MLT, a compound verb is something like have been, or will be, or such, where two verbs are used together. Tenses of verbs like past perfect describe the way you are speaking the verb like will be swimming, will swim, will have swam, will have been swimming, have been swimming, and so on. I'd have to check to remember which tenses have which combinations, but that is the general idea.

Caroline, I think you categorized flying correctly.

Now I'll see if I can break down that sentence about Perry.

Quote
Perry White did not become the editor of a major metropolitan newspaper because he could yodel.
Perry White: full name-proper noun
did not become: compound verb (see, MLT) with "negative" (I'm "not" sure what those "nots" are called)
the editor: definite article followed by the noun it describes.
of-preposition
a major metropolitan newspaper-prepositional phrase made up of an indefinite article and two adjectives describing a noun
because-conjunction
because he could yodel-dependent clause with a pronoun and a compound verb

As for an adverbial phrase, I think this is what it may describe.

Swiftly flying into Metropolis , Superman searched the city for criminal activity.

I think, therefore, I get bananas.

When in doubt, think about time travel conundrums. You'll confuse yourself so you can forget what you were in doubt about.

What's the difference between ignorance, apathy, and ambivalence?
I don't know and I don't care one way or the other.