Auxiliary Verbs Explained

An auxiliary (or helping) verb helps the main verb tell what happens or what exists.

Examples: The bread will fall out of the oven.
[The auxiliary verb will helps the main verb fall.]

We can eat it anyway.
[The auxiliary verb can helps the main verb eat.]

The most common helping verbs are listed here:

am	have	can	might
are	has	may	must
is	had	should	do
was	shall	would	does
were	will	could	did

The main verb and its auxiliary verb or verbs make up the complete verb, also called a verb phrase.

Examples: Paula should know the answers. She has been studying them all night.

In some sentences adverbs can come between the auxiliary verb and the main verb. The auxiliary verb and the main verb are still the words that make up the complete verb.

Examples: Kenji will most likely get a high grade on the test.
Studying can often make the difference.

There are two kinds of auxiliary verbs.

Time: Those verbs that indicate the tense.

Emphasis: Those verbs that indicate a certain emphasis or added meaning to the action.

Time:

is	has	does	will
am	have	did	shall
are	had	do
was
were

These may be used alone as the main action (except “will” and “shall”).

                          Examples:         She is so busy.
                                                  He does his work carefully.
                                                  They have a new baby.

When coupled with another verb, they become auxiliary verbs.

                          Examples:         I am helping him. (present)
                                                  He did finish the work. (past)
                                                  We have traveled for a long time. (past)
                                                  She will leave next month. (future)

Emphasis:

can	will	shall	may	ought (to)
could	would	should	might

These are never used alone, for they express attitudes not actions.

                          Examples:         I should leave early.
                                                  She might swim two miles.
                                                  He ought to win the prize.
                                                  They would never do that!

Will and shall express determination.
Use will with “I” and “we”; use shall with “you,” “they,” and “he/she/it.”

Examples: I will go to the party.
He shall eat the spinach.

AUXILIARY VERB(S) + MAIN VERB = VERB PHRASE

The verb phrase may be short or long, depending on how many auxiliary verbs there are.
A sentence may have both time and emphasis auxiliary verbs.

                          Examples:         She has gone to the beach.
                                                  He can cook very well.
                                                  They ought to have watched the show.

This page is maintained by the Georgia Southern University Writing Center
Please send comments and corrections to the webmaster.
This page last updated on 1/28/03