Review: Helping Verbs
Access a reference list of helping verbs here.
Simple Helping Verbs
Simple helping verbs are always combined with a main verb. They are:
can
could
will
would
shall
should
may
might
must
ought to
Examples:
She must do her homework. (Here "must" is the helping verb, which is combined with the main verb "do" to form the complete verb.)
I might read the newspaper today. (Here "might" is the helping verb, which is combined with the main verb "read" to form the complete verb.)
Regular Helping Verbs
Regular helping verbs sometimes act as a helping verb and sometimes act as a main verb in a sentence.
These are forms of "to be," "to have," and "to do"
|
to be |
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|
|
|
Present |
Past |
Past Participle |
Present Participle |
|
be am is are |
was were |
been |
being |
|
to have |
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|
|
|
Present |
Past |
Past Participle |
Present Participle |
|
have has |
had |
had |
having |
|
to do |
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|
|
|
Present |
Past |
Past Participle |
Present Participle |
|
do does |
did |
done |
doing |
Examples:
Francesca is running a marathon. (Here "is" acts as a helping verb and is combined with "running" to form the complete verb.)
She is so fit! (Here "is" acts as the main verb with no other verb in the sentence.)
