Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

1
Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

• 3-2
• P. 120

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• You know that every sentence has a verb in the
  predicate. The verb can be one word or several
  words.
• Kenneth walked home.
• I will be going home soon too.

3

• A verb that is made up of more than one word is
  called a verb phrase.
• It contains a main verb and a helping verb or
  verbs.
• The main verb expresses action or being in the
  sentence.
• The helping verbs work with the main verb, but
  they do not show action.

4

• Sometimes the helping verb in one sentence is the
  main verb in another. Be sure to read the whole
  sentence before you identify a main verb and its
  helping verb.

Verb Main Verb Helping Verb
Did I did my homework. I did wait for you.
Has Bob has it. Bob has taken it.
5

• Questions are often formed with helping verbs. In
  questions the main verb and its helping verbs may
  be separated by the subject of the sentence or by
  other words.
• Should we leave now?
• Will the show start early?

6
Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Underline
the helping verb once and the main verb twice.

• 1. In 1803 land between the Missouri River and
  the Rocky Mountains was sold.
• 2. The land was bought by the United States.
• 3. Would anyone explore the land?
• 4. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were chosen
  by President Thomas Jefferson.
• 5. They had lived in the wilderness.
• 6. Sacajawea was born in Idaho around 1787.
• 7. She had been kidnapped from her tribe.

7
Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Underline
the helping verb once and the main verb twice.

• 8. In 1805 her husband was hired as a guide for
  Lewis and Clark.
• 9. Would the princess go with them?
• 10. Could they cross the Rocky Mountains on foot?
• 11. Horses would be needed for that part of the
  trip.
• 12. The princess must have helped the explorers.
• 13. She did know the land along their route.
• 14. She could act as interpreter too.
• 15. Without her, the expedition might have
  failed.