Language Conventions

Question 1

What are Auxiliary verbs?

Answer 1

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helper verbs or helping verbs, are minor verbs that support the sentence’s main verb to communicate complex grammar concepts like aspects of time or modality. For example, in this sentence, “I have finished the report,” the auxiliary verb have supports the main verb finish.

Question 2

Auxiliary verbs examples:

Answer 2

Am, is, are, was, were, being, been, be, have, has, had, do, does, did, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must, can, could.

Question 3

‘Be’ Auxiliary Verbs:

Answer 3

‘Be’ can be an auxiliary verb or the main verb in a sentence.

In the examples below, the ‘be’ auxiliary verbs are in bold.

Used in a progressive sentence:
- I am going to school.
- She is playing basketball.
- They have been learning about verbs.

Used in a passive sentence:
- I was going to school.
- She was playing basketball.
- This lesson on verbs has been interesting.

Question 4

‘Have’ Auxiliary Verbs:

Answer 4

‘Have’ is used to create the ‘present perfect tense’ and is always followed by the past participle.

‘Has’ is used to make it third-person singular.

‘Had’ is used to make a sentence past tense. It explains an action that started in the past but is still ongoing into the present, known as ‘past perfect tense.’

Used in a perfect sentence:
- I have been walking to school.
- We have learnt a lot today.
- They had been the best students.

Question 5

‘Do’ Auxiliary Verbs:

Answer 5

Auxiliary verbs can be used to make questions and negative statements.

‘Do’ and ‘does’ are frequently used to make questions and negatives.

‘Did’ is used to replace ‘do’ and ‘does’ to make a sentence past tense.

Examples of statements:
- I do my schoolwork.
- You do your schoolwork.
- We do our schoolwork.
- They do their schoolwork.
- He/she does their schoolwork.

Examples of questions:
- Do I want one?
- Do you want one?
- Do we want one?
- Do they want one?
- Does he/she want one?

Question 6

Modal Auxiliary verbs Examples:

Answer 6

• Will
• Would
• Shall
• Should
• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Must
• Dare
• Need
• Ought to
• Used to

Question 7

What are Modal Auxiliary Verbs?

Answer 7

Modal verbs show possibility, intent, ability, or necessity. Because they’re a type of auxiliary verb (helper verb), they’re used together with the main verb of the sentence.