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Helping Verbs

What are helping verbs.

• To Be : am, is, are, was, were, being, been, will be
• To Have : has, have, had, having, will have
• To Do : does, do, did, will do

Table of Contents

Examples of Helping Verbs Expressing Tense

Examples of helping verbs expressing voice, examples of helping verbs expressing mood, examples of modal auxiliary verbs, helping verbs and verb phrases, why helping verbs are important.

• Peter was singing for an hour.
• Peter is singing in the shower.
• Peter will be singing tomorrow evening.
• Bonzo had eaten the chicken before we could stop him.
• Bonzo has eaten the chicken already.
• Bonzo will have eaten it by then.
• Clara had been running before her race.
• Clara has been running every day for a month.
• Clara will have been running for an hour at that point.
• The chicken was eaten by Bonzo.
• The carp are routinely stolen by visitors.
• The wifi will be disconnected after 6 o'clock.
• Did she lose ?
• Don't breathe out until I say.
• You must be the change you wish to see in the world. (Indian politician Mahatma Gandhi)
• I don't say we all ought to misbehave , but we ought to look as if we could. (Actor Orson Welles)
• The higher we are placed, the more humbly we should walk . (Roman statesman Marcus Tullius Cicero)
• Failure is not fatal, but failure to change might be . (Sportsman John Wooden)
• Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen , and others make it happen. (Sportsman Michael Jordan)
• We shall heal our wounds, collect our dead and continue fighting. (Founding father of the People's Republic of China Mao Zedong)
• I'm impervious to charm. I can see through it. (Businesswoman Deborah Meaden)
• Well, either side could win it, or it could be a draw. (Football manager Ron Atkinson)
• They have been drinking since breakfast.
• Lee is fishing for mackerel.
• They have been drinking heavily since breakfast.
• Lee is definitely fishing for mackerel.

(Point 1) Don't write "could of," "should of," or "would of."

(point 2) expand "can't" to "cannot" not "can not.".

• You cannot open a book without learning something. (Chinese philosopher Confucius)
• Do not let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. (Sportsman John Wooden)
• I cannot do it!
• I can not do it!

(Point 3) Use "can" for ability and "may" for permission.

• She can do the splits.
• May I have a quick word with the students?
• "Can I play outside, grandma?"
• "You can, dear. You're just not allowed."
• Can I have a biscuit, grandma?
• "You can, dear. You're just not allowed one."
• Don't write "could of," "should of," or "would of."
• Expand "can't" to "cannot" not "can not" unless you're trying to be really emphatic. (Bear in mind that your readers will probably just think you've misspelt "cannot.")

This page was written by Craig Shrives .

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What is a Helping Verb? Definition, Examples of Auxiliary Verbs

Home » The Writer’s Dictionary » What is a Helping Verb? Definition, Examples of Auxiliary Verbs

Helping verb definition: Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) are English verbs that help the main verb to convey time. Helping verbs modify verb tense. For a helping verbs list, see below.

What is a Helping Verb / What is an Auxiliary Verb?

What are helping verbs? A helping verb does just that—it “helps” the main verb to create a different verb tense. The helping verb may also help a main verb to show possibility or potential.

A verb only becomes a helping verb when it is paired with a main verb.

The most common English helping verb is “to be.” Conjugated forms of “to be” that create a helping verb include: is, am, was, were, being, been.

Helping Verb Examples

Here is an example of “to be” used as a main verb:

Here is an example of “to be” used as a helping verb:

• I am going to the market today.

In this example, “to go” is the main verb. When the helping verb “to be” is added to the sentence, the conjugated verb phrase “am going” creates the present progressive verb tense. The helping verb “to be” ( am in this sentence) must be used to make this verb tense.

List of Helping Verbs

Here is a list of helping verbs:

• to be (can be conjugated)
• to have (can be conjugated)
• to do (can be conjugated)

What is the Purpose of Helping/Auxiliary Verbs?

• I am going to the market today. (progressive)
• The novel was written. (passive)
• She has owned three cars prior to purchasing a truck.
• I have eaten too much today.

“To do” may also be conjugated and when combined with a main verb creates emphasis.

• I do believe in magic.

The remaining helping verbs listed above help create conditions.

• Dan can run.
• Dan could run.
• Dan may run .
• Dan might run .
• Dan must run .
• Dan shall run.
• Dan will run .
• Dan would run.

Helping verbs can be identified when they are paired with main verbs.

To locate a helping verb in your sentence, look immediately before you main verb to see if one is before it. For example,

• Dan can run. (“can” is helping verb).
• I am going to the market today. (“am” is a helping verb).

To see if a sentence includes a helping verb, remove the helping verb. If the sentence still makes sense (with slight main verb conjugation), then a helping verb exists in the sentence.

Primary Helping Verbs

These verbs include:

Primary Helping Verb Examples

Examples of primary helping verbs in use:

• I have three dogs.
• She has a sore back.
• I did my assignment yesterday.
• He does gymnastics daily.

Modal Helping Verbs

What are modal helping verbs? Modal helping verbs (also called modal auxiliary verbs) are helping verbs that must be used in a verb phrase (helping verb plus main verb) in order to be grammatically correct.

Modal Verb List

Examples of Modal Verbs

Examples of modal helping verbs in use:

• Dan can run. (“can” is the helping verb).
• I might go to the market today. (“might” is the helping verb).      

Helping Verbs and Verb Phrases

• “was” (helping verb) plus “walking” (main verb) creates the verb phrase
• “might” (helping verb) plus “attend” (main verb) creates the verb phrase
• “must” (helping verb) plus “retain” (main verb) creates the verb phrase

Summary: What are Helping Verbs?

Define helping verb: the definition of helping verbs is quite simple: they are a set of verbs used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs. For examples of helping verbs, see above.

Regarding helping verbs use, remember:

• Helping verbs create different verb tenses or show condition.
• Helping verbs are almost always paired with a main verb (exception: primary helping verbs).
• Helping verbs paired with main verbs create verb phrases.

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What are helping verbs & verb phrases?

• Helping Verbs & Verb Phrases

Helping verbs (auxiliary verbs) do just what their name implies. They  help  the main verb in the sentence by telling more about the verb's tense, mood, and voice. 

Main Verbs, Helping Verbs, & Verb Phrases

There are many, many verbs that can function as main verbs ( walk, run, think, say, sleep, seem etc.), but there are only a handful of verbs that can function as helping verbs.

List of Helping Verbs

be, am, is, are, was, 

were, been, being, have, has, had,

could, should, would, may, might,

must, shall, can, will, do, did, does, having

When we put one or more helping/auxiliary verb with a main verb, we get what is called a verb phrase. 

(Every sentence needs to have at least one  main verb , but not every sentence needs a helping/auxiliary verb.)

Before we move on, I need to tell you something important. Are you ready? Good! The verbs on that list above  can function as helping verbs. That wording is very important because some of those words can also function as main verbs. Let's look at an example using the word was .

Sometimes, the helping and main verbs are separated by other words. This often happens when we ask questions . With questions, the auxiliary verb tends to come at the beginning of the sentence, and the main verb comes later.

Words like never, not, and the contraction n't are not part of the verb. They are adverbs .

Psst! Have you ever heard of modal verbs? Modals are a type of helping verb that show the speaker's attitude about what they are communicating. 

Verb Phrases Act as Verbs

This seems obvious, right? They are made up of verbs, so what else would they be acting as?

The point here is that they are made up of multiple words and all of the words come together to act as one  part of speech , a verb. 

The cheesecake  might be exploding .

Might be exploding  is telling us what the cheesecake is  doing . It's acting as a single unit: a verb.

Did  you  call  Owen?

Did call  is asking what you  did . It's acting as a single unit: a verb.

Owen  has become  a great cook.

Has become is telling us Owen's state of being . It's acting as a single unit: a verb.

Sentence diagrams  can help us see that verb phrases function as verbs. Sentence diagrams are pictures of sentences that show us how parts of a sentence are related. They make the relationships between words, phrases, and clauses visual.

Verb phrases are diagrammed in the verb slot of the sentence diagram. They go on a horizontal line right after the subject. All of the words in the verb phrase go in the same slot because all of the words are coming together to function as the verb!

Remember that verb phrases are made up of at least one helping verb and a main verb.

Let's look at an example sentence diagram with an actual sentence. 

She must have jumped across the stream.

Must and have are helping verbs, and jumped is a main verb. These three verbs together form a verb phrase. 

Don't Get Tricked

The word of  never acts as a helping verb, so would of, could o f , and should of are incorrect. They are not verb phrases.

The correct versions are  would have, could have and should have or would've, could've, and should've .

You can learn more about this mistake here . 

There you have it! Now you're a pro at identifying and understanding helping verbs! 

If you'd like to teach or learn grammar the easy way—with sentence diagrams—check out our  Get Smart Grammar Program .

It starts from the very beginning and teaches you grammar and sentence diagramming in easy, bite-size lessons. 

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[Get Smart]  is easy to use, and any time I can get kids and teens interested and saying, "This is fun!" when we diagram, I'm thrilled!

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Helping Verbs (Auxiliary Verbs) List, Rules and Examples

Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs ! What is an auxiliary verb? What is a helping verb? Learn helping verbs list with grammar rules and examples to improve your English.

Auxiliary Verbs/ Helping Verbs

Auxiliary verb definition.

What are Auxiliary Verbs?

These verbs are also called Helping Verbs, as they ‘help’ the main verb to denote the actions of the subject. They help in making compound tenses of the main verb and also help in making negative statements, questions and passive voice statements.

Helping Verbs List

Auxiliary verb: be.

The verb ‘be’ can be used as an auxiliary and a full verb, we can distinguish between the two uses as the auxiliary ‘be’ will always have another main verb coming after it in a sentence. ‘Be’ is an irregular verb with many different forms according to the different tenses . Please refer to the Irregular Verbs list to avoid confusion.

Progressive Tense Use of Be:

In progressive tense sentences made with ‘be’, we always use the ‘-ing’ suffixed version of the main verb.

Passive Voice Use of Be:

Using passive voice means when we want to put the emphasis on the object, to which the action is being done instead of on the subject or not include the subject at all.

• The dishes are washed .

Here the dishes are the object that received the action of washing but no subject is mentioned to show ‘who’ was washing the dishes.

Auxiliary Verb: HAVE

The verb ‘have’ can also be used as full verb or a helping verb. The way to differentiate between them is that if ‘have’ is used as an auxiliary verb, then it has to be followed by a main verb as well. The verb ‘have’ is used to make compound tenses in active and passive voices, and also used in the making of negative sentences and questions. It is an irregular verb that changes form according to tense.

Using ‘Have’ in Compound Tenses:

When we use ‘have’ in simple tense with an active voice, we use the ‘-ed’ suffix ed form of the main verb unless it is an irregular verb. While for progressive tenses we use the ‘-ing’ suffixed form of the main verb. Have is used for only two compound tenses in the passive voice.

Negative Sentences and Questions:

While making negative sentences and questions with ‘have’ as an auxiliary verb, we need to be careful to put ‘have’ before the other verb otherwise ‘have’ becomes the main verb of the sentence.

•  She does not have a cake.

In this sentence ‘have’ is the main verb while ‘does not’ becomes the auxiliary verb.

• She has not got a cake.

In this sentence ‘have’ is the helping verb for the main verb which is ‘got’.

• Has she got cake?

Here the main verb is ‘got’ and the helping verb is ‘have’ as it comes before the main verb.

• Does she have cake?

In this sentence the main verb is ‘have’ as it comes after the helping verb ‘does’.

Auxiliary Verb: WILL

The verb ‘will’ is the only auxiliary verb that can never be a main verb. It is always used as an auxiliary to make future tenses and negative sentences. Also, it remains the same throughout every tense and person.

Future Tense Use of ‘Will’:

Negative Sentences:

In negative sentences, the verb ‘will’ does not change its form when used with ‘not’. But it does form the contraction ‘won’t’ that is equally correct to use depending upon the language and flow of the sentence.

• She will not have cake. = She won’t have cake.

As ‘will’ can only be an auxiliary verb, both the sentences are grammatically correct.

Auxiliary Verb: DO

The helping verb ‘do’ can also act as a full verb only in positive sentences. When do is used in a negative sentence, it is an auxiliary verb. The helping verb ‘do’ is also used to make questions for most verbs except other auxiliary verbs and the modal verbs. “Do” is an irregular verb that changes its form according to the tense.

When ‘do’ is used to make a sentence, we can only ask the question in the simple tense. For other tenses, we have to use other verbs whether main or auxiliary.

Places Where ‘Do’ is Not Used:

There are certain instances where the auxiliary verb ‘do’ is not used for negative sentences or questions. The following table tells the different reasons and instances where and why ‘do’ is not used.

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal auxiliary verbs never change form. You can not add an “ ed” , “ ing” , or “ s” ending to these words. They have only one  form.

Can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would…

You can use modal auxiliary verbs in these patterns:

• Modal  +  Main Verb
• Modal  +  Be  +  Present Participle
• Modal  +  Have  +  Past Participle

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Helping Verbs in English: List & Examples

What are helping verbs?

Helping verbs, also called “auxiliary verbs,” are verbs that don’t have a specific definition by themselves, but instead “help” the main verb of the sentence.

A lot of English learners make mistakes with helping verbs in English, so here’s a complete guide to using this type of verb!

Helping Verbs List

Basic helping verbs:

• do / does / did
• be (being, been, am, is, are,  was,  were, will be)
• have / has / had

Modal helping verbs:

• can / could
• may / might
• will / won’t / shall

Learn essential English grammar!

Basic helping verbs, helping verb #1 – do / does / did.

Use a form of the word “DO” to ask questions:

• Do  you like ice cream?
• Where  do  they live?
• What time  does  the bank open?
• Does  Bill have a dog?
• Did  you go to the party?
• Why  did  she go home early yesterday?

Use  DO  with I, you, we, and they (in the present).

Use  DOES  with he, she, and it (in the present).

Use  DID  for all forms in the past.

Advanced tip:  When asking questions in the past with WHY, WHERE, and HOW + DID, we often shorten the word “did” in spoken English.

• Why’ d  she go home early yesterday? = Why did…
• Where’ d  you buy that T-shirt? = Where did…
• How’ d  he finish his homework so fast? = How did…

Use  DON’T, DOESN’T,  and  DIDN’T  to form negative statements:

• I  don’t  like ice cream.
• They  don’t  live in this neighborhood.
• The bank  doesn’t  open on Saturdays.
• Bill  doesn’t  have a dog.
• We  didn’t  go to the party.
• She  didn’t  have any more work to do, so she went home.

Avoid this common error:  Using NO or NOT as the helping verb.

• I  no  like ice cream. I  not  like ice cream. I  don’t  like ice cream.
• We  no  go to the party. We  not  go to the party. We  didn’t  go to the party.

Do  you like ice cream? I  don’t  like ice cream.

Helping Verb #2 – BE

Use a form of the word BE to make the present, past, and future continuous tenses:

Present Continuous: AM, IS, ARE + -ing form

• I ‘m  studying English.
• He ‘s  talking on the phone.
• We ‘re  having dinner right now.

Past Continuous: WAS, WERE + -ing form

• He  was  singing in the shower.
• We  were  driving home from work.

Future Continuous: WILL BE + -ing form

• Tomorrow morning I ‘ll be  teaching an English class.
• Next month we ‘ll be  traveling to Europe.
• Ted  will be  speaking at the conference in July.

FORMING QUESTIONS WITH HELPING VERBS

When you ask a question in the present, past, or future continuous, the word order changes and the helping verb comes BEFORE the subject:

• Is he  talking on the phone? He’s  talking on the phone.
• Were you  driving home from work? We were  driving home from work.
• Will Ted  be speaking at the conference? Ted will  be speaking at the conference.

Finally, use a form of the word BE to make the passive voice.  Click here for a lesson on the passive voice.

What are you doing? I ‘m having dinner.

Helping Verb #3 – HAVE

Use a form of the verb HAVE to make perfect tenses:

Present perfect: Use HAVE (with I, you, we, they) and HAS (with he, she, it)

• I ‘ve  finished my homework.
• She  has  just left the office.
• Bob and Karen  have  already spoken to me.

Advanced tip:  In spoken English, we often shorten “he has” and “she has” to “he’s” and “she’s”:

• She’s  (she has) just left the office.
• He’s  (he has) borrowed my textbook.

Past perfect: Use HAD in all cases

• He said he  had  bought the tickets.
• We  had  hoped to finish early, but we didn’t.

Advanced tip:  In spoken English, we often shorten “had” to ‘d

• He said he’ d  bought the tickets.
• We’ d  hoped to finish early, but we didn’t.

Future perfect: Use WILL HAVE in all cases

• By this time tomorrow, I  will have  finished this project.
• By the time I’m 30, I  will have  traveled to over a dozen countries.

Again, when you ask a question with HAVE, the word order changes and the helping verb comes BEFORE the subject:

• Have you  finished your homework? I’ve  finished my homework
• Has she  left the office? She has  just left the office.
• Have Bob and Karen  spoken to you? Bob and Karen have  spoken to me.

Learn more about  English verb tenses here!

I ‘ve finished my homework.

Modal Helping Verbs

Now that you know how to use the basic helping verbs in English, let’s learn the modal helping verbs. Modal helping verbs modify the main verb by expressing necessity or possibility.

Use CAN / COULD to express ABILITY / POSSIBILITY:

I can swim. (I have the ability to swim)

We could go to the movies tonight. (It’s possible for us to go to the movies tonight)

You can’t enter the restricted area. (It’s not possible for you to enter that area)

He tried to call me, but he couldn’t get through. (It wasn’t possible for him to speak to me)

You can’t enter this area.

Use MAY / MIGHT to express “MAYBE”

We might go camping this weekend, depending on the weather. (Maybe we will go camping, maybe we won’t)

I may go to the gym later, if I get off from work early. (Maybe I will go, maybe I won’t)

Click here for more details on the differences between MAY and MIGHT.

We  might  go camping this weekend, depending on the weather.

Use SHOULD to express a RECOMMENDATION / SUGGESTION

If your head hurts, you should go to the doctor. (I suggest that you go to the doctor)

He should see that movie – he’d like it. (I recommend that he see the movie)

Use MUST to express NECESSITY (something that is required)

You must arrive on time for the exam, otherwise they won’t let you take it. (It is necessary to arrive on time)

Advanced tip: In spoken English, it’s much more common to use “need to” and “have to” and “got to” (informal) for requirements instead of MUST.

• You have to arrive on time for the exam.
• You need to arrive on time for the exam.
• You gotta (got to) arrive on time for the exam. – Informal – spoken English only!

Use WILL / WON’T to express CERTAINTY about the future

I ‘ll help you write the report. (I promise to help you write it)

That software won’t work – it’s not compatible with the computer. (It’s certain that the software will not work)

SHALL is similar to WILL, but it is typically only used in very formal English.

Use WOULD to express a HYPOTHETICAL / IMAGINARY situation

• If I were a millionaire, I would give away a lot of my money to charity.
• Dana would study English if she had more free time.

In spoken English, WOULD is often shortened to ‘d.

If I were a millionaire, I would …

Asking Questions with Modal Helping Verbs

When you ask a question, the word order changes and the helping verb comes BEFORE the subject:

I can swim. Can you swim?

Could we go to a movie tonight? Yes, we could.

You should see that movie. Should I see that movie?

I’ ll help you. Will you help me?

I would give away a lot of my money. What would you do?

Now you know how to use basic helping verbs and modal helping verbs in English! Can you make your own example sentences with each of these helping verbs?

• Learn more: Should have, Could have, Would have
• Learn more: Modal verbs for deduction
• Learn more: State verbs and action verbs

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Module 3, Verbs: Types, Tenses, and Moods, Lesson 4:

Helping verbs, module {moduleid}, {moduletitle}.

Definition: All sentences need at least one main verb; however, certain tenses , sentence structures, and ideas require a helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb ), which assists the main verb to form a complete thought. Without helping verbs, certain ideas would be impossible to express, and our speech and writing would be dull and incomplete. Remove the helping verb, and you might end up sounding like a caveman (or woman)! Try removing the helping verb from any of the examples in this lesson and you'll get the idea.

Verb Phrases

Helping verbs and main verbs combine to form verb phrases . The main verb is always the last verb in the phrase.

Helping Verb + Main Verb = Verb Phrase

Common Helping Verbs

Below you will learn about the most common helping verbs and how they're used. You'll notice that many helping verbs are used in specific verb tenses. The tense of a verb tells us the time period when an action occurs, such as in the present, past, or future. You'll learn more about this concept in Lesson 8 .

To be: am , is , are , was , were , be , being , been

Progressive Tenses Earlier, you learned that to be is a linking verb, but in many situations, it's a helping verb. For example, it's used in the progressive tenses , which combine the forms of to be with verbs ending in -ing .

Present Progressive: I am writ ing this sentence. am + writing = verb phrase Past Progressive: It was rain ing , so we couldn't play outside. was + raining = verb phrase

Passive Voice The verb to be is also used in the passive voice , which combines the forms of to be with verbs ending in -ed or -en . These verbs are called participles .

Make sure all your assignments are complet ed by Thursday. are + completed = verb phrase This sentence was writt en . was + written = verb phrase

To have: have, has, had, having

Perfect Tenses The verb to have combines with verbs ending in -ed and -en to form the perfect tenses. (They're not really "perfect" tenses; that's just their name.)

Present Perfect: It has rain ed so many days in a row that I can't remember the last time the sun was out! has + rained = verb phrase Past Perfect: We didn't realize the pickpocket had stol en our wallets until she was already long gone. had + stolen = verb phrase

To do: do, does, did

Questions Unlike to be and to have , to do isn't used as part of any particular verb tense—but it still has several important jobs. One of them is to form questions. You'll notice that in questions, a noun or pronoun splits the verb phrase.

Do you know what time it is? do + know = verb phrase you = pronoun

Negative Statements To do also helps to form not statements, which are called negative statements . In this type of sentence, the word not splits the verb phrase.

I do not know what time it is because I lost my cell phone. do + know = verb phrase not = adverb

Emphasis Finally, you can use to do as an emphatic verb to help clarify or add intensity to the main verb.

Yes, I do know your Uncle Joe.

There may have been confusion about whether you know Uncle Joe or not. The helping verb do is used to make it crystal clear that you know him.

I did buy milk yesterday.

Here, to do is in the past tense. The person making the statement is clarifying that he or she already bought milk.

Modals (also called modal auxiliaries): can, could, may, might, shall, will, would, should, must

These verbs express ability, possibility, permission, intention, obligation, and necessity.

I can play basketball. I am able to do it. I could play basketball. It is a possibility that I will be able to. I may play basketball. This can mean two things: either I have permission to play, or it is a possibility that I will play. I might play basketball. It is a possibility. You can use might instead of may to suggest that the possibility is more remote or uncertain. I shall play basketball. Shall is more common in British English and is used instead of will for the first person ( I shall , you will ). It is used to express future actions. I will play basketall. It is my intention in the future. I would play basketball. It is possible that I'll play under certain conditions. I should play basketball. I have an obligation to do it. I must play basketball. It is a necessity.

Common Challenges with Helping Verbs

Challenge 1: questions.

Watch out for questions. Often, the subject of the question is located between the helping verb and the main verb.

Are you coming to my party? are + coming = verb phrase you = pronoun Do you prefer chocolate cake or white cake? do + prefer = verb phrase you = pronoun

Are you coming to my party? You are coming to my party.

Challenge 2: Adverbs

Sometimes the verb phrase can be interrupted by an adverb. Be careful not to include the adverb in the verb phrase. Only words on the "Approved List of Helping Verbs" can be helping verbs.

You are not coming to my party. are + coming = verb phrase not = adverb I can definitely go to your party. can + go = verb phrase definitely = adverb

Practice What You've Learned

Definition and Examples of Helping Verbs in English

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• An Introduction to Punctuation
• Ph.D., Rhetoric and English, University of Georgia
• M.A., Modern English and American Literature, University of Leicester
• B.A., English, State University of New York

In English grammar , a helping verb is a  verb that comes before the main verb (or lexical verb ) in a sentence. Together the helping verb and the main verb form a verb phrase . (A helping verb is also known as an  auxiliary verb .)

A helping verb always stands in front of a main verb. For example, in the sentence, "Shyla can ride her sister's bicycle," the helping verb can stands in front of  ride , which is the main verb.

More than one helping verb can be used in a sentence. For example, in the sentence, "Shyla could have walked to school ," there are two helping verbs: could  and have .

Sometimes a word (such as not ) separates the helping verb from the main verb. For example, in the sentence, "Shyla does not want a new bicycle," the negative particle not comes between the helping verb does and the main verb want .

Helping Verbs in English

• am, is, are
• be, been, being
• do, does, did
• have, has, had
• may, can, must, might
• shall, will
• should, would, could

Examples and Observations

"[Some] helping verbs (forms of have, be , and do ) may also function as main verbs. In addition, nine  modal verbs ( can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would ) function only as helping verbs. Have, be , and do change form to indicate tense; the nine modals do not," according to Writing That Works.  

Donkey in Shrek

"We can stay up late, swapping manly stories."

Ralph Waldo Emerson

"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."

Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

"Life has taught us that love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction."

Isaac Bashevis Singer

"A pigeon landed nearby. It hopped on its little red feet and pecked into something that might have been a dirty piece of stale bread or dried mud."

Stinky Pete

"I have always hated those upstart space toys."

Functions of Helping Verbs

According to the book Basic Grammar and Usage , "Helping verbs indicate shades of meaning that cannot be expressed by a main verb alone. Consider the differences in meaning in the following sentences, in which the helping verbs have been italicized:

I may marry you soon. I must marry you soon. I should marry you soon. I can marry you soon.

As you can see, changing the helping verb changes the meaning of the entire sentence. These differences in meaning could not be expressed simply by using the main verb, marry , alone."

More Functions of Helping Verbs

According to grammar expert C. Edward Good, "Helping verbs...enable us to express various conditions: If he could type, he would write the next great American novel. Helping verbs help us express permission: You may go to the movie. Helping verbs help us express one's ability to do something: She can play golf extremely well. Helping verbs enable us to ask questions: Do you think he cares? Will he win the race?"

How to Use Helping Verbs to Change Active Voice to Passive Voice

Susan J. Behrens explains in Grammar: A Pocket Guide , "If the active sentence is in the past tense , then the full verb in the passive version will be as well: Monica groomed the poodle → The poodle was groomed by Monica.

1. Monica moves to the end of the sentence; add by , so the prepositional phrase is by Monica . 2. The poodle moves to the front into the subject slot. 3. Helping verb be is added in front of the main verb. 4. Past tense marker jumps off groomed and onto helping verb be . 5. Helping verb agrees with new subject ( third person singular ) = was . 6. Main verb groomed converts to its past participle form = groomed ."

Behrens, Susan J. Grammar: A Pocket Guide . Routledge, 2010.

Choy, Penelope and Dorothy Goldbart Clark. Basic Grammar and Usage. 7th ed, Thomson, 2006.

Good, C. Edward, A Grammar Book for You and I—Oops, Me!  Capital Books, 2002.

Singer, Isaac Bashevis. "The Key." The New Yorker , 1970.

Stinky Pete. Prospector in Toy Story 2 , 1999.

• A Guide to Lexical Verbs
• active verb (action verb)
• What Are Auxiliary Verbs?
• Verb Phrase
• Understanding the Types of Verbs in English Grammar
• How to Use a Nonfinite Verb in English
• Definition and Examples of Primary Verbs in English
• Definition and Examples of Function Words in English
• Interrogative Sentences
• 10 Types of Verbs
• Constituent: Definition and Examples in Grammar
• How To Use Auxiliary Verbs in Spanish
• Predicators or Main Verbs in English Grammar
• 100 Key Terms Used in the Study of Grammar
• Definition and Examples of a Predicate
• What is a Question?

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Helping Verbs and Modals

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Helping verbs are used in a verb phrase (that is, with a second verb) to show tense or form a question or a negative.

Helping verbs are always followed by a second verb, and they show the perfect verb tenses, continuous/progressive verb tenses, and passive voice.

To show tense

The sentence pattern will be:

• Subject (noun, pronoun, or noun phrase)
• Helping verb
• The rest of the sentence (adj, adv, noun, prepositional phrase, etc.)

To form a question

The sentence structure will be:

There are three categories for helping verbs: “Do/be/have”, one-word modals, and two-word modals.

These help other verbs make questions, negatives, and some verb tenses. Remember: Do, be, and have are helping verbs only when they are used with a second verb.

Do is a helping verb when it is used to indicate questions, negatives, and emphasis.

Be is a helping verb when it is used to form the continuous/progressive tense or to show passive voice.

HAVE is a helping verb when it is used to show the perfect verb tenses, or used to form a question.

These sentences are in question form. Do/Does/Did are used as helping verbs with Have to form these questions.

• Do you have a car?
• Does he have a car?
• Did he have a car before?

Emphasis with Do

To respond to a statement like, “You don’t want to go to the park,” you may want to reply with great emphasis. Situations like that are perfect for using Do/Does/Did to indicate you really mean something.

In these sentences, Do/Does/Did are used with the verb Want.

• I do want to go to the park.
• He does want to go to the park.
• They really did want to go to the park.

Negatives with Do

Do/Does/Did are used as helping verbs and the word Not to form a negative. In these sentences, they again are used with Want.

• I do not want to go to the zoo.
• He does not want to go to the zoo.
• They did not want to go to the zoo.

Continuous tense with Be

These sentences use Am/Was/Will Be (forms of the verb Be) to form the continuous verb tense with the verb Helping.

• I am helping Diane right now.
• I was helping Diane when George paged me.
• I will be helping Diane when George comes home.

Passive voice with Be

These sentences use Is/Was/Will Be with the verb Canceled to show passive voice.

• The picnic is being canceled because of rain.
• The picnic was canceled because of rain.
• The picnic will be canceled because of rain.

Perfect tense with Have

These sentences use Have/Had with the verb Studied to show the perfect tense.

• I have studied French for two years.
• I had studied French for two years before I went to Paris.
• I will have studied French for three years in August.

Questions with Have

Have is used with the verb Seen to make a question.

• Have you seen that new movie yet?

Modals are a special kind of helping verb, used to show possibility, probability, and necessity. They:

• Do not show tense
• Do not follow subject/verb agreement
• Do not add an “-s” in the third person singular (he, she, it)
• Are not conjugated

Like other helping verbs, modals are always followed by a second verb. But the second verb follows a different conjugation pattern if a modal is present. The second verb can never add “-s,” “-es,” “-ed,” or “-ing.” It also cannot be in the infinitive form (“to …”) or in the gerund form (“…-ing”).

When using modals, the sentence structure will be:

• Modal (should, would, could, may, might, etc.)

The Modal page of this guide includes more information on modals, including sentence examples.

Grammar and Vocabulary

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Introduction to Helping Verbs

by Rami M. Amin | Jan 7, 2024 | Grammar | 0 comments

Let’s talk about helping verbs. These words are like little helpers for the main verbs in sentences. They help us show when something happens, how someone feels about it, and how to make sentences ask a question or say no.

What Are Helping Verbs? Helping verbs work with the main verb to add more information. There are two kinds: auxiliary verbs and modal verbs. Auxiliary verbs are “be,” “do,” and “have.” They help us create different times or ways of doing something. For example, “be” helps in sentences like “I am running,” showing something is happening now. “Have” is used for things done in the past but still important now, like “She has eaten.”

Modal verbs include “can,” “could,” “may,” “might,” “must,” “shall,” “should,” “will,” and “would.” They show if something is necessary, possible, allowed, or if someone can do it. For example, “Can I leave early?” asks for permission, and “You must finish your homework” shows something that needs to be done.

Why Are They Important? For anyone learning English, knowing how to use these helper verbs makes your speaking and writing clearer. They let you share more about what you’re talking about, like when it happened or how sure you are about it.

Examples to Know

• Using “be” for actions happening now: “She is walking to school.”
• Using “have” for things that happened but matter now: “They have completed their assignment.”
• Using “do” for questions or saying no: “Do you understand?” or “She does not like coffee.”
• Modal verbs for what you can do or what’s allowed: “I can speak three languages.” or “May I open the window?”

Using Them in Sentences When you use helping verbs, you add them to the main verb to make sentences. They help ask questions (“Are you going to the market?”), say no (“She does not know the answer.”), show ongoing actions (“They are playing football.”), or finished actions (“I have finished my homework.”).

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Wrong time: Saying “She is go to school yesterday.” Instead, say “She went to school yesterday.”
• Using too many helpers: Saying “Do you can speak French?” Just say “Can you speak French?”
• Mixing them up: Saying “He doesn’t goes to the gym.” It should be “He doesn’t go to the gym.”

Tips for Learning

• Practice making sentences with helping verbs.
• Learn from real sentences in books or from listening to how people speak.
• Use apps to practice grammar.
• Get feedback from teachers or friends who are good at English.
• Use tricks to remember them, like linking each modal verb with its use.
• Talk and practice with others learning English.

Practice Makes Perfect Try writing your sentences or speaking with friends using different helping verbs. The more you use them, the better you’ll get at making your English clear and expressing exactly what you mean.

• “They ___ (to have) finished their project by now.”
• “___ (to do) you think it will rain today?”
• “I ___ (can) swim across the lake when I was younger.”
• “The book ___ (to be) written by a famous author.”
• “We ___ (must) complete our homework before going out.”
• “He ___ (to do) not like to play football.”
• “You ___ (would) go to the concert if you had a ticket.”
• “They ___ (to have) been living in Paris for three years.”
• “___ (to do) she know how to speak Spanish?”
• Take a simple sentence and reform it into different tenses or voices using helping verbs. For example, “He plays guitar” can be transformed into “He is playing guitar” or “He has played guitar.”
• Reformed: “He is playing guitar.”
• Reformed: “He has played guitar.”
• Reformed: “He will be playing guitar.”
• Reformed: “They are watching a movie this weekend.”
• Reformed: “They have watched a movie every weekend.”
• Reformed: “They will have watched a movie by the end of this weekend.”
• Reformed: “She is writing a letter to her friend.”
• Reformed: “She has written a letter to her friend.”
• Reformed: “She will have written a letter to her friend by tomorrow.”
• Reformed: “The cat is sleeping in the afternoon.”
• Reformed: “The cat has slept in the afternoon.”
• Reformed: “The cat will be sleeping in the afternoon.”

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Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs

English is a complex language, and understanding the full range of its grammatical concepts can be daunting. One important concept that learners must master involves helping verbs or auxiliary verbs .

This article will discuss helping verbs or auxiliary verbs, examining their nuances and role within the sentence structure. A thorough understanding of this topic is necessary for any learner if they are going to master the English language fully.

What are helping verbs or auxiliary verbs?

What are Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs?

Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, are words that come before the main verb in a sentence and provide additional meaning. They can indicate tense, aspect, or mood. Common helping verbs include “be” (am, is, are), “have” (has, had), “do ” (does, did), and “will” (shall, should).

Auxiliary Verb Tenses and Aspects

In grammar, tenses express the time of an action or event. Auxiliary verbs are used to indicate the tense of a sentence. The three tenses of verbs are present tense, past tense, and future tense. Meanwhile, aspect refers to the time reference when an action is completed or perfected (perfective) and progresses or repeated (imperfective). Simple, progressive or continuous, perfect, and perfect progressive or continuous are the four aspects of verbs.

Refer to the table below on how auxiliary verbs are used to express tense and aspects:

Here are examples of auxiliary verbs expressing tenses and aspects in sentences:

• Simple Present Tense: My brother is at the mall.
• Present Continuous Tense: He will be going to the mall.
• Present Perfect Tense: He will have gone to the mall by the time you get here.
• Present Perfect Continuous Tense: He has been going to the mall since last week.
• Simple Past Tense: My family was at the park.
• Past Continuous Tense: My family was walking around the park.
• Past Perfect Tense: My family had already left the park when I arrived.
• Past Perfect Continuous Tense: My family had been walking around the park for hours.
• Simple Future Tense: We will attend the New Year’s day celebration.
• Future Continuous Tense: We will be celebrating at midnight.
• Future Perfect Tense: We will have celebrated the New Year by then.
• Future Perfect Continuous Tense: We will have been celebrating for hours by the time it’s over.

Auxiliary Verb Moods

In addition to expressing tense and aspect, auxiliary verbs can also be used to indicate mood. Mood is the attitude of the speaker toward what they are saying. English has five moods: indicative, imperative, interrogative, conditional, and subjunctive.

Refer to the table below for the meaning and examples of the five moods of verbs:

Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs Rules

There are three groups of auxiliary verbs: the be verbs, do verbs, and have verbs. Each has distinct functions and rules.

Rules for Be Verbs

Helping verbs and linking verbs share the “be verbs” in English. The be verbs, such as am, is, are, was, and were, express states of being. Aside from expressing the tenses of the verb, helping verbs contribute to forming the different verb aspects.

One question learners often ask is: how to differentiate linking verbs from auxiliary verbs? The answer is simple: linking verbs are used to describe a state of being, while auxiliary verbs are used to express the tense and aspect of the verb. Since linking verbs shows a state of being, an adjective or subject complement comes after it (e.g., He is handsome .). In contrast, auxiliary verbs are followed by the main verb (e.g., He is going to your house.).

Rules for Do Verbs

The “do verbs” are: do, does, and did. “Do” is the base form of this set, “does” is its simple present tense form, and “did” is its past tense. Additionally, “does” is only used when the subject is singular, and “did” can refer to both singular and plural subjects.

The functions and rules for “do verbs are summarized in this table:

Rules for Have Verbs

The “have verbs” are have, has, and had. “Have” is the base form of this set, “has” is its simple present tense form, and “had” is their past tense. Additionally, “has” is only used when the subject is singular, and “had” can refer to both singular and plural subjects. The “have verbs” are also paired with other auxiliary verbs to show aspects of verbs.

Another use of “have verbs” is forming affirmative and negative interrogative and indicative sentences. Here are examples of that function:

Examples of Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs

Here are fifteen examples of auxiliary verbs used in sentences:

1. I am writing a letter.

2. She has been studying for hours.

3. We had been waiting for the bus since morning.

4. Will you be joining us?

5. Does she not know the answer?

6. The farmers will be harvesting soon.

7. Had they been warned about the storm?

8. Celine did not buy the dress.

9. They had been discussing the issue for weeks.

10. Have they not seen the movie yet?

11. I have been studying for the test all day.

12. Ian avoids traveling so does his wife.

13. Toni wishes she were taller.

14. My daughter doesn’t like to swim; neither do I.

15. Nora has been practicing the piano for years.

Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs Exercises with Answers

Choose which among the auxiliary verbs in the parentheses completes the sentences below:

1. The students (are, were, have, is) discussing the project when I last checked on them

2. (Do, Does, Did) your brother like to play chess?

3. She (has, had, have) been crying since yesterday.

4. We (had, have, has) not seen each other for years.

5. (Do, Does, Did) your parents know about the plan?

6. She (do not, have not, does not) understand why he left.

7. They (have, had, has) been living in this city since they were kids.

8. If I (am, was, is, were) the president, I would prioritize that everyone has access to education.

9. Lian really likes to read novels and so (is, does, do, did) her cousin.

10. After the fire, they (had, have, has) to rebuild the house.

1. The students were discussing the project when I last checked on them

2. Does your brother like to play chess?

3. She has been crying since yesterday.

4. We have not seen each other for years.

5. Did your parents know about the plan?

6. She does not understand why he left.

7. They have been living in this city since they were kids.

8. If I were the president, I would prioritize that everyone has access to education.

9. Lian really likes to read novels, and so does her cousin.

10. After the fire, they had to rebuild the house.

Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs List

Advice for esl students & english language learners.

English grammar, like any language, is a complex subject to study. Understanding and applying grammar rules can be challenging, especially for English language learners. However, your success in learning the language is dependent on your learning plan.

First, know that there are different levels of language proficiency. Knowing your status allows you to align it with your study materials and learning strategy. To keep your motivation, select beginner-friendly materials instead of university textbooks when starting. In doing so, you will feel less intimidated by the topics you should learn.

Second, focus on the basics: nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs. Learn how to use them correctly in sentences and understand their meaning. It will help you build a strong foundation for your English language learning journey. Divide those topics into subtopics and learn each concept and rule one by one.

Third, find a reliable source of learning materials. Online resources such as websites, blogs, and YouTube videos are mostly free. LillyPad’s blog, for example, is a great resource for English language learning materials. Additionally, you can find books and other printed materials in your local library or bookstore.

Fourth, practice speaking the language with native speakers or other English learners. It will help you understand how to use the language correctly in conversations and improve your pronunciation.

Finally, be patient with yourself and don’t give up. Learning a language takes time and effort, so set realistic goals and celebrate your achievements along the way.

Additionally, it is important for learners to properly understand linking verbs and modal verbs .

Common Mistakes Made by English Learners

Learning a new language can be difficult, and English is no exception. Even experienced English learners make mistakes when speaking or writing in the language. Here are some of the most common mistakes made by English learners:

Linking Verbs Learning Strategies and Best Practices

A holistic approach to learning a language makes it easier to understand and remember. The five macro skills, reading, listening, viewing, speaking, and writing, should be developed and used in the learning process for better language acquisition. The table below lists activities you can do when learning linking verbs:

Helping Verbs or Auxiliary Verbs Frequently Asked Questions

Aside from memorizing the list of auxiliary verbs, you can also identify them by looking at the sentence structure. Auxiliary verbs follow a main verb which helps to form tenses, aspects, and moods.

The first type of auxiliary verbs are the “be verbs” which include am, is, are, was, were, and been . The second type is the “have verbs” which include have has, and had. The third type is the “do verbs” which include do, does, and did.

Helping verbs and auxiliary verbs are the same. Those terms are interchangeable and form tenses, aspects, and moods of a sentence. The only difference is that auxiliary verbs are commonly used in formal writing English instruction.

The 14 helping verbs are: Am, Is, Are, Was, Were, Be, Being, Been, Have, Has, Had, Do, Does, and Did.

Auxiliary verbs are called such because they help to form the different tenses, aspects, and moods of a sentence. They are also known as helping verbs because they provide additional information about the main verb in a sentence. These verbs “help” the main verb complete its meaning.

Auxiliary verbs help complete a main verb in terms of tense, aspect, and mood. Here are five examples of auxiliary verbs in sentences:

1. I am continuing my studies. 2. She has finished her work. 3. He had been researching for hours. 4. We do not understand the instructions. 5. We were visiting my grandmother when it started to rain.

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Course: Grammar   >   Unit 2

• Linking verbs
• Helping verbs

Action, linking, and helping verbs

The priceless violin fell to the floor with a sickening crash.

• (Choice A)   action verb A action verb
• (Choice B)   linking verb B linking verb
• (Choice C)   helping verb C helping verb

• English Grammar
• Parts of Speech
• Helping Verbs

Helping Verbs in English - How it Is Used with Examples

Do you often get confused about how to use main verbs and helping verbs in sentences? This article will help you with examples and all that you need to keep in mind when using helping verbs.

Table of Contents

Definition of a helping verb, how to use helping verbs with examples, list of helping verbs of all tenses, check your understanding of helping verbs, frequently asked questions on helping verbs in english, what is a helping verb.

In a sentence, the verb which is used along with the main verb or the principal verb that denotes the action done by the subject is called a helping verb. As the name suggests, a helping verb is a verb that helps another verb and is employed in a sentence to modify the tense , voice or mood of the sentence.

A helping verb is “a verb (as am, may, or will) that is used with another verb to express person, number, mood, or tense”, according to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

To use helping verbs effectively, you should know how it is conjugated to represent a different tense, mood or voice. Have a look at the examples given below to understand how.

• I am going to speak at the inaugural ceremony tomorrow.
• We are having spaghetti for dinner tonight.
• What are you doing?
• The children have been waiting to have ice cream.
• The Pavilion Apartments was built by M & M Builders.
• You cannot change your parents.
• I did have an imaginary friend.
• Do you need any help?
• Were you feeling nervous when you were on stage?
• Tony will take care of the students.

Here is a list of helping verbs and how they are conjugated to represent the different tenses.

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate helping verb in the following sentences:

1. We _____ been waiting for our results for over a week.

2. I ______ meet someone soon.

3. We ______ going to be fine.

4. I just ________ stand your friends.

5. She _______ working as a teacher for four years now.

6. They ______ be reaching Chennai by 9 p.m.

7. _____ you still staying near Central Perk?

8. The flight ___________ arrived at the airport by 6 p.m. tomorrow.

9. You ________ looking very pretty.

10. The Prime Minister ______ giving the presidential address for the Republic day ceremony.

Check how far you have understood the concept of using helping verbs.

1. We have been waiting for our results for over a week.

2. I will meet someone soon.

3. We are going to be fine.

4. I just cannot stand your friends.

5. She has been working as a teacher for four years now.

6. They will be reaching Chennai by 9 p.m.

7. Are you still staying near Central Perk?

8. The flight will have arrived at the airport by 6 p.m. tomorrow.

9. You are/were looking very pretty.

10. The Prime Minister will be giving the presidential address for the Republic day ceremony.

What are helping verbs?

In a sentence, the verb which is used along with the main verb or the principal verb that denotes the action done by the subject is called a helping verb. As the name suggests, a helping verb is a verb that helps another verb and is employed in a sentence to modify the tense, voice or mood of the sentence.

What is the definition of a helping verb?

Give some examples of helping verbs..

Is, can, will, have, are, must, will be, do, had and has are some examples of helping verbs.

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helping verb

Definition of helping verb

Did you know.

What is an auxiliary verb ?

An auxiliary verb, also called a helping verb , is a verb that is used with another verb (or two other verbs) in a verb phrase.

The auxiliary verbs (which include be , have , do , and the modal verbs like may , shall , will , can , and must ) combine with verbs to do things like show a verb's tense or form a question.

Be , have , and do are used as both independent verbs and as auxiliary verbs.

Have is used to form all the perfect tenses , the tenses that are used to refer to an action or state that is completed at the time of speaking or at a time spoken of:

I have packed the car. ( present perfect ) I had packed my suitcase the night before. ( past perfect ) I will have packed everything by the time you arrive. ( future perfect ) I will have been traveling for three weeks by the time I return. (future perfect progressive )

Be is used to form all the progressive tenses , the tenses that are used to refer to an action or state that is continuing to happen:

I am leaving soon. ( present progressive) I was making a few calls first. ( imperfect tense, also called past progressive ) I will be driving across much of the country. ( future progressive) I will have been traveling for three weeks by the time I return. ( future perfect progressive)

Be is also used in the passive voice, and to join infinitives plus to to the subject of a sentence or clause:

My route was recommended by a friend. (passive voice) I am to arrive before nightfall.

Do occurs as an auxiliary verb mainly in negative sentences and in questions:

I do not have a map. Do you have a map handy?

Do is also occasionally used for emphasis. In this use, do is followed by an infinitive without to :

I do think I'll be able to find my way without a problem.

Do may also substitute for another verb that has just been stated:

My dog enjoyed the drive immensely, and so did I.

A small group of auxiliary verbs, called the modal verbs (or modal auxiliary verbs , modal auxiliaries , or simply modals ) are only used in combination with ordinary verbs. A modal verb changes the other verb's meaning to something different from simple fact. Modals may express permission, ability, prediction, possibility, or necessity.

The principal modal verbs are: can , could , may , might , must , ought , shall , should , will , and would .

The modal verbs are different from ordinary verbs in several ways:

1) They have no inflections at all; that is, they lack an -ing form, an -ed form, and even an -s form for the third-person singular.

2) A modal verb is always followed by the infinitive form of a verb (unless that verb has already been stated) but never follows another verb.

3) Modal verbs do not follow to and are not followed by to . ( Ought to , like the near-modal verb have to , is a special case.)

In their simple form, modal verbs normally refer to present or future time:

I must be nearly there by now. I might arrive a bit later than I'd anticipated. A trip like this can take many hours more than one expects.

Word History

1673, in the meaning defined above

Dictionary Entries Near helping verb

helping hand

Cite this Entry

“Helping verb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary , Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/helping%20verb. Accessed 2 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

Kids definition of helping verb.

called also auxiliary verb

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Helping Verbs in English

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In this reference, we'll delve deep into what helping verbs are, their importance, and how to use them.

We'll provide examples of helping verbs in sentences, as well as discuss commonly misused helping verbs and provide a list of helping verbs.

What is a helping verb?

A helping verb, which we also refer to as an auxiliary verb , works together with a main verb to add additional meaning to a sentence. Helping verbs are also used to make verb tenses, in particular, the progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive tenses. Helping verbs are also used to make questions and negative statements.

The most common helping verbs are  be ,  do ,  have , and  will . These four verbs are known as primary helping verbs, and they are used to create the most commonly used verb tenses.

The other helping verbs are known as modal auxiliary verbs, and they are used to create more complex verb tenses, such as the progressive, perfect, and perfect progressive tenses.

These are  can ,  could ,  may ,  might ,  must ,  shall ,  should ,  would ,  ought   to ,  had   better ,  used to ,  need , and  dare . They convey a variety of meanings, such as possibility, necessity, willingness, ability, and obligation.

The role of helping verbs

Helping verbs are important for adding meaning to a sentence. They help to convey the intended meaning of the sentence and make it easier to understand. For example, the sentence "I went to the store" is much clearer when it is written as "I have gone to the store." In this sentence, the helping verb "have" is used to indicate that the action of "going to the store" has already taken place.

Helping verbs are also important for creating verb tenses. Without them, it would be difficult to communicate which tense is in your sentence. For example, the sentence "I go to the store" could mean that the action of "going to the store" is either happening now or will happen in the future. However, if the helping verb "have" is added to the sentence, it means that the action of "going to the store" has already taken place.

How to Use Helping Verbs

In sentences, helping verbs are usually placed before the main verb. For example, in the sentence "I have gone to the store," the helping verb "have" is placed before the main verb "gone." However, there are exceptions to this rule. For example, in the sentence "I am going to the store," the helping verb "am" is placed after the main verb "going."

If you are unsure of which helping verb to use in a sentence, it is best to consult a dictionary. This will help you determine which verb is the most appropriate for the context of your sentence.

Examples of Helping Verbs in Sentences

Examples of helping verbs in sentences:

• I have gone to the store. (The helping verb "have" is used to indicate that the action of "going to the store" has already taken place.)
• She will go to the store. (The helping verb "will" is used to indicate that the action of "going to the store" will take place in the future.)
• They can go to the store. (The helping verb "can" is used to indicate that the action of "going to the store" is possible.)
• We must go to the store. (The helping verb "must" is used to indicate that the action of "going to the store" is necessary.)
• She might go to the store. (The helping verb "might" is used to indicate that the action of "going to the store" is possible, but not certain.)

Commonly Misused Helping Verbs

There are some commonly misused helping verbs. For example, many people mistakenly use the helping verb "did" when they should use "do". For example, the sentence "I did go to the store" is incorrect, as the helping verb "do" should be used instead of "did".

Another commonly misused helping verb is "can". Many people mistakenly use "can" to mean "must". For example, the sentence "I can go to the store" does not mean that you have to go there; it simply means that it is possible or that you are thinking about it.

List of Helping Verbs

Here is a handy list of helping verbs for reference:

• Be : am, is, are, was, were, been
• Do : do, does, did
• Have : has, had
• Will : will, would
• Shall : shall, should
• May : may, might
• Must : must
• Can : can, could
• Ought : ought, ought to
• Dare : dare, dared
• Need : need, needed

We hope this reference helped understand auxiliary verbs and how to use them correctly. These are verbs you can use to add additional meaning in a sentence and show things like possibility or necessity.

We recommend checking out our other learning resources for learners . With practice, you'll be able to master the use of helping verbs and communicate more effectively in English.

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