Helping Verbs are those Verbs which help us to know whether the actions were carried out is in the Past, Present or in the Future. Helping Verbs are also called Auxiliary Verbs and their main task is to provide us information about the time referred in sentence.
Where are helping verbs used?
The name itself tells us that the primary role of Helping Verbs is to support main Verbs and make meaning complete. They generally come before Main Verb. However, helping verbs like ‘be’ ‘have’ and ‘do’ can also act as Main Verb.
We can use up to three Helping Verbs in a sentence.
Types of Helping Verbs
Primary Helping Verbs
The words ‘be’, ‘do’ and ‘have’ are called primary helping verbs. They can act as main verbs in some sentences and as helping verbs in some others.
Modal Helping Verbs
Modal Verbs are those ten Helping/Auxiliary Verbs which help to modify the meaning of Main Verbs in some way by expressing the necessity, obligation, permission, possibility, conditions or likelihood. They are:
Must, shall, can, could, should,ought to, may, might, will, would
Usage of Helping Verbs
There are Twenty Three Helping Verbs. They are given below with sentences.
Had
I had taken my umbrella.
We had cleaned our room
Has
She has planned her career.
It has recognized its master.
Have
We have been preparing food.
I have got Visa.
Do
Can you do the typing?
How can he do the cleaning?
Does
How does he work?
She does the cleaning every day.
Did
Who did you meet?
What did you say?
Can
You can help me now.
You can run now.
Could
I could solve that problem.
We could all help him.
May
You may sit now.
He may leave the job.
Might
I might marry soon.
They might punish him.
Will
I will cook chicken.
We will go to church on Sunday.
Would
He would cry for hours.
I would always help him.
Shall
We shall swim in the river?
Shall I help him?
Should
He should study.
I don’t think you should interfere in our personal lives.
Must
They must apologize.
Peter must improve his handwriting.
Ought to
You ought to be careful.
We ought to tell the truth.
Is
He is a silly boy.
Ruth is a true lover.
Am
I am a dreamer.
I am always ready to travel.
Are
Are they sleeping?
We are building houses for refugees.
Was
I was a lazy person.
She was a feminist.
Were
They were shouting.
We were preparing for our exams.
Been
Those girls have been punished by the teacher.
I have been sleeping whole day.
Be
Let’s be honest and work hard.
Can you be logical and stop talking about useless issues.
Always Remember
1. We cannot use more than 3 helping verbs in a sentence.
2. Modal helping verbs modify the meaning of main verb.
He works hard. (Without helping Verb)
He must work hard. (With Helping Verb)
Meanings of both the sentences differ due to the use of helping verb ‘must’.
3. We can use Helping Verbs like ‘be’, ‘do’ and ‘have’ even as Main Verbs. These Helping Verbs are also known as Primary Helping Verbs.