verb phrase

American  

noun

Grammar.

1. a group of words including a verb and its complements, objects, or other modifiers that functions syntactically as a verb. In English a verb phrase combines with a noun or noun phrase acting as subject to form a simple sentence.

2. a phrase consisting of a main verb and any auxiliaries but not including modifiers, objects, or complements.

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verb phrase British  

noun

1.  VP.  grammar a constituent of a sentence that contains the verb and any direct and indirect objects but not the subject. It is a controversial question in grammatical theory whether or not this constituent is to be identified with the predicate of the sentence

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Example Sentences

Indeed, it's a good habit to at least consider moving an adverb to the end of the verb phrase.

From The Guardian • Aug. 15, 2014

Subjects are special: all verbs have one, and it sits outside the verb phrase, occupying one of the two major branches of the clause, the other being the predicate.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

Indeed, it’s a good habit to at least consider moving an adverb to the end of the verb phrase.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

A verb phrase is a string of words of any length which fills a particular slot in a tree.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker

They can also show up as an adjunct to a verb phrase or clause, as in She died young And They showed up drunk.

From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker