What are Auxiliary Verbs?
Auxiliary verbs are the verbs that follow other verbs in sentences. These verbs help other verbs. So, we can also call them as helping verbs.
The most common auxiliary verbs are-
- have
- be
- do
Functions of Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary verb performs its function in a sentence.
It-
- emphasizes a sentence
- shows a tense of the sentence whether it is present, past or future
- shows voice whether it is active or passive
- asks a question
- form a negative sentence
In this chapter, we shall get about be. For auxiliary verbs have and do, read chapters-
- For have- Use of have
- Has- Use of has
- Do- Use of do
Auxiliary verb- be
We can use be as a main verb in a sentence. For this, you can refer a chapter about ‘be’ as the main verb. We can also use be to make passives.
In this chapter, we shall see the use of the auxiliary verb ‘be’ in a sentence.
The forms of ‘be’ are- am, is are, was, and were. We should use verbs according to subjects. That is, we use-
- am with only I in the present tense.
- is with he, she, it or any subject of the third person, singular number in the present tense.
- are with we, you, they, or any plural noun in the present tense.
- was with I, he, she, it or any singular noun in a sentence in the past tense.
- were with we, you, they, or any plural noun in a sentence in the past tense.
Examples with auxiliary verbs
We shall see how we can use the forms of ‘be’ in statements, questions, negatives, and in passives.
Have a look-
Statements
When we form a statement with an auxiliary verb, we use them according to the subject of a sentence. We use the form of the main verb according to the voice of a sentence.
Have a look-
- I am going to school.
- We are bored of this channel.
- He is watching a movie.
- It is playing with a ball.
- You are showing me a picture that I gave you.
- They are searching for something on Google.
- I was very tired.
- You were speaking to him.
- He was drawing a picture of oil paints.
- They were angry with him.
Questions
When we form a question with an auxiliary verb, we should place an auxiliary verb at the starting of a sentence.
Have a look-
- Am I going to school?
- Are we bored of this channel?
- Is he watching a movie?
- Is it playing with a ball?
- Are you showing me a picture that I gave you?
- Are they searching for something on Google?
- Was I very tired?
- Were you speaking to him?
- Was he drawing a picture with oil paints?
- Were they angry with him?
Negative Sentences
These sentences are statements but we have to add a negative sense.
So, when we form a negative sentence, we should use not with the auxiliary verb.
Have a look-
- I am not going to school.
- We are not bored with this channel.
- He is not watching a movie.
- It is not playing with a ball.
- You are not showing me a picture that I gave you.
- They are not searching for something on Google.
- I was not very tired.
- You were not speaking to him.
- He was not drawing a picture with oil paints.
- They were not angry with him.
Switch from auxiliary verbs to Grammar lessons.
