Daily Grammar Lessons – Verb Lessons 3

Instructions: Pick out the verb phrases in these sentences.

1. The game will not be finished for another hour.

2. The horse shouldn't have been worked so much.

3. Wouldn't you give me another chance?

Verb phrases with two or more helping verbs always keep a definite order. Most helping verbs can combine with other helping verbs but will not combine with all of them. Look at the examples below which are good combinations.

is being said, has been said, will be said, could have been said, may have said, had been said.

Instructions: Now arrange the following helping verbs with the word in parentheses into a verb phrase. One of the helping verbs will not combine and must be left out.

Example: was, have, may (gone) = may have gone - was will not combine in this group.

4. am, will, being (fired)

5. been, could, does, have (learning)

6. might, do, have, been (sleeping)

7. must, were, be (discovered)

8. be, has, should (sold)

We can change the form of a verb. (These changes in form are used in conjugations. We will talk about conjugations in later lessons.) For example, a verb can have an s added to it as in eat, eats or run, runs. Other changes could be eating, ate, or eaten for the verb eat. Run could be changed to running, or ran. Irregular verbs which we will cover later have several confusing changes.

Instructions: Find the verb or verb phrases in these sentences. Take note of the different verb forms for come and sent.

9. I am coming in the morning.

10. I came as soon as possible.

11. She comes by every day.

12. Send me the package in the mail.

13. The new part was sent to me.

14. I am sending Jeff with the neighbors.

Instructions: In this lesson pick out only the helping verbs used in the verb phrases.

15. He should have tried again.

16. The dog had suddenly come into the yard.

17. Has anyone taken out the trash?

18. Could they have been pointing at our car?

19. She's hoping for a call from her sister

Let's look at some sentences to review what we have learned. Remember that verbs either show action or state of being. Using helping verbs, we make verb phrases. Verb phrases may be separated by other words. Verb phrases follow a definite order and change form.

Instructions: Find the verb phrases and tell what kind of verbs they are.

20. I can understand your concern.

21. Is Mrs. Johanson going with you?

22. The rooms cannot be held any longer.

23. I haven't seen him for an hour.

REVIEW

Now for a review of the Verb Lessons 1-3

Instructions: Answer each question true or false.

1. Verbs never change form.

2. A verb is never just one word.

3. Verb phrases keep a definite order.

4. There are twenty-three helping verbs.

5. Helping verbs cannot be the main verb.

6. Helping verbs can be action verbs.

7. Verb phrases can have three helping verbs.

8. Verbs can be in contracted form.

9. State of being verbs show action.

10. Verbs are the most important words in a sentence.