Verbphrase

A verb phrase (VP) is a syntactic unit headed by a verb. It comprises the verb itself and its dependents, including auxiliary verbs, negation, complements such as objects or clauses, and modifiers such as adverbs and prepositional phrases. The VP encodes action or state and interacts with tense, aspect, mood, and voice through its auxiliary chain and subcategorization frame.

Structure: In many theories, the VP is the maximal projection headed by V. The main verb provides the core action or state, while auxiliaries contribute tense, aspect, mood, or voice. Objects, complements, and modifiers attach to the VP as dictated by the verb’s subcategorization. In X-bar style syntax, the VP is projected as V' with V as its head, and the subject typically occupies a position outside the VP (spec-TP).

Movement and ellipsis: The VP can participate in movement for questions or focus, and VP-ellipsis allows the material to be omitted in subsequent clauses.

Examples: “She has been reading.” “They will finish the work.” “Eat the apples quickly.” These illustrate how the VP combines the main verb with auxiliaries, objects, and modifiers.

Cross-linguistic notes: Although VP composition is common across languages, the exact internal structure varies. Some languages mark tense, aspect, or mood within the verb or through auxiliaries; others rely on particles or inflection elsewhere in the clause. The concept of the VP is central to theories of syntax, where it is distinguished from the broader predicate but often constitutes its verbal core.