AUXILARY VERBS Category 1: be, have, do
These forms of to be, to have, and to do are used before the main verb.
Their purpose is to change time or emphasis.
Unlike other structure words, these auxiliary verbs
1. can have inflectional endings (-s, -ing, -ed, -en)
2. can also function as main verbs.
Category 2: Modal auxiliaries The list below shows all of the modal auxiliaries:
Present can may will shall must
Past could might would should -------
Unlike the auxiliaries be, have, and do, modal auxiliaries
1. do not use inflectional endings (-s, -ed, -ing, -en)
2. Cannot function as main verbs.
When a verb phrase uses both kinds of auxiliary verbs, the modal auxiliary always precedes the be, have, or do auxiliary.
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.
• 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.
What is a Main Verb Tense?
The main verb tense states the action of the subject. The main verb can be the only verb in the sentence, but the main verb can also be used with an auxiliary verb or a verb. The auxiliary verb and the modal verb must be used with a main verb tense.
The main verb tense is:
The main verb tense can be in its infinitive/basic form (simple past/v2), past participle/v3.
The main verb tense states what the action of the subject.
-ed -ing -s -es are some common endings that can be added to the main verb according to the tense.
It is common that the main verb doesn't change form, because the auxiliary words change form.
When using the continuous tense and the perfect verb tense auxiliary verb(s) are used with the main verb tense.
When an auxiliary verb is used the main verb doesn't change form according to the subject.
The main verb tense can change form when an auxiliary verb is used to according to the verb form.
Examples:
• The cat eats fish.
• The cats eat the fish
• The cat has eaten the fish.
• The cat ate the fish.
• The cat has been eating the fish.
Eveyone can understand Modal Verbs!
What are model verbs?
Model verbs are also called auxiliary verbs, helping verbs and model auxiliaries.
Model verbs are not complete verbs, and they can only be used with a verb.
The usage of model verbs:
Model verbs stay in the base form - bare infinitive - the bare infinitive is the infinitive without "to" before the verb.
The following model verbs are used to with the present tense:
can, will, shall, ought to, must, need, may
The following model verbs are used in the past tense:
would, should, could, might
Model verbs are used to answer questions in the short form
yes, I do.
yes, we can.
No, I don't.
Model verbs can be used as part of the grammar structure of the sentence, such as when used with the perfect tenses.
When are model verbs used:
Prediction - Will and Shall
Will and shall can be used to state predict that an event or an action will take place or will occur The model verbs can used to make a prediction about an event or action about the future.
o I think we will be able to go and see the move tonight.
o My mother thinks we will not get home be it starts to rain.
Requests - Offers - Suggestions - Can - Could - May - Shall
To make requests, offers or suggestions can be stated with the model verbs
Permission - Can - Could - May - Might
Can, could, may and might are model verbs that can be used to give permission or deny permission to do something or to someone.
Can I help you cook dinner?
You may not watch T. V. after dinner.
Certainty - Possibility - Can - Might - may- Could - Shall -Can, might
- and could are model verbs that can be used to state certainty and possibility.
Do you think it might rain tomorrow night?
I might be home before midnight.
You can come over tonight if you would like to.
Ability - Inability - Can - Could - Able to
My father hopes that we will be able to go to the moves.
I can not go to Europe with you.
How is the verb tense "can" used?
The verb tense "can" is used as both an auxiliary verb and a modal verb? Can is almost always used with a main verb.
Can is used to: Can't is used to state:
• to request something • to state the something is not allowed
• to request a favor from someone • to request something not be done
• to ask for help • to state the inability of something or someone
• to state the possibility of an event/activity • to deny permission
• to state the ability of someone/something
• to request permission from someone or for something
• to ask for permission from someone or for something
Examples of the verb tense "can":
• The cat can go to the store.
• Can I go to school late on Tuesday?
• You can't go to school late on Tuesday?
• We can't help you clean the house.
The structure of the verb tense "can":
1. When using as a verb or an auxiliary verb the verb tense "can" stays in its base form.
2. Can doesn't change form according to the subject.
3. Can is followed by a main verb tense. The main verb tense also stays in its base form. (The main verb tense that is used with can doesn't change form according to the subject.)
- Subject "Can" "Main Verb"
-
Positive Sentences I -All subjects* can go to the store
Negative Sentences We - All subjects* can not go to the store
Questions** Can they - go to the store
* All subjects is I, we, they, you, plural nouns, singular nouns and uncountable nouns.
**Questions - Questions using the verb tense "can" the verb tense "can comes before the subject.
