Section outline

  • Auxiliary Verbs

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    Auxiliary or Helping Verbs are used with main verb to give grammatical meaning to the sentence.

    Features:

    1. They help to form different tenses, moods, voices or add emphasis.
    2. It helps the main verb, as the main verb cannot stand alone to give complete meaning to the sentence.
    3. They are used to form questions & negatives.
    4. Auxiliary verbs change their forms to express different tenses.
    5. These verbs can be used as main verb (linking verb) but they are not action verbs.

    Examples:

    1. Sam is playing in the garden.
    2. Are they coming for the party?
    3. She doesn't know the purpose of their visit.

    Here,

    1. 'Playing, coming, know' are the main verbs. 
    2. 'Is, are, doesn't ' are the auxiliary verbs. 
    3. They are helping the main verbs, without which the sentence will be incomplete.

    Example:

    1. Tom is swimming in the pool.

    Here, the verb 'is' is used as an auxiliary verb.

    2. Tom is in the pool.

    Here, 'is' is used as a main verb i.e. linking verb & not auxiliary verb. 

  • Primary Auxiliary Verbs

    Primary auxiliary verbs are a subset of auxiliary verbs.

    There are three types of primary auxiliary verbs.

    They are:

    1. 'Be Verbs':
    Form Positive verbs Negative verbs
    Singular am, is, was ain't, isn't, wasn't 
    Plural are, were aren't, weren't 

    'Be' verbs also include: be, been, being

    'Been' is the past participle & 'being' the present participle of the verb 'be' & are all used to form various tenses, to know more click here.

    2. 'Have' Verbs:
    Form Positive verbs Negative verbs
    Singular has hasn't 
    I & Plural have haven't 
    All had, having hadn't 
    3. 'Do' verbs:
    Form Positive verbs Negative verbs
    Singular does doesn't 
    I & Plural do don't 
    All did didn't 

  • Shortened forms

    Shortened form of auxiliary verb is created when a auxiliary verb is combined with a pronoun or negatives or other words to form a more informal version.

    They are often referred to as contractions,

    These are commonly used in spoken English and informal writing.

    Here's how auxiliary verbs are typically shortened:

    Pronoun + Auxiliary verb  Shortened form
    I am I’m
    I have I’ve
    I will I’ll
    we are we're
    they are they're
    you are you’re
    you have you’ve
    we have we’ve
    they have they've
    we will we'll
    he will he'll
    she will she’ll
    it has / is it’s
    she has / is she's
    he has / is he’s

     
    • Negative contractions of auxiliary verbs is formed when they combine with not.
      Auxiliary verb + not  Shortened form
      do not don’t
      did not didn't 
      does not doesn't 
      can not can’t
      could not couldn’t
      will not won’t
      would not wouldn't
      shall not shan’t
      have not haven't
      had not hadn't
      has not hasn't 
      is not isn't 
      am not ain't 
      was not wasn't 
      are not aren't 
      were not weren't 

  • Pronouns & Auxiliary verbs

    Auxiliary verbs have to be in agreement with singular & plural pronouns (subjects).

    The following table shows the right usage of auxiliary verbs.

    Pronoun / subject Auxiliary verbs
    I am, was, have, had, do, did
    he, she, it, singular nouns is, was, has, had, does, did
    you, we, they, plural nouns are, were, have,  had, do, did

    The negative auxiliary verbs can be used with the respective pronouns where their positive equivalents are used.

    For more details, refer to the course on subject verb agreement.

  • Tenses & Auxiliary verbs

    Auxiliary verbs change their form for past tense.

    The following table will tell us which auxiliary verb is to be used in which tense.

    Present tense Past tense
    am, is, are was, were
    have, has had
    do, does did

    The use of correct auxiliary verb is very important while forming tenses & for correct written & spoken English.

  • Summary

    In this course, we learn't one of the most important & frequently used verb form, the 'auxiliary verbs'.

    The  primary auxiliary verbs are:

    Types

    We also learn't the use of these verbs with different pronouns & tenses.

    In the next course, we will learn about regular & irregular verbs.