Verb phrases - Grade 8 Assessment

Which of these is a verb phrase?

• after the soccer game

• should have practiced

• my awesome new shoes

• very quickly

Answer explanation

A verb phrase includes one or more helping verbs and a main verb. 'Should have' are helping verbs and 'practiced' is the main verb.

True or False: In the sentence 'My dog is sleeping on the rug,' the complete verb phrase is 'is sleeping.'

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The verb phrase consists of the helping verb 'is' and the main verb 'sleeping'.

In the verb phrase 'have been waiting,' the main verb is __________.

Answer explanation

The main verb is the last verb in the phrase and shows the main action. 'Have' and 'been' are helping verbs.

Which sentence below contains a verb phrase made of a helping verb and a main verb?

• I play video games after school.

• My sister laughs at all my jokes.

• The new phone looks really cool.

• We are going to the movies this weekend.

Answer explanation

The verb phrase 'are going' contains the helping verb 'are' and the main verb 'going'. The other sentences use single-word verbs.

Find the complete verb phrase in this sentence and write it in the blank: 'The students were listening carefully during the assembly.'

Answer explanation

The verb phrase includes the helping verb 'were' and the main verb 'listening'. 'Carefully' is an adverb and is not part of the verb phrase.

My dad is teaching me how to cook. Which sentence uses a modal verb to show something I am now able to do?

• I am making spaghetti.

• I have made spaghetti.

• I can make spaghetti by myself now.

• I made spaghetti last night.

Answer explanation

Modal verbs show possibility, ability, or permission. 'Can' is a modal verb that shows ability. 'Can make' is the verb phrase.

True or False: The verb phrase in the sentence 'You should have been paying attention' has two helping verbs.

• True

• False

Answer explanation

The verb phrase 'should have been paying' has three helping verbs: 'should,' 'have,' and 'been.'

To change from active to passive voice, the subject receives the action. Fill in the blank with the correct passive verb phrase: 'My friend built the Lego set' becomes 'The Lego set __________ by my friend.'

Answer explanation

The passive voice uses a form of the verb 'to be' (like 'was') plus the past participle of the main verb ('built').

To show an action will be completed before a specific time in the future, you use the future perfect tense. Fill in the blank with the correct future perfect verb phrase: 'By the time mom gets home, I __________ my homework.'

Answer explanation

The future perfect tense is formed with 'will have' plus the past participle of the verb ('finished').

Which sentence contains the most complex verb phrase, showing a possibility for a past action that was in progress? (Hint: Look for a modal verb + 'have been' + an -ing verb.)

• She was building a sandcastle.

• She has built many sandcastles.

• She might have been building a sandcastle when it started raining.

• She will build a sandcastle tomorrow.

Answer explanation

The verb phrase 'might have been building' is the most complex. It includes a modal verb ('might'), the perfect aspect ('have'), and the progressive aspect ('been building') to show an ongoing past possibility.