Is have been a helping verb or a verb phrase?

Answer 1

A helping verb is simply a part of a verb. Italics mighthelp. I have started helping you. That sentence hadone long compound verb. Have, usually a verb, was a helping verb. The man, climbing up the mountain, had seen the pretty girl. We could change that sentence by eliminating the verb phrase, climbing up the mountain. It modifies the man. It tells us which man. It was not the man sliding down the slide. The helping verb was had. The verb was the word seen. The man had seen the pretty girl. The helping verb had nothing to do with the verb phrase.

A helping verb is part of the verb phrase. Some verbs can be both helping verbs and main verbs eg have or be.

For example:

I have been to the cinema. In this sentence haveis the helping/auxiliary verb and been (past participle of be) is the main verb.

I have a new car. In this sentence have is the main verb.

When there is more than one verb we call it a verb phrase.

Answer 2

No.

Helped

is the main verb.

Not many verbs take this pattern - verb + verb

.

In British English helped to build

is more common - verb + to + verb

.

He helped to build

the house.

Helping verbs are verbs like - am, is, are, do, have - they help form verb phrases with main verbs:

is waiting, don't like, was eaten.

Answer 3

"Have been" is a verb phrase

main verb = been

auxiliary verb = have.

Answer 4

Verb phrase.

have is the auxiliary / helping verb been is the main verb.