Verb Phrases: Grammar Practice (Grade 5) | Printable Skills Sheets - Free Printable

It looks like you've uploaded a worksheet titled "Verb Phrases" that focuses on identifying and using verb phrases in sentences. A verb phrase includes a main verb and one or more helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs), such as *is, are, was, were, have, has, had, will, can, could*, etc.

Let’s go through the worksheet step by step and solve each part with explanations.

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Part A: Underline the main verb twice and the helping verb once in each sentence.

We need to identify:
- The main verb (the action word) → underline twice
- The helping verb(s) (auxiliary verbs that come before the main verb) → underline once

Let’s analyze each sentence:

1. They have worked all week.
- Helping verb: have (underlined once)
- Main verb: worked (underlined twice)

2. Some classmates are acting in it.
- Helping verb: are (underlined once)
- Main verb: acting (underlined twice)

3. Stan has scheduled many rehearsals.
- Helping verb: has (underlined once)
- Main verb: scheduled (underlined twice)

4. Mike is editing them.
- Helping verb: is (underlined once)
- Main verb: editing (underlined twice)

5. Amber and Jack are making posters.
- Helping verb: are (underlined once)
- Main verb: making (underlined twice)

6. Bella and Elijah are making posters.
- Helping verb: are (underlined once)
- Main verb: making (underlined twice)

7. Dora can develop our ad.
- Helping verb: can (underlined once)
- Main verb: develop (underlined twice)

8. Everyone is contributing.
- Helping verb: is (underlined once)
- Main verb: contributing (underlined twice)

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Part B: Write the correct form of the verb for each sentence.

Now we fill in the blanks with the correct verb form, based on subject-verb agreement and tense.

9. We _______ (have worked) a long time for the videos.
→ "We" is plural, and the past perfect tense is implied ("have worked") — this shows an action completed before another past event.
✔ have worked

10. I _______ (am writing) about it every day.
→ Present continuous: "I am writing"
✔ am writing

11. Kendrick is editing. _______ (are eating) _______ (are planning) _______ (is typing).
This seems to be asking for parallel structure. We’re listing actions happening now, so use present continuous.
- "are eating" → probably referring to others
- "are planning" → likely a group
- "is typing" → singular subject

So the full sentence might be:
*"Kendrick is editing. They are eating. They are planning. He is typing."*
But since the blank is just after "Kendrick is editing," we assume it's continuing with other subjects.

✔ are eating, are planning, is typing

12. For awhile the camera _______ (wasn't been working) _______ (wasn't working) _______ (wasn't being used).
Let’s examine each option:
- "wasn't been working" → ✘ Incorrect grammar. "Been" is not used in negative past simple like this.
- "wasn't working" → ✔ Correct. Past continuous/negative simple past: “The camera wasn’t working.”
- "wasn't being used" → ✔ Also correct. Passive voice: “The camera wasn’t being used.”

But the first option “wasn't been working” is grammatically incorrect. It should be either:
- "wasn't working" (simple past)
- "hadn't been working" (past perfect continuous)

So likely, the intended answer is:
✔ wasn't working, wasn't being used

However, if there are three blanks, and the first is meant to be “wasn't been working”, that’s wrong. Probably a typo in the worksheet.

Best correction:
➤ wasn't working, wasn't being used

But only two blanks are needed. Wait — the sentence says:

> "For awhile the camera _______ (wasn't been working) _______ (wasn't working) _______ (wasn't being used)."

So it's giving us three options to choose from — but only two blanks? That doesn’t make sense.

Actually, looking at the original, it appears there are three blanks, but the first choice is grammatically incorrect.

Let's rephrase:
The sentence is likely meant to be filled with two correct forms. But here are the three options given:

- wasn't been working → ✘ invalid
- wasn't working → ✔ correct
- wasn't being used → ✔ correct

So the best choices are:
✔ wasn't working and wasn't being used

So the sentence becomes:
> For awhile the camera wasn't working, wasn't being used.

(Note: The third option “wasn't been working” is incorrect and should not be used.)

13. Amber _______ (are taking) _______ (is taking) pictures of the process.
Subject: Amber → singular
So the correct verb form is: is taking
✔ is taking

"are taking" is incorrect because Amber is singular.

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✔ Final Answers:

#### Part A: Underline the verbs
(Already explained above; underlining is done in text)

#### Part B: Fill in the blanks

9. We have worked a long time for the videos.
10. I am writing about it every day.
11. Kendrick is editing. are eating, are planning, is typing.
12. For awhile the camera wasn't working, wasn't being used.
*(Note: “wasn't been working” is incorrect — ignore it)*
13. Amber is taking pictures of the process.

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📝 Summary Explanation:

- Verb phrases consist of a main verb + one or more helping verbs.
- Common helping verbs: *be, have, do, will, can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, would, is, are, was, were, has, have, had, will, etc.*
- Use present continuous for actions happening now: *is/are + verb-ing*
- Use past tense or past continuous depending on context.
- Avoid incorrect forms like “wasn't been working” — it’s ungrammatical.

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