Helping Verbs
Master auxiliary verbs that support and modify main verbs
What Are Helping Verbs?
Helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) are verbs that work together with main verbs to express different meanings, such as tense, mood, voice, and possibility.
They help create verb phrases and add important grammatical information to sentences without changing the core meaning of the main verb.
Primary Helping Verbs
Be, Have, Do
The most common helping verbs
Be: am, is, are, was, were, been, being
Have: have, has, had
Do: do, does, did
Examples
How they work with main verbs
I am studying.
She has finished.
They do understand.
Modal Helping Verbs
Ability & Permission
Express what is possible or allowed
Can: I can swim.
Could: She could help.
May: You may enter.
Might: It might rain.
Obligation & Necessity
Express what is required or expected
Must: You must study.
Should: We should go.
Ought to: He ought to try.
Have to: I have to leave.
Future & Prediction
Express future actions or predictions
Will: I will help.
Would: She would come.
Shall: We shall see.
Going to: It is going to rain.
Functions of Helping Verbs
Tense Formation
Create different verb tenses
Present Continuous: I am working.
Present Perfect: She has finished.
Future: They will arrive.
Voice & Mood
Express passive voice and mood
Passive: The book was written.
Subjunctive: If I were rich...
Conditional: I would go.
Interactive Quizzes
Quiz 1: Identify Helping Verbs
Find the helping verbs in these sentences:
1. "I am studying for the exam."
Answer: am (helping verb for present continuous)
2. "She has finished her homework."
Answer: has (helping verb for present perfect)
Quiz 2: Modal Verbs
What does each modal verb express?
1. "You must finish your work."
Answer: must (obligation/necessity)
2. "I can speak French."
Answer: can (ability)
Quiz 3: Complete Verb Phrases
Add appropriate helping verbs:
1. I _____ studying for hours.
Answer: have been (present perfect continuous)
2. She _____ arrive tomorrow.
Answer: will (future tense)
Quiz 4: Helping vs. Main Verbs
Identify helping and main verbs:
1. "I am going to the store."
Answer: am (helping), going (main verb)
2. "She should study harder."
Answer: should (helping), study (main verb)
Important Notes
• Helping verbs always come before the main verb in a verb phrase.
• Modal verbs cannot be used alone - they must always accompany a main verb.
• Some helping verbs can also function as main verbs depending on context.
• The combination of helping verbs creates different shades of meaning and grammatical structures.
Pro Tip
To identify helping verbs, look for verbs that support or modify the main action. They often express time, possibility, obligation, or other grammatical concepts rather than the core action itself.