbHelping Verb DidI did my homework. I did wait for you. HasBob has it.Bob has taken it.

5. isarewas weredodoesdid donehashavehad bebeenbeingshall willcouldshouldwould canmay am might

6.  Questions are often formed with helping verbs. In questions the main verb and its helping verbs may be separated by the subject of the sentence or by other words. Should we leave now? Will the show start early?

7. Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Underline the helping verb once and the main verb twice.  1. In 1803 land between the Missouri River and the Rocky Mountains was sold.  2. The land was bought by the United States.  3. Would anyone explore the land?  4. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were chosen by President Thomas Jefferson.  5. They had lived in the wilderness.  6. Sacajawea was born in Idaho around 1787.  7. She had been kidnapped from her tribe.

8. Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Underline the helping verb once and the main verb twice.  8. In 1805 her husband was hired as a guide for Lewis and Clark.  9. Would the princess go with them?  10. Could they cross the Rocky Mountains on foot?  11. Horses would be needed for that part of the trip.  12. The princess must have helped the explorers.  13. She did know the land along their route.  14. She could act as interpreter too.  15. Without her, the expedition might have failed.