Here's a breakdown:
* Main verb: The core action or state of being in a sentence. For example, "run," "eat," "be," "think," "sleep."
* Helping verbs: Words that help the main verb express tense, mood, voice, or emphasis. Common helping verbs include:
* Forms of "to be": am, is, are, was, were, being, been
* Forms of "to have": have, has, had, having
* Forms of "to do": do, does, did
* Modals: can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would
Examples:
* "He is running." (Verb phrase: "is running" - "is" is the helping verb, "running" is the main verb)
* "We have been studying all night." (Verb phrase: "have been studying" - "have" and "been" are helping verbs, "studying" is the main verb)
* "They might go to the beach." (Verb phrase: "might go" - "might" is the helping verb, "go" is the main verb)
Note:
* Some verbs can stand alone as a verb phrase, such as "He sleeps" or "She thinks."
* Verb phrases can be quite long, especially when several helping verbs are used.
* The verb phrase is a key element in understanding the action or state of being within a sentence.