Auxiliary Verbs

What is an auxiliary verb?

An auxiliary verb is also called a helper
verb
A verb used in forming the tenses, moods,
and voices of other verbs
It comes before some verbs
Not all sentences have an auxiliary
Sentences with no auxiliary verb
I played football last night
I walk this way to school every day
I like chocolate


Can you identify the verbs in these sentences?
Auxiliary verbs
principal (Basic) Auxiliaries
"The auxiliary verbs of English are the
following:
Be (am-is-are was were )
Have (has had)
do (does did )

Here are some sentences with
missing auxiliary verbs can you
suggest replacements?
I _____ walking along the dusty road.
She __ very good at maths.
Dad _____ working late yesterday.
___ she clean her room? Yes, she did.
He_____ like basketball.
To do
do, does, did
These are followed by the base form of a verb

e.g. I do work very hard.
Johnny does try his best.
They did win the game last week.

Put each of these auxiliaries into a sentence of
your own
To have
Have, has, had
These are followed by the past participle of
the next verb

e.g.
I have eaten all of my food.
John has climbed Ben Nevis.
Debbie had hidden all of Pauls pencils.
To be
Am, is, are, was, were,been,being
Is followed by the present or past participle in the
sentence

e.g. I am going to the park. (going = present)
Kylie is singing at Wembley stadium.
I was beaten by a better player
They were running past the gates when they saw a
dog.

The auxiliary verbs are be, have, and do.
They are used with a main verb to form
tenses, negatives and questions.

He is planning to get married soon.
I havent seen Peter since last night.
Which doctor do you want to see?
Be as an auxiliary verb is used:

with the -ing form of the main verb to form
continuous tenses

He is living in Germany.
They were going to phone you.
Be as an auxiliary verb is also used:

with the past participle of the main verb to
form the passive.

These cars are made in Japan.
The wall of her flat were covered with posters.
You use have as an auxiliary with the past
participle to form the perfect tenses.

I have changed my mind.
I wish you had met Paul.
The present perfect continuous, the past
perfect continuous, and the perfect tenses in
the passive are formed using both have and
be.

He has been working very hard recently.
She did not know how long she had been
lying there.

Examples continued.
The guest-room window has been mended.
They had been taught by a young teacher.

Be and have are also used as auxiliaries in
negative sentences and questions in
continuous and perfect tenses, and in the
passive.

He isnt going.
Hasnt she seen it yet?
Was it written in English?

You use do as an auxiliary to make negative
and question forms from sentences that have
a verb in the present simple or past simple.

He doesnt think he can come to the party.
Do you like her new haircut?
She didnt buy the house.
Didnt he get the job.
Note: You can use do as a main verb with
the auxiliary do.

He didnt do his homework.
Do the do the work themselves.
You can also use the auxiliary do with have
as a main verb.

He doesnt have any money.
Does anyone have a question?




You only use do in affirmative sentences for
emphasis or contrast.

I do feel sorry for Roger.