Auxiliary Verbs : Definition And Examples

What is an Auxiliary Verb? Auxiliary verbs “help” other verbs form different tenses and moods; they are used to define when actions take place, or to emphasize other actions or objects in a sentence. For this reason, auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs. The word that the auxiliary verb is “helping” is called the main verb or full verb. The most common auxiliary verbs are forms of be, do, and have. All three of these verbs can also be used as main verbs that stand alone. When they are used as auxiliary verbs, they team up with other verbs to form a complete idea. Mike is very tall. In this example, the verb “is” (a form of be) is the only verb in the sentence. This tells us that in this case, “is” is the main verb. Mike is planning to play in the NBA someday. begin verb 3 uses the verb “is” (a form of be). We know that in this sentence, “is” serves as an auxiliary verb that is helping the main verb. Melissa is watching her favorite movie.

These verbs work together to form the present progressive tense. The use of present progressive shows us that the action (watching a movie) is happening right now. The auxiliary verb “is” helps the main verb “watching” show exactly when the described action is happening. Justin will have started high school by this time next month. Together, these words form the future perfect tense. This tense is used to show that an action (starting high school) will be completed in the future. The auxiliary verb “have” helps the main verb “started” indicate exactly when this action will take place. Do you go to school with your sister? This question uses the auxiliary verb “do” with a subject (you) and a main verb (go). This combination of words creates the emphatic tense. In this case, the emphatic tense is used to form a question. The auxiliary verb “do” helps the main verb “go” ask a question. Let’s take a look at how to use the auxiliary verbs be, have, and do. This has been generated with the help of Essay Writers.

The auxiliary verb “be” is most often used to form progressive tenses. For example, the present progressive tense is formed when am, is, or are (forms of the verb “be”) is followed by a present participle. You can use the present progressive tense when you want to show that something happens frequently or is happening right now. Alexis and Zoey are finishing their math homework. Together, these verbs form the present progressive tense. This tense tells us that the action described in the sentence (finishing math homework) is happening right now. Another type of progressive tense is the past progressive. This tense is used to show that an action continued in the past or that one action is interrupted by another. To form the past progressive tense, you pair the verbs “was” or “were” (forms of the verb “be”) with a present participle. I was hoping to get a puppy for my birthday. Together, these two verbs form the past progressive tense.

In this case, the past progressive tense is used to show that the action in the sentence (hoping for a puppy) continued in the past. The sentence does not describe this action coming to an end. While Tommy was watching TV, his little sister Brianna stole the last piece of cake. These verbs also form the past progressive tense. In this example, the past progressive is used to show one action (Tommy watching TV) interrupted by another (Brianna stealing the cake). Future progressive is another progressive verb tense. Future progressive is used to show that an action will continue to happen in the future. Soon, we will be visiting our grandmother in Colorado. This forms the future progressive tense. The use of future progressive in this sentence shows that the action being described (visiting grandmother) will continue into the future. Various forms of the verb “be” are also used to form passive voice. Passive voice is useful when you want to place more importance on the object of a sentence (thing or person receiving the action) than on the subject (thing or person performing the action). It’s also a stylistic choice that may flow better in some sentences.