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 + noun + verb phrase
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Because + noun + verb phrase + subject + verb 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 job, I 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 vegetables, she 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 actors, it 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 + subject + present tense verb phrase, noun + present tense verb phrase.
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If + subject + present tense verb phrase, noun + future 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'.