What are auxiliary verbs, and how do you correctly use them in a sentence?
AUXILIARY VERBS – They are known as helping verbs, and they are used together with a main verb. Here’s how to correctly use “be,” “do,” and “have.”
Also known as helper verbs or helping verbs are auxiliary verbs. They are minor verbs that support the main verb of a sentence. They are used to create complex grammatical tenses, like the perfect and continuous tenses. This shows the different aspects of time, or how long an action has occurred.
For example:
- simple present or no auxiliary verbs – I will go to the mall.
- present continuous – I am going to the mall.
- future perfect continuous – In October, I will have been going to the mall for a week.
The main auxiliary verbs are be, do, and have. Here’s a further understanding of how they are used in a sentence:
| Be This is used with the infinitive to make: | Do This is used with -ing verbs to make the continuous tenses | Have This is used with the past participle to make the perfect tenses |
| 1. questions Examples: Do you agree? Why do you think so? Did you call me? 2. negatives Examples: I did not agree to this. I don’t find her pretty. 3. to make an emphasis Examples: I do think you have to be at the party. | Continuous tenses are also called progressive tenses. They show that an ongoing action is not yet completed The continuous tense is used with a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb be along with the present participle (-ing form) of the main verb. Examples: I am sleeping tonight. She was studying really hard. I will be going when you arrive. Ken is drinking coffee. I was waiting for you to come home when the phone rang. | Perfect tenses are used if an event has already happened but still has significant consequences later. The perfect tense is used with a conjugated form of the auxiliary verb have with the past participle form of the main verb. Examples: They have just finished the design for the new house. I had forgotten about the anniversary until I saw the calendar. By the time you are home, the series will have ended already. |