Verb phrases - Grade 7 Assessment

Which of these is a verb phrase?

• on the weekend

• will be studying

• my best friend

• very funny

Answer explanation

A verb phrase includes a main verb and at least one helping verb. 'will be studying' has the helping verbs 'will be' and the main verb 'studying'.

True or False: In the sentence 'My dog is barking,' the word 'is' is the main verb.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is false. In 'is barking', the word 'barking' is the main verb because it shows the main action. The word 'is' is the helping verb.

In the sentence 'They have been practicing their dance routine for weeks,' the main verb is (a)   .

Answer explanation

The main verb is the last verb in a verb phrase and shows the main action. Here, 'have' and 'been' are helping verbs, and 'practicing' is the main action.

Which sentence has a verb phrase that includes a modal verb showing ability?

• My older sister is driving to the store.

• She can teach me how to drive next year.

• We have wanted a new car for a while.

• The car was washed yesterday.

Answer explanation

The verb phrase 'can teach' includes the modal verb 'can,' which shows ability. The other sentences use different types of verb phrases.

In the sentence, 'We should have brought more snacks for the movie,' the helping verbs are (a)   .

Answer explanation

The entire verb phrase is 'should have brought'. The main verb is 'brought', which makes the words before it, 'should' and 'have', the helping verbs.

True or False: The sentence 'The winning goal was scored by Maya' contains a verb phrase in the passive voice.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

This is true. The verb phrase 'was scored' is in the passive voice because the subject, 'The winning goal', is receiving the action instead of doing it.

In which sentence is 'are building' used as the complete verb phrase?

• The houses they are building look nice.

• My neighbors are building a new fence.

• Are building a fort is our plan for today.

• Those are building blocks for my little brother.

Answer explanation

In this sentence, 'are building' works together to show the action the neighbors are doing. In the other options, the words are separated or used as other parts of speech.

To show that an action will already be finished by a specific time in the future, complete this sentence: By 8:00 PM tonight, I (a)   all my homework. Use a three-word verb phrase.

Answer explanation

The future perfect tense is used to show an action will be completed before another point in the future. 'will have finished' correctly forms this tense.

If you had told me you liked that video game, I (a)   it for you. Fill in the blank with a three-word verb phrase that shows a different possibility in the past.

Answer explanation

To talk about a past situation that was possible but didn't happen, we often use a modal verb like 'would' or 'could' with 'have' and the main verb. 'would have bought' is the most appropriate choice here.

Which of these sentences uses the longest verb phrase (the most words working together as the verb)?

• I will be going to the party on Saturday.

• The school play was a huge success.

• My phone might have been stolen from my locker.

• She has been a good friend to me.

Answer explanation

Let's count the words in each verb phrase: A is 'will be going' (3 words), B is 'was' (1 word), C is 'might have been stolen' (4 words), and D is 'has been' (2 words). The verb phrase in sentence C is the longest.