2. Main and Helping Verbs
Once I was giving a speech and a
fly flew in the room.
Was giving is a verb phrase. It is
made up of a main verb (giving)
that tells the action and a helping
verb (was) that helps tell the
time of the action.
3. Main and Helping Verbs
Verbs that are made up of more
than one word are verb phrases.
In a verb phrase, the main verb
names the action.
The helping verb helps tell the
time of the action.
4. Main and Helping Verbs
Some common helping verbs are
has, have, had, am, is, are, was,
were, do, does, did, can, could,
will, would, and should.
5. Main and Helping Verbs
The main verb is always the last
word in a verb phrase. (Animals
are losing habitats.)
There may be more than one
helping verbs in a verb phrase.
(We should have saved more
wetland habitats.)
6. Main and Helping Verbs
Helping verbs such as is and are show
that action is happening in the present.
(Forests are cut down for wood.)
Was and were tell that the action
happened in the past. (Once millions of
acres of forest were standing in this
area.)
7. Main and Helping Verbs
Will tells that the action is happening
in the future. (Trees will disappear if
we don’t conserve them.)
8. Main and Helping Verbs
Find the verb phrase in each sentence.
For years, people have given names to
their pets.
have given
Our dog is named Groucho.
is named
Pets can perform fascinating tricks.
can perform
9. Main and Helping Verbs
Find the verb phrase in each sentence.
Groucho has entertained us for years.
has entertained
He could have been a standup comic.
could have been
Sometimes he will walk on his hind legs.
will walk
10. Main and Helping Verbs
Find the verb phrase in each sentence.
You should see his stubby tail.
should see
No one can resist his floppy ears.
can resist
11. Main and Helping Verbs
Find the verb phrase. Tell which verb is the helping verb and which is the main verb.
We should respect wild animals.
should (helping) respect (main)
They are sharing the planet with
us.
are (helping) sharing (main)
12. Main and Helping Verbs
Find the verb phrase. Tell which verb is the helping verb and which is the main verb.
They can frighten us at times.
can (helping) frighten (main)
Most of them are frightened by us
too.
are (helping) frightened (main)
13. Main and Helping Verbs
Verbs that are made up of more
than one word are verb phrases.
In a verb phrase, the main verb
names the action.
The helping verb helps tell the
time of the action.
14. Main and Helping Verbs
Some common helping verbs are
has, have, had, am, is, are, was,
were, do, does, did, can, could,
will, would, and should.
15. Main and Helping Verbs
Verbs that are made up of more
than one word are verb phrases.
In a verb phrase, the main verb
names the action.
The helping verb helps tell the
time of the action.
16. Main and Helping Verbs
Some common helping verbs are
has, have, had, am, is, are, was,
were, do, does, did, can, could,
will, would, and should.
17. Main and Helping Verbs
A verb phrase tells when an action
takes place. Is, are, do, does, has, and
have show present time.
Was, were, did, and had show past time.
Will shows future time.
The main verb may change to show time
too (is walking; had walked)
18. Main and Helping Verbs
Test Tip: A test may ask you to
tell whether a word such as are is
a helping verb or a linking verb.
To answer, check how the word is
used in a sentence.
A helping verb is part of a verb
phrase and is followed by a verb.
19. Main and Helping Verbs
A linking verb is usually followed
by a noun or an adjective.
Helping Verb:They are traveling.
Linking Verb: They are excited.
