Auxiliary Verbs

A. Quelques auxiliaires sont suivis d'un B. D'autres auxiliaires sont suivis de TO + un

infinitif : infinitif :

can (capacité) - pouvoir au présent be able to = can

could (possibilité) - pouvoir au conditionnel be going to = will
will (futur) ought to = should
would (conditionnel) have to = must
should (conseil) - devoir au imparfait be allowed to = may
must (obligation) - devoir au présent need to (avoir besoin de)
may (permission) - pouvoir au présent want to (vouloir)
might (probabilité) like to (aimer)

1. Present Tense

La plupart des auxiliaires ne changent pas au présent. Tous les sujets ont la même conjugaison - il
n'y a pas de -s à la troisième personne du singulier - pour ces auxiliaires : can, could, will,
would, should, must, may, might, ought to.

Exemple: I can - you can - he/she/it can - we can - you can - they can

2. Negative

→ Ajoutez NOT après l'auxiliaire (comme BE et HAVE GOT) pour ces auxiliaires : can, could,
will, would, should, must, may, might, be able to, be going to, ought to, be allowed to. Parfois,
il y a des formes contractées avec NOT.

He cannot read. / He can't read.

They must not leave. / They mustn't leave.
I will not do it. / I won't do it.
You may not sit down.
She is not able to sleep. / She isn't able to sleep.
We are not allowed to smoke. / We aren't allowed to smoke.

→ Contractions

cannot = can't could not = couldn't will not = won't

would not = wouldn't should not = shouldn't must not = mustn't

→ Ajoutez DO NOT / DON'T ou DOES NOT / DOESN'T avant ces auxiliaires : have to, need to,
want to, like to (et tous les autres verbes en anglais !)

You do not have to help me. / You don't have to help me.
He does not need to see it. / He doesn't need to see it.
I do not want to be here. / I don't want to be here.
She does not like to read. / She doesn't like to read.
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3. Questions

→ Inversion : auxiliaire + sujet (comme BE et HAVE GOT) : can, could, will, would, should,
must, may, might, be able to, be going to, be allowed to. (Il est rare que l'on forme des questions
avec ought to).

Can you be quiet?

Will we eat dinner soon?
May I borrow this book?
Are they going to arrive?

→ DO ou DOES + sujet + verbe : have to, need to, want to, like to (et tous les autres verbes en
anglais !)

Do I have to go?
Do you need to eat now?
Does he want to play soccer?
Does she like to watch TV?

Exercice

1. Present: We are going to leave in 10 minutes.

Negative:

Question:

2. Present: Sarah needs to learn how to drive.

Negative:

Question:

3. Present: They are allowed to smoke here.

Negative:

Question:

4. Present: I can speak three languages.

Negative:

Question:

5. Present: He has to finish his homework.

Negative:

Question: