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

The cat in the hat can be merged with a verb phrase to create a new object, a sentence: The cat in the hat came back.

From Economist

The more natural place for an adverb like “soon” is between the parts of the verb phrase.

From New York Times

Some people, she explains, produce complex noun phrases and simple verb phrases; others produce complex adverbial phrases, and so on.

From Washington Post

Another is the rule that “like” joins noun phrases, while “as” or “as if” is for verb phrases.

From The New Yorker

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

From The Guardian