Auxiliary Verbs: Types, Examples, and Fun Learning Tips
Auxiliary verbs, or helping verbs, work with the main verb to show when something happens (tense), how it’s expressed (mood), or who is doing the action (voice). Check out this blog to learn about the types of auxiliary verbs, when to use them, examples, and fun tips to make learning easy and enjoyable!
Chandni 29 Jul, 2025
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Auxiliary verbs also known as helping verbs, are the special words that make sentences clear and complete. T hese special words work alongside main action verbs to make sure our sentences are complete and clear.
They help us know exactly when something happens (like in the past, present, or future), how it’s happening, and sometimes even if it will happen at all. Words like is, am, are, have, do, and will play important roles, making our sentences easier to understand and more precise. Without auxiliary verbs, sentences might sound confusing or incomplete. For example, instead of saying “ I reading a book, ” we say, " I am reading a book ” That small helping word, “am,” turns the phrase into a clear question.What is an Auxiliary Verb?
An auxiliary verb is a verb that helps the main verb in a sentence by providing additional information about tense, aspect, mood, or voice. Auxiliary verbs do not stand alone; they always accompany a main verb to modify its meaning. For example:She is running.
- Here, "is" is the auxiliary verb, and it helps form the present continuous tense with the main verb "running."
They have finished the project.
- In this case, "have" is the auxiliary verb, working with the main verb "finished" to form the present perfect tense.
Types of Auxiliary Verbs
In English, auxiliary verbs can be divided into two broad categories: 1. Primary Auxiliary Verbs Primary auxiliary verbs are used to form different tenses, questions, negatives, and passive constructions. These include:- Be (am, is, are, was, were)
- Have (have, has, had)
- Do (do, does, did)
- Can, could
- May, might
- Shall, should
- Will, would
- Must
- Ought to
When to Use Auxiliary Verbs?
Auxiliary verbs serve different purposes in sentences, helping us express time, ask questions, make negatives, or show possibility and ability. Here’s a closer look at each use with clear examples to help understand how auxiliary verbs work.Showing Time (Tense)
Auxiliary verbs help indicate when something happened: in the past, present, or future. They make it easy to show if an action has already occurred, is happening now, or will happen later.Examples:
- Past Tense: I was walking to the store. (The action of walking happened in the past.)
- Present Tense: We are playing outside. (The action of playing is happening right now.)
- Future Tense: She will be singing at the concert. (The action of singing will happen in the future.)
Asking Questions
Auxiliary verbs are essential in forming questions, especially when we want to know more about a particular action or event. These verbs often appear at the start of a question. Examples:- Are you coming to the party? (The auxiliary verb ‘are’ helps form a question about a future action.)
- Did you finish your homework? (The auxiliary verb ‘did’ helps ask about a completed action in the past.)
- Have they arrived yet? (The auxiliary verb ‘have’ forms a question about a recent action.)
Making Sentences Negative
To make a sentence negative, we add not after the auxiliary verb. This is helpful when we want to say that something is not happening or is not true. Examples:- She is not going to school. (The auxiliary verb ‘is’ plus ‘not’ shows that she isn’t attending school.)
- They have not eaten breakfast yet. (The auxiliary verb ‘have’ and ‘not’ indicate that breakfast hasn’t happened.)
- I cannot swim. (The modal auxiliary ‘cannot’ shows inability or lack of permission.)
Showing Possibility or Ability (with Modal Verbs)
Modal auxiliary verbs, such as can, must, may, and should, show what is possible, allowed, required, or advised. These verbs help us express someone’s capability or the likelihood of something happening. Examples:- I can swim. (The modal auxiliary ‘can’ shows ability – that the person knows how to swim.)
- You must finish your homework. (The modal auxiliary ‘must’ shows necessity or obligation.)
- She may join us later. (The modal auxiliary ‘may’ shows that joining is possible, but not certain.)
- You should try this recipe. (The modal auxiliary ‘should’ suggests advice.)
Common Auxiliary Verbs with Examples
Auxiliary verbs add specific meanings to sentences, showing when actions happen or describing abilities and possibilities. Here’s a look at some of the most commonly used auxiliary verbs with examples to illustrate their use:Is, Am, Are
Present Tense: These verbs indicate actions happening right now or describe current conditions.Examples
- She is running fast. (Shows what she’s doing currently.)
- I am learning to cook. (Describes an action happening now.)
- They are excited about the game. (Expresses their current feeling.)
Was, Were
Past Tense: ‘Was’ and ‘were’ tell us about actions or conditions that occurred in the past.Examples
- He was reading a book. (Describes an action he did before.)
- They were playing outside. (Shows what they were doing at an earlier time.)
Have, Has, Had
Perfect Tense: These verbs describe actions that have been completed before another time. Examples- I have eaten my lunch. (Indicates that lunch was eaten before now.)
- She had finished her homework before dinner. (Shows the homework was completed before another past event.)
Will
Future Tense: ‘Will’ points to actions or events that are expected to happen in the future. Examples- We will go to the zoo tomorrow. (Shows a planned action in the future.)
Can, Could
Modal Verbs: These verbs express ability or possibility, indicating what someone is capable of or what might happen. Examples:- I can ride a bike. (Shows ability.)
- She could read when she was four. (Describes past ability.)
Auxiliary Verbs Practice Questions for Kids
Try these fun questions to see how well you know auxiliary verbs! Fill in the Blanks with the Correct Auxiliary Verb:- She ___ (is/am/are) studying for her test.
- I ___ (was/were) playing with my friends.
- They ___ (has/have) gone to the park.
- You ___ (can/will) finish the race
- is, was, have, can
- can, might
- not, will not
Fun Tips to Remember Auxiliary Verbs
Learning auxiliary verbs can be easy and enjoyable with a few simple tricks. Here are some fun ways to practice and remember how to use them effectively:| Related Links | |
| Pronouns | Antonyms |
| Singular nouns | Synonyms |
| Plural nouns | Conjunctions |
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Auxiliary Verbs FAQs
How do I know which auxiliary verb to use?
Look at the tense or meaning you want to show. For present actions, use ‘is/am/are.’ For past actions, use ‘was/were.’ For future actions, use ‘will.’
Can auxiliary verbs stand alone?
Usually, no. Auxiliary verbs help a main verb, but there are cases where do, have, and be can stand alone as main verbs.
What is the difference between 'can' and 'could'?
Can’ shows present ability, while ‘could’ shows past ability or a polite request.
How do auxiliary verbs change questions?
Auxiliary verbs move to the beginning of a sentence to make a question, like “Are you ready?”
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