Auxiliary Verbs


What are auxiliary verbs?

1. Auxiliary verbs (sometimes known as helping verbs) are verbs that are used to assist the verb.
2. Auxiliary verbs can not be used without a main verb.
3. Auxiliary verbs can not be used with modal verbs.
4. Auxiliary verbs are used to make sentences negative.
5. Auxiliary verbs are used to ask questions.
6. Auxiliary verbs are used in the sentence structure of the verb sentence.
   -Auxiliary verbs are used to ask questions.

      -Auxiliary verbs are used in the sentence structure of the verb sentence.
The 3 most common auxiliary verbs are:

• Do - Does - Did
• Do is used with the present simple tense. Do-Does are used as part of the sentence structure for negative statements/sentences with the present simple tense
• Do- Does are used as part of the sentence structure for questions, with the present simple tense.
• Did is used with the past simple tense.
• Did is used as part of the sentence structure for negative statements/sentences with the past simple tense
• Did is used as part of the sentence structure for questions, with the past simple tense.
• Be - Am - Is - Are -Was - Were
• Have - Has -Had

DO', 'BE' and 'HAVE' are the English auxiliary verbs used in a negative structure, a question or to show tense.


DESCRIPTIONS OF ENGLISH AUXILIARY VERBS:


1. 'DO', 'DON'T', 'DOES' and 'DOESN'T' are used for questions and negatives in the Present Simple Tense, and 'DID' and 'DIDN'T' are used in the Past Simple Tense.
2. 'BE' is used with the Present Participle in Continuous (Progressive) Verbs. It is also used with the Past Participle in the Passive.
3. 'HAVE' is used with the Past Participle to form the Perfect Aspect.
Examples of auxiliary verbs: Tom has lived in Boston for twenty years.
They didn't come to the party last night.
I was cooking dinner when you telephoned.
What are you doing tomorrow afternoon?


Here is a quick overview of auxiliary verb usage:
DO / DOES
Used simple present question and negative forms:
What time does he get up?
They don't drive to work. They take the bus.
DID
Used in simple past question and negative forms:
When did they arrive yesterday?
He didn't finish his homework last week.
IS / ARE / AM
Used in present continuous and for the future with 'going to':
They are working hard at the moment.
She is going to study medicine at university.
WAS / WERE
Past continuous:
I was watching TV when you arrived.
What were they doing while you were cooking dinner?
HAVE / HAS
Present perfect and present perfect continuous:
How long have you lived here?
I've been working since seven this morning.
HAD
Past perfect and past perfect continuous:
He had eaten by the time I arrived.
She had been studying for two hours when he finally telephoned.
WILL / WON'T
Future with 'will':
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
He won't understand.