Question

What is the verb phrase in the sentence? The boys will not be at practice this afternoon. A. The boys B. at practice C. will not be D. will be

Answer 1

I would go with C. but have a look online at syntax trees and it may help your understanding a little more.

Answer 2

The word 'be' is the verb. For the future you can put the word "to" in front of a word to check if it is a verb, in this case it is 'to be'