K22 ENGLISH -

MAJORED STUDENT SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH SEMINAR

A STUDY ON GRAMMARTICAL
STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH VERB PHRASE
Nguyen Thuy Duong *

Summary: The paper aims to focus the students of English Language Studies,
HUBT on the general perception from the structure of English verb phrase by
systemizing structurally and analysing syntatic roles of English verbs.
Key words: grammar, structure, verb phrase.

1. INTRODUCTION how to build it cannot become a building.

English has been an international Similarly, a person who knows millions of
language that plays a very important role English words, but does not know how to
in every field such as science, technology, put them together, cannot speak English.
business, education, etc. Moreover, In other words, grammar is the system of
English is a bridge to connect the world a language. English grammar consists of
and help with the transference of any many aspects and verb phrases are only
aspects. With an aim to integrate into a small part of them. It is, however, no
the world, Vietnam has taken English less important. For Vietnamese learners,
as a foreign language that has been especially beginners, the verb phrase is
widely used. However, each language still an existing difficulty as it has not been
has its own difficulties and English is no systematically introduced. Many of them
exception especially, grammar in English. avoid using verb phrase, and they prefer
Grammar plays a very important role in a simple sentences to complex ones formed
language. by the combination between simple
So, how can the term “grammar” be sentences and non-finite verb phrase.
understood? In the Cambridge Dictionary, Hence, verb are very important for
grammar is the rules about how words language development because they
change their form and combine with other allow students to start building early
words to make sentences. British linguist, sentences. Every sentence needs a verb.
academic, and author David Crystal tells And English verbs determine many of the
us that “grammar is the study of all the grammatical forms in a sentence. Verbs are
contrasts of meaning that it is possible words that demonstrate an action, such as
to do within sentences. The ‘rules’ of sing, dance, smell, talk, and eat. When
grammar tell us how. By one count, there combined with linking verbs, such as is,
are some 3,500 such rules in English.” must, will, and has, they form predicative
Language is like a building, we have including verb phrase. Simply put, this is
thousands of bricks, but without knowing a word that shows an action (physical or

* Faculty of English Language Studies, HUBT Tạp chí 64

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mental) or state of being of the subject in types of definitions, we shall begin with
a sentence. Verbs are used to express who a special version provided by Jespersen
we are and what we do. Consequently, (1966), who does not explicitly define
a verb is a word that says something verbs but exemplifies them using the
about a person or a thing. Indicating an terms ‘activity’, ‘state’, and ‘process’.
action, describing such things as actions, For example, the verbs: go, take, fight,
happenings, thoughts, feelings, speech, surprise, eat, breathe, speak, walk, clean,
and relationships. play, call express an activity; the verbs
In linguistics, a verb phrase (VP) like sleep, remain, wait, live, suffer,
is a syntactic unit composed of at least express a state; the verbs such as become,
one verb and its dependents—objects, grow, lose, die, dry, rise, turn to express a
complements, and other modifiers—but process.
not always including the subject. ... A verb Considering simplicity as a feature of
phrase is similar to what is considered a the definitions given to the English verb,
predicate in more traditional grammars. Alexander’s version (1988) defines: ‘A
For all the reasons mentioned above, verb is a word (run) or a phrase (run out
I would like to carry out a research of) which expresses the existence of a state
study about verb phrase to get a deeper (love, seem) or the doing of an action (take,
knowledge of the structures of the English play)’. This is a late 20th-century example
verbs and verb phrase. of how simple a verb could be defined.
2. DEVELOPMENT According to Knub Schibsbye (1970),
2.1. English verb taking into consideration the function and
2.1.1. Definition the content of the verb, in his system of
Jespersen (1966) and also grammarians reference, the verb is functionally defined
are very often saying that “it is practically as ‘the sentence forming element of a
impossible to give the exact definitions of word group’. Semantically, a definition of
the parts of speech”. The definitions given the verb in terms of its content ‘is the most
to the verb as lexical class vary both from comprehensive, but also the vaguest’.
one school of grammar to another and, Generally, verbs may express an activity
very often from one linguist to another. (and in this case their denominator is the
Starting from didactical purposes if auxiliary)
some definitions given to the verb are In summary, Palmer (1974) gives out
interpreted in point of the criterion they a definition that is easy to understand:
are based on, one could distinguish the “A verb is a word or a combination of
ontology, the form of the function to have words that indicates an action or a state
been used as primary criteria. Each of of being or condition. A verb is the part
them may stand by itself to constitute the of a sentence that tells us what the subject
basis of the definition or one of the three performs. Verbs are the hearts of English
may combine with another one. To make sentences”.
a good approach to the English verb some 2.1.2. Full verbs
words on the definitions assigned to this The English verbs have been defined
lexical class should be considered. considering their form and function.
In an attempt to exemplify several Thus, verbs may have full meaning and
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play the key role in the whole sentence, is doing something for someone else, to
which is the case with the lexical, main, ask questions or to give negative answers.
principal, or full verbs. Very numerous, When they play the part of linking verbs
they represent the largest group of verbs they are followed by a predicative to make
in English, and they were denominated up the nominal predicate. Out of these
differently by the authors dealing with linking verbs mention shall be made only
them. These notional, main, lexical, or of: to be, to become, to get, to remain,
principal verbs (or full verbs) have an to appear, and to grow. The linking
independent meaning and function in verbs may be interpreted as a syntactical
the sentence. They are used to forming category by means of which the subject is
the simple verbal predicate and express connected with the predicative. They may
an action, a state, an event of or about be considered a morphological category
the person or the thing denoted by the similar to but not identical with that of
subject. Palmer (1974) asserts that ‘both the auxiliary verbs. Unlike auxiliaries,
modals and main verbs are basically verbs the linking verbs actually represent the
and both cans, in theory, share the same tense, and they preserve some of their
grammatical features’. Nevertheless, lexical value. According to Palmer
things are different with the two groups (1974), a special category of verbs that
of verbs. The main verbs are thoroughly partially play the part of an auxiliary
described in various books of grammar are the catenative verbs and they will be
and because of this reason, they will not described in the last section dedicated to
be insisted on in this presentation. The aim the auxiliary verb.
of this volume is that of spotlighting those Examples:
features or details not very frequently • Jacob walks in the morning.
considered in the specialized literature. • Mike is going to school.
2.1.3. Types of English verb • Albert does not like to walk.
The classification of the verbs in • Anna is a good girl.
English may prove difficult in that there Verbs are related to a lot of other
may be numerous criteria to consider. factors like the subject, person, number,
This presentation does not intend to join tense, mood, voice, etc.
together all the possible criteria according 2.1.3.1.1. Operator
to which verbs may be classified with a In grammar, an operator is a word
view to a certain purpose. that facilitates the expression of negation,
2.1.3.1. Auxiliary verb interrogation, and emphasis in the English
They may be used in different language. The auxiliary verb that can
positions, as marks of grammatical function as the operator is the verb do,
categories, as linking verbs, as modals, which is referred to as the do-operator or
or as parts of compound predicates. As the dummy-do.
marks of grammatical categories, they Examples:
will help the speaker chronologically • Do you have the time to listen to
order the events (s)he is talking about, me whine?
to describe the phase of a process or • Did the purple kitten steal a yellow
activity or even a state, to underline who carrot from the blue rabbit?
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2.1.3.1.2. Modal Verb: Examples:

A modal verb is a kind of an auxiliary • You need to paint the whole
verb. It assists the main verb to indicate cupbroad, starting from the bottom.
possibility, potentiality, ability, permission, • He tiptoed round the house so as
expectation, and obligation. The modal not to wake anyone.
verbs are can, could, must, may, might, • Being loved can make someone
ought to, shall, should, will, would. feel safe.
Examples: 2.1.3.2.3. Syntactic
• I may want to talk to you again. 2.1.3.2.3.1. Linking Verb
• They must play their best game to A linking verb adds details about
win. the subject of a sentence. In its simplest
2.1.3.2. Lexical Verb form, it connects the subject and the
2.1.3.2.1. Finite Verb complement - that is, the words that follow
Finite verb are the actual verb that are the linking verb. It creates a link between
called the roots of sentences. It is a form them instead of showing action. Often,
of a verb that is performed by or refers what is on each side of a linking verb is
to a subject and uses one of the twelve equivalent; the complement redefines or
forms of tense and changes according to restates the subject. Generally, linking
the number/person of the subject. verbs are called ‘be’ verbs which are - am,
Examples: is, are, was, were. However, there are some
• Alex went to school. (Subject – other verbs that can work as linking verbs.
Alex – performed the action in the past. Those verbs are: act, feel, remain, appear,
This information is evident only by the become, seem, smell, sound, grow, look,
verb ‘went’.) prove, stay, taste, and turn.
• Robert plays hockey. Some verbs in this list can also be
• He is playing for Australia. action verbs. To figure out if they are
• He is one of the best players. linking verbs, you should try replacing
(Here, the verb ‘is’ directly refers to the them with forms of be verbs. If the
subject itself.) changed sentence makes sense, that verb
2.1.3.2.2. Non-finite Verb is a linking verb.
Non-finite verb are not actual verb. Examples:
They do not work as verbs in the sentence • She appears ready for the game.
rather they work as nouns, adjectives, (She is ready for the game.)
adverbs, etc. The non-finite verbs do not • The food seemed delicious. (The
change according to the number/person food was delicious.)
of the subject because these verbs, also • You look happy. (You are happy.)
called verbal, do not have any direct 2.1.3.2.3.2. Intransitive Verb
relationship to the subject. Sometimes, Intransitive verb do not act upon
they become the subject themselves. anything. They may be followed by an
The forms of the non-finite verb adjective, adverb, preposition, or another
are – infinitive, gerund, and participle part of speech.
(participles become finite verbs when Examples:
they take auxiliary verbs). • She smiled. (The verb ‘smile’
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cannot have any object since the action Here are examples:
of ‘smiling’ does not fall upon anything/ • She had extremely menacing eyes.
anyone) • An overly sensitive heart is an
• I wake up at 6 A.m. (No object is unhappy possession on this shaky earth.
needed for this verb) 2.2.2.4. Adverbial phrase
2.1.3.2.3.3. Transitive Verb Adverbial phrase modifies the verb or
Transitive verb must have a direct the adjective and functions as an adverb
object. A transitive verb demands in the sentence.
something/someone to be acted upon. Here are examples:
Examples: • I will sit like a monk meditates.
• I painted the car. (The verb ‘paint’ • He plays basketball up to impress
demands an object to be painted) his classmates.
• She is reading the newspaper. (The 2.3. Categories of English Verb Phrase
verb ‘read’ asks “what is she reading?” – The verb forms operate in finite
the answer is the object) and non-finite verb phrase, which are
Note: {Subject + Intransitive verb} distinguished as follows:
is sufficient to make a complete sentence 2.3.1. Finite Verb Phrase
but {Subject + Transitive verb} is not (1)Finite verb phrase have tenses
sufficient because transitive verbs demand distinction:
a direct object. He studies Vietnamese.
2.2. English phrase He studied Vietnamese.
2.2.1. Definition (2)Finite verb phrase occur as the verb
A phrase is a group of words used element of a clause. There are person and
as a functional unit within a sentence, number concord between the subject and
common types of phrases are noun, verb, the finite. Concord is particularly overt
adjective, and adverbial. with be
2.2.2. Types of the English phrases I+am You/we/they+are
2.2.2.1. Nouns phrase He/she/it+is
A noun phrase consists of a noun and With most lexical verb, concord is
all of its modifiers. restricted to the contrast between 3rd and
Here is an example: non-3rd person singular present:
• Saturday became a cool, wet She reads the paper every morning.
afternoon. We read the paper every morning.
• 2.2.2.2. Verbs phrase With the modal auxiliaries there is,
• A Verbs phrase consists of a verb however, no concord:
and all of its modifiers. I/you/he/we/they can play the guitar.
Here is an example: 2.3.2. Non-infinite Verb Phrase
• He was waiting for the rain to stop. The non-finite forms of the verb are
2.2.2.3. Adjectives phrase the infinitive, the -ing participle, and the
An adjective phrase is a group of -ed participle. The non-finite verb phrase
words headed by an adjective that modifies consist of one or more such items.
a noun and works as a single adjective in • Compare:Finite verb phrase:
the sentence. He smokes heavily.
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Non – finite verb phrase: To smoke 2.4.4. Adjectival Complement

like that must be dangerous. The fourthly grammatical function
2.4. Grammartical function of verb that verb phrase in the form of infinitives
phrase perform is the adjective phrase
There are various functions verb complement. The adjective phrase
phrase perform: complement are defined as phrases and
2.4.1. Predicate clauses that complete the meaning of
Verb phrase firstly function as a an adjective phrase. For example, the
predicate of the sentence. I have some following italicized verbs and verb
examples of verb phrase where the verb phrase function as adjective phrase
phrase functions as a predicate of a complements:
sentence. Here, the verb phrase comprises You should be excited to study
the main verb and auxiliary verbs (also grammar.
known as helping verbs). My children are sad to see their
• He was walking quickly to the bank. grandparents leave.
• He should wait before he can 2.4.5. Adverbial
practice driving. Verb phrase fifthly function as
• You must wash your clothes now. adverbials. An adverbial is a word, phrase,
• The graduate is writing a CV. or clause that modifies an entire clause
2.4.2. Subject by providing additional information
Verb phrase secondly function as about time, place, manner, condition,
subjects. A subject is a word, phrase, or purpose, reason, result, and concession.
clause that performs the action of or acts The following italicized Verbs phrase are
upon the verb. The following italicized examples of adverbials:
verbs are examples of subjects: • Sam found a lost wallet walking to
 Reading stimulates the mind. the store. (present participle)
 To lie about cheating is unforgivable. • She opened the window to let in
Only verbs in the form of present some fresh air. (infinitive)
participles and infinitives can perform the 2.4.6. Subject Complement
nominal function of the subject. Verb phrase sixthly function as subject
2.4.3. Direct Object complements. A subject complement is
Verb phrase thirdly function as a word, phrase, or clause that follows
direct objects. A direct object is a word, a copular verb or linking verb and
phrase, or clause that follows a transitive describes the subject. The following
verb and answers the question “who or italicized verbs are examples of subject
what” receives the action of the verb. The complements:
following italicized verbs are examples • My favorite hobby is learning
of direct objects: about grammar.
The brothers prefer watching football. • Your job duties are to shelve
Their sisters prefer to watch dramas. books and to dust shelves.
Only verbs in the form of present Only verbs in the form of present
participles and infinitives can perform the participles and infinitives can perform the
nominal function of the direct object. nominal function of subject complement.
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2.4.7. Object Complement action or linking words in a sentence.

Verb phrase seventhly function Verb phrase can be easily identified as
as object compelements. An object they have an auxiliary verb followed by
complement is a word, phrase, or clause an action or main verb. Using multiple
that directly follows and describes the actions or linking words together is the
direct object. The following italicized verbs definition of a verb phrase.
are examples of object complements: A verb phrase is one of the important
• I asked him to run. knowledge areas in English. Knowing
• My grandmother considered her how to use verb phrase not only helps
favorite pastime observing nature. you speak English naturally like a native
Only verbs in the form of present speaker but also increases the effect of
participles can perform the nominal the sentence, attracting listeners through
function of object complement. a rich vocabulary. But to use verb phrases
3. CONCLUSION effectively, you have to learn. Learn how
Verb phrase help to make your text to be effective, remember and use the
more informative and meaningful. They right context. Try to regularly apply the
are essential to clear writing and letting verbs learned in the article, speech in
your reader know exactly what you’re each specific context to remember and
trying to say. understand more deeply about the use of
There are various functions that verb the verb phrase.
phrase perform. They serve phrase heads, Because of such complexity and
as predicates, modifiers, compliments, variability, the ability to use verbs
and objects. Verb phrase also function as fluently has become an important scoring
noun phrase modifiers, containing a word criterion in important exams like IELTS
and phrase, and describing noun or noun (International English Language Testing
phrase. System). If you know a lot of phrasal
Understanding the verb phrase is verbs, in English tests you will be able to
important when using more than one get desirable high scores./.

References

1. A. Renouf and A. Kehoe, (2003), The Changing Face of Corpus Linguistics,

Rodopi.
2.Brinton, Laurel J. & Donna M. Brinton, (2010), The linguistic structure of
Modern English, 2nd edn. Amsterdam: John Benjamins Publishing Company.
3.Cambridge Dictionary.
4.David Crystal, (2006), The Fight for English, Oxford University Press.
5.Fromkin, V., Rodman, R., & Hyams, N. (2011). An introduction to language,
Boston: Cengage Learning.
6.Huddleston, Rodney, (1984), Introduction to the grammar of English.
Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
7.J. D. Williams, (2005), The Teacher’s Grammar Book, Routledge.

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8.Keith Brown and Jim Miller, (May 16, 1991), Syntax: A Linguistic Introduction
English Structure, Routledge.

NGHIÊN CỨU VỀ CẤU TRÚC NGỮ PHÁP

CỦA CỤM ĐỘNG TỪ TIẾNG ANH
Nguyễn Thùy Dương

Tóm tắt: Bài báo hướng sinh viên khoa ngôn ngữ Anh, HUBT tập trung vào nhận
thức về cấu trúc của cụm động từ tiếng Anh bằng cách hệ thống hóa cấu trúc và phân
tích vai trò ngữ đoạn của động từ tiếng Anh.
Từ khóa: ngữ pháp, cấu trúc, cụm động từ.

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