Aux l ary Verbs / Help ng Verbs

Most common aux l ary verbs are: To be, have, do, w ll.

TO BE

In Progress ve (Cont nuous) tenses:

We are watch ng TV n our room r ght now. (present progress ve)

Sally was shopp ng when I saw her. (past progress ve)
They have been runn ng for an hour. (present perfect progress ve)
We had been sleep ng for an hour when the f re alarm rang. (past perfect progress ve)
Note: we always use the "- ng" form of the ma n verb follow ng the aux l ary verb.

In Pass ve Vo ce

Example:

The w ndow s broken.

The br dge was bu lt.
The new program has been declared.
It should be renovated.
Your ass gnment must be f n shed by tomorrow.

Have

In Compound Tenses:

They have cleared all the ev dence.

Nobody has seen anyth ng.
She has been s ng ng.
We had arranged everyth ng.
Noth ng has been done about the nc dent.

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 DO

In Negat ves

I don’t l ke horror f lms.

John d dn’t part c pate our club.

In Quest ons

Does your brother know Span sh?

D d you attend the course yesterday?

In emphas s

I do want to marry you.

Note: these three aux l ary verbs (be, do and have) can also be used as full verbs, so pay attent on to
the words com ng after them to d st ngu sh between the two uses.

I am so exhausted today.

"To be" s the ma n verb of the sentence here as t sn't followed by a full verb.

I have a car and t s so expens ve.

Both the verb “have” ( nd cates possess on) and “to be” are full verbs n th s sentence.

Can you do me a favor please?

I am do ng my best to pass my class.

The verb "do" s the ma n verb n th s sentence; however, "to be" s an aux l ary verb as t s followed by
the ma n verb (do ng).

WILL

Can only be used as an aux l ary verb:

I w ll help you w th the chores.

They won’t come today.

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 Modal Aux l ary Verbs

Most common ones are:

Can / could / may / m ght / shall / should / must / ought to / had better

Examples:

I cannot talk to you r ght now.

You had better f n sh your homework before your father arr ves.
We must obey the traff c rules.
I th nk you should take an asp r n.
He m ght be n h s off ce.
Could you open the door for me, please?

See Aux l ary Verbs Exerc se

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