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Helping Verbs
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Helping verbs, action verbs and linking verbs make our three lessons where we introduce how to use verbs in English.
This will also include the verb tenses so every student is confident they understand the essentials for English.
What is a Helping Verb?
- Helping verbs assist and support the main verb in a sentence
- They provide additional information about the action or indicate tense, mood, etc.
Examples of Helping Verbs
- The cat had slept peacefully.
- The helping verb “had” supports the main verb “slept.”
- She is running every morning.
- The helping verb “is” is supporting the main verb “running.”
- They have been happy.
- The helping verbs “have” and “been” support the main verb “happy.”
To be
- Brian is eating a pizza (he is eating now)
- Brian was eating a pizza (he was eating before)
To have
- Brian has eaten a pizza (he has eaten the whole pizza)
- Brian had been eating a pizza (he was eating but has stopped)
Helping or Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs, just a different word to describe the same thing. It is more common in British English grammar, as opposed to American English that uses helping verbs.
We have:
- Main verb
- Helping (auxiliary) verbs
- some helping verbs are called modal verbs
- Helping verbs come before the main verb
- Modal verbs come before any helping verbs and the main verb
- [modal verb(s)] + [other helping verb(s)] + main verb(s)
Helping or Linking Verb?
- If the verb comes before an action verb,
- then it is a helping verb
- If it comes before words that are describing the subject
- then it is a linking verb
Helping tense
to be
- She is reading
- They were walking
to do
- I do want to go
- She did not go
to have
- I have finished
- He had left
Modal Verbs
Modal Verbs - can, will & should
- I can do it
- He can do it
- She can do it
- You can do it
- We can do it
- They can do it
- Everyone can do it
- I will do it
- He will do it
- She will do it
- You will do it
- We will do it
- They will do it
- Everyone will do it
- I should do it
- He should do it
- She should do it
- You should do it
- We should do it
- They should do it
- Everyone should do it
Modal Verbs - various
- Chance It may rain
- Permission you may enter
- Ability you can carry a lot.
- Possibility I would do it, but I’m too lazy
- Advice you shouldn’t
- Future he will win
Verb Tenses
The lesson material related to verb tense will appear on a different web page
Useful Resources & Links
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📖 Question 1 — Helping Verbs
A helping verb is also called an _______.
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