A Verb Phrase is a group of words made up of a verb and one or more verbals and consisting of a copula alone or of a copula and a predicate attribute.

Exception

A predicate attribute of identification (§ 18) cannot be a part of a verb phrase even if it is a verbal. In the sentence, Sis business is selling automobiles, there is no verb phrase; but in the sentence, He is selling automobiles, the words is selling are a verb phrase.