Helping Verbs

Helping verbs support the main verbs.

Helping Verbs
• 'Be' verb
• 'Do' verb
• 'Have' verb
• Modals

Helping verbs are also called auxiliary verbs.

Modals

You have learnt that words like can, can't, may, might, will, would are used with main verbs to express ability, possibility, certainty, to make requests, or to take permissions. Such words are called modals.

Read these sentences

• She can speak and write seven languages. (shows ability)
• May I help you carry this box? (shows offer)
• Would you pass me the salad, please? (shows request)
• You should visit a doctor for your cold. (shows advice)
• You must watch this movie. (shows strong suggestion)

Modals in different forms can make up different types of sentences :

Positive Sentences

• I might be late for the meeting.
• You must lie down and take rest.

Negative Sentences

• I can't remember where I kept my shoes..
• You should not repeat the same mistake.

Interrogative Sentences

• Would you join us for the picnic?
• May I borrow your crayons?

Numbers and person of the subject cannot affect the form of modals.

Question Tags

Read these interrogative sentences :

• You can click photographs, can't you?
• Mary will not come with us, will she?
• Zayn shouldn't stay home alone, should he?

The mini questions can't you?, will she?, should he? at the end of these statements are question tags.

• A positive statement takes a negative question tag.
  For example:
  • Snow is white,isn't it?
• A negative statement takes a positive question tag.
  For example:
  • You can't see me,can you?

We add negative tags to positive sentences and positive to go to negative sentences.