The basic structure of verb phrases Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Quick Tip 30.1

Every verb phrase has a verb, for example laughs, left.

Quick Tip 30.2

A verb phrase can hold a verb plus a noun phrase, for example chased the ball.

Quick Tip 30.3

A verb phrase can hold a linking verb plus an adjective, for example is tall.

Quick Tip 30.4

A verb phrase can hold a verb plus a prepositional phrase, for example drove to the mall.

Quick Tip 30.5

A verb phrase can hold a verb plus a noun phrase plus a prepositional phrase, for example drove her friend to the mall.

To Enhance Your Understanding

Some verbs, for example smell, can be used as either action verbs or linking verbs. In the sentence "That dog smells badly," smell is an action verb; it refers to the dog doing the action of smelling. In the sentence "That dog smells bad," smell is a linking verb; it helps us know something about the dog but he is not actually doing anything - he is being something, namely, smelly.

When a verb is used as a linking verb, it can have an adjective, like bad, after it. When it is used as an action verb, it can be followed by an adverb, like badly, but not by an adjective.

In Standard American English, good is used only as an adjective. So in Standard American English, it is not thought to be acceptable to say "You did good." That is because did is an action verb, and an action verb cannot be finished with just an adjective. So why do we often hear people saying sentences like "You did good"? What is happening is that people are starting to use good as an adverb, not just as an adjective. Maybe in the future this usage will become more widely known and used, but right now using good as an adverb is not thought to be Standard American English. (In other words, do not say this at a job interview, although it is fine to say with friends.)

Similarly, people sometimes say "I feel badly" instead of "I feel bad," even though they are using feel here as a linking verb, not as an action verb. They know that usually an adverb, like badly, follows a verb, but adverbs only directly follow action verbs, not linking verbs. (When people incorrectly overapply a rule, it is called hypercorrection.)

We can thus show the difference between "I feel good" ("I am OK") and "I feel well" ("I have the ability to touch effectively"): in the former sentence feel is a linking verb, in the latter it is an action verb.

Summary: Kinds of Verb Phrases Discussed in This Lesson

• verb (example: laughed)
• verb + adjective (example: was happy)
• verb + noun phrase (example: left the room)
• verb + preposition phrase (example: walked to the corner)
• verb + noun phrase + preposition phrase (example: walked Rachel to the corner)

While there are more kinds of verb phrases, what has been shown here are some basic ones.

Answer Keys: Test Yourself, Getting Started Questions - Unit 11

Test Yourself 30.1

1. Freddy disappeared.
2. A young woman cried.
3. The soldiers wait.
4. I slept.
5. The little girl smiled.

Test Yourself 30.2

1. He created a monster.
2. Frank broke the plate.
3. Sherry and I left the house.
4. The detective examined the old broken doorknob.
5. We resent those comments.

Test Yourself 30.3

1. He created a monster.
2. Frank broke the plate.
3. Sherry and I left the house.
4. The detective examined the old broken doorknob.
5. We resent those comments.

Test Yourself 30.4

1. The argument was silly.
2. The dress felt comfortable.
3. Steven became sick.
4. The point of this exercise seems obvious.
5. The children got excited.

Test Yourself 30.5

1. The argument was silly.
2. The dress felt comfortable.
3. Steven became sick.
4. The point of this exercise seems obvious.
5. The children got excited.

Test Yourself 30.6

1. Brady was a radio engineer.
2. The king sent a clear message.
3. Those flowers look gorgeous.
4. Most able-bodied adults work.
5. I recognized them.

Test Yourself 30.7

1. Brady was a radio engineer. - verb + noun phrase
2. The king sent a clear message. - verb + noun phrase
3. Those flowers look gorgeous. - verb + adjective
4. Most able-bodied adults work. - verb
5. I recognized them. - verb + noun phrase

Test Yourself 30.8

1. The boat floated in the water.
2. Janice is from Kansas City.
3. Mrs. Miller is at the beach.
4. He looked for me.
5. The sun appeared above the horizon.

Test Yourself 30.9

1. Elinor rented a car.
2. The clowns never laugh with the audience.
3. The road trip ended.
4. The band played my favorite song.
5. They left at noon.

Test Yourself 30.10

1. Elinor rented a car. - verb + noun phrase
2. The clowns never laugh with the audience. - verb + prepositional phrase
3. The road trip ended. - verb
4. The band played my favorite song. - verb + noun phrase
5. They left at noon. - verb + prepositional phrase

Test Yourself 30.11

1. Her mother looked under the bed.
2. Jan leaped for the shore.
3. The morning seemed peaceful.
4. The stock market fell hard.
5. She arrived with an empty suitcase.

Test Yourself 30.12

1. Vivian added calcium to her diet.
2. She knit that blanket from an unusual wool.
3. Her housekeeper rinsed those clothes in warm water.
4. I like my coffee without sugar.
5. Jack and Martha bought a wedding gift at Macy's.

Test Yourself 30.13

1. Your sister is a talented pianist.
2. Their doctor operates at that hospital.
3. Robert threw himself into the battle.
4. The offer sounded unrealistic.
5. His mother went to the drugstore.

Test Yourself 30.14

1. Your sister is a talented pianist. - verb + noun phrase
2. Their doctor operates at that hospital. - verb + prepositional phrase
3. Robert threw himself into the battle. - verb + noun phrase + prepositional phrase
4. The offer sounded unrealistic. - verb + adjective
5. His mother went to the drugstore. - verb + prepositional phrase