Grammar: Groups & phrases: Verb group
|
Overview |
What is a verb group?
A verb group is one type of group. The other types are noun groups, adjective groups and adverb groups. Groups and phrases go together to make up a clause:
A verb group can have just one verb:
The ghost broke the plates on the floor.
verb group
It can also have more than one verb. In this case the lexical verb is always the last verb in the group:
The ghost had been breaking the plates on the floor.
auxiliaries lexical verb
In a group of words there is always a Head word, which is the main word in the group. In a verb group, the Head word is a lexical verb. The other words in the verb group add information about the timing, probability, desirability etc:
If a verb group consists of a single word, then that word is the Head word:
The ghost broke the plates on the floor.
Head
Note that the term Head word is written with a capital to remind us that it is a functional term.
When dealing with language in the classroom, it is useful to ask the question 'What is happening?' as a way of focusing on the verb group.
If you would like some practice in identifying verb groups, click here: |
 |
One of the main functions of the verb group is to tell us what is going on:
|
Their eyes kept closing. They fell asleep during lessons. Bozo would yawn and then Dotty would yawn and then the whole class would start yawning. |
|
In this example the lexical verbs tell us what Events are being represented. In this case, the Events involve eyes closing, children yawning and then falling asleep. The lexical verb carries the meaning of the verb group. It is the lexical verb which answers the question: 'What is happening?'
Note that lexical verbs can carry a number of different meanings. They can be summarised as: 'doing' verbs (swim, climb, crawl); 'thinking, feeling and perceiving' verbs (wonder, think, like, need); 'reporting' verbs (ask, answer, say, think); and 'relating' verbs (be, seem, appear).
For more information on different types of lexical verbs, see 
Grammar: Word classes: Verbs:
Overview
Note that the term Event is written with a capital to remind us that it is a functional term.
 |
 |
 |
|
||
To give us feedback about this section, click here or on the Comment button at the top of the screen.
If you have any questions about this section, visit the Language Corner.
If you have any questions or suggestions about how to teach this section, send a message to the Teaching Corner.
