11+ English: Verbs

Chews is the action the puppy does, and it changes with time: yesterday the puppy chewed. Puppy and slipper are nouns.

Seems is the verb: it links Mia to sleepy and changes with time (Mia seemed sleepy). It is not an action, but it is still a verb. Mia is a noun, sleepy describes Mia, and today tells us when.

Are painting is the whole verb phrase: are is the helper and painting is the main verb. Are or painting alone is only half of it, and painting a mural adds the thing being painted.

Had melted is the whole verb phrase: the helper had plus the main verb melted. Melted alone misses the helper, the snow had adds the subject, and by noon tells us when.

Should have arrived uses two helpers, should and have, before the main verb arrived. Should have misses the main verb, have arrived misses should, and arrived yesterday adds when.

In a question, the subject can sit inside the verb phrase: Can … see, with the owls in the middle. Can alone misses the main verb, the owls see leaves out can, and see in the dark adds where.