English auxiliary verbs the auxiliary verbs pdf. Modest helpers you can't do without

Even though auxiliary verbs in English do not have their own meaning, they play a very important role. In combination with semantic (main) verbs, auxiliary verbs form almost.

From our article you will learn how to use auxiliary verbs in the English Perfect and Continuous tenses. We will also tell you what modal verbs and modal phrases are. And the comparative approach of this lesson will improve your understanding of verb tenses in general.

Let's figure out exactly how auxiliary verbs participate in the formation of main tenses.

Present Perfect

The Present Perfect (also known as the present perfect or complete) in English describes an action that comes from the past and continues into the present, or happened in the recent past. Tense is formed as follows: form of the auxiliary verb have/has + III form of the main verb.

  • My sister has come back from school. — My sister (has already) returned from school.
  • Tom has studied for 6 years. — Tom studied for 6 years.
  • Mother has cooked the whole day. — Mom spent the whole day cooking.
  • Jane has just finished doing her homework. — Jane has just finished doing her homework.
  • I have slept for six hours. — I slept for six hours.
  • They have worked on this project for the last two weeks. — They have been working on this project for the last two weeks.

Long Past (Past Perfect)

(past perfect) describes an action in the past that began and ended at a certain point in the past. Past Perfect is formed as follows: auxiliary verb had + III form of the verb.

  • We had left home when she arrived. — By the time she arrived, we had already left the house.
  • Jane had demonstrated no fright before the airplane took off. — Before the plane took off, Jane showed no fear.
  • Max finally repaired his car that he had bought two years ago. — Max finally fixed his car, which he bought two years ago.
  • The child had broken the toy before his mother paid for that. — The child broke the toy (already) before his mother paid for it.

Continuous action in the present (Present Continuous)

(present continuous or continuous) denotes an action that is happening at the moment, or that will happen in the near future.

It is formed as follows: auxiliary verb to be (am, is, are) + main verb + ending -ing.

  • The family is having breakfast now. — The family is having breakfast at the moment.
  • Jane is preparing for an important exam. — Jane is preparing for an important exam.
  • I'm going to visit that museum soon. — I’m going to go to this museum in the near future.
  • We are going to build a new house soon. — We are planning to build a new house in the near future.

Continuous action in the past (Past Continuous)

Past Continuous (past continuous / continuous) denotes an action that continued at a certain point in time in the past. It is formed as follows: forms of the auxiliary verb to be (was, were) + main verb + ending -ing.

  • Tom was helping his brother with his homework the whole yesterday evening. — Yesterday Tom spent the whole evening helping his brother with his homework.
  • Jane was swimming in the pool for two hours yesterday. — Yesterday Jane swam in the pool for two hours.
  • They were trying to mend the car for two hours this morning. “This morning they tried to fix the car for two hours.
  • We were having our dinner when the neighbor came. — When the neighbor came in, we were having dinner.

Other auxiliary verbs (Modal verbs)

If in the construction of auxiliary verb + main verb the first verb is can, will, shall, may, could, would, should, might or must, then they remain unchanged. In such cases it is not necessary, as, for example, in the Present Continuous or Past Continuous.

Let's look at examples:

  • I must study hard to pass the exams successfully. — To pass the exam successfully, I must study as hard as I can.
  • We should be careful when crossing the street. — When crossing the street, we must be careful.
  • You will go to the trip in summer. — In the summer you will go on a trip.
  • He may work harder to earn more money. — To earn more, he can work harder.
  • She might win the prize. — She could have won a prize.
  • They could stay in the mountains for two days more. “They could have stayed in the mountains for two more days.”

Modal phrases

Such as could have, would have, must have attach a semantic verb in the III form.

Let's look at them with examples:

  • She must have prepared her evening dress in advance. — She should have prepared the evening dress in advance.
  • We could have left for vacations unless the car breakage. “If it weren’t for the car breakdown, we could have already gone on vacation.”
  • He would have reached the peak if he had started his climb two days earlier. “If he had started climbing two days earlier, he would have already reached the top.”

The modal phrases used to, have to, have got to, be able to, ought to, be supposed to form constructions with a semantic verb in the I form.

Let's look at examples.

Welcome to the lesson in which we will talk about how to use auxiliary verbs in English. Let's look at each of the auxiliary verbs in detail, see in what tenses certain verbs are used, and be sure to look at examples of their use in English sentences. Auxiliary verbs include the following verbs: do / does, did, am / are / is, was / were, have / has.

Auxiliary verbs are used with interrogative and negative sentences to correctly indicate the time when an action will occur. Auxiliary verbs are not always needed. Below we will look at everything in order.

When are auxiliary verbs not used in English?

If you see the words will, can, be in a sentence, then auxiliary verbs are not used when posing an interrogative sentence.

I will call you day after tomorrow. - I'll call you the day after tomorrow.
Will I call you day after tomorrow? - Will I call you the day after tomorrow?
The verb will already indicates that the action will happen in the future, so no auxiliary verbs are needed here.

I can help you. - I can help you.
Can I help you? - Can I help you?
Here we refer to the present tense using the verb can, so an auxiliary verb is not required.

Her address is not found. - Her address was not found.
What is her address? - What is her address?
We used the verb to be in the present tense, that is, the time has already been determined, so in such cases the use of auxiliary verbs is not necessary.

Using auxiliary verbs in English

The auxiliary verb do (for I, you, we, they) / does (for he, she, it) are used for the Present Simple tense.

Do you like New York? - Do you like New York?
Does he like Moscow? - Does he like Moscow?

The auxiliary verb did is used for the Past Simple tense.

What did she say? - What did she say?
Did you ask anything? - Did you ask something?

The auxiliary verb am (for I) / are (for they, you) / is (for he, she, it) is used for the Present Continuos tense.

Are you coming back to home? -Are you coming home?
Is he going to the movies? - Is he going to the cinema?

The auxiliary verb was (for singular) / were (for plural) is used for Past Continuos (past continuous tense).

What was she doing? - What did she do?
What were we doing? - What did we do?

Auxiliary Verbs in English– these are verbs, (to) be, (to) do, (to) have And will. They do not carry any meaning to the sentence and are not translated (if they are used as auxiliary verbs), but simply help to create a temporary sentence.

Verb "To be"

This verb can be used as an auxiliary verb, or as an independent verb (that is, carry a separate semantic load in a sentence).
If this verb acts as an auxiliary verb, then it is used to compose tense. For example:

I won’t describe every time here, just follow the necessary links (above), everything is described in detail there. I’ll just give examples where the verb “to be” is used as an independent verb:

They are sixteen years old
They are sixteen years old / literally - They are sixteen years old

She is not sixteen years old
She is not sixteen years old / literally - She is not sixteen years old

Are they sixteen years old?
Are they sixteen years old?

Verb "To do"

It can also be either an auxiliary or an independent verb. When denying or questioning, " do" is used as an auxiliary verb in Present Simple and Past Simple:

The statement simply says “He plays football.”

Negation:

He does not play football
He doesn't play football
He did not play football
He didn't play football

Question:

Does he play football?
Does he play football?
Did he play football?
Did he play football?

If they want to use " do" as an independent verb, then use another version of "do"

He does his homework every day (affirmative form)
He daily does(do) ​​homework

He does n’t do his homework every day (negative form)
It's not every day does homework

Does he do his homework every day? (interrogative form)
He does homework every day?

Verb "to have"

Just like " to be", can act as an auxiliary or independent verb. If it is auxiliary, then it is also used to form tense:

Don't forget that there is a big difference between these 4 times. If you have forgotten or do not know the differences, follow the necessary links. They are all presented in this article.

Verb "Will"

A single verb that can only be used as an auxiliary verb. It serves to form future () tenses:

He will not play football (Simple Future)
He won't play football

He will have played football (Future Perfect)
He will play football


1. Translate into Russian.

1) TO BE

1. Matter is constantly changing and is constantly moving.
2. The Curies had been working for four years before they discovered radium.
3. Energy is measured in the same units as work.

1. He told her what had happened and left.
2. I will have read the story by 10 o’clock.
3. Have you ever been in Moscow?

1. Why did you not come by the 9 o’clock train?
2. Don't go away!
3. Does he help you? - Yes, he does.

1. I shall be tired after the lecture.
2. Shall he begin the experience?
3. You shall get all the necessary books tomorrow.

1. I said that I should return on Sunday.
2. If he should come, I shall speak to him about it.
3. You should have measured the difference in potential between the points X and Y.

1. We will help you if you wish.
2. All right, I will do it.
3. Will you let me have a look at that letter?

1. She said that they would have taken all the exams by the 21st of June.
2. He said that he would return soon.
3. He thought that we would be working all day.

2. Choose the right option.

1. I…waiting for Pete.
a) am b) have c) do d) will
2. He...finished his work by 7 o’clock.
a) is b) will c) should d) had
3. He... learn French.
a) hasn’t b) wouldn’t c) doesn’t isn’t
4. They... go there with pleasure.
a) have b) are c) will do
5. Mary and John ... at home last Monday.
a) have b) do c) were will
6. He will…read the story by 10 o’clock.
a) does b) was c) should
7. … open the window.
a) haven’t b) don’t c) won’t isn’t
8. The train…arrive at 7.20.
a) has b) is c) will should
9. … have you ever been to the Caucasus?
a) are b) should c) have do
10. The train... have left by the time they get to the station.
a) is b) does c) will have

3. Make up sentences.

1. seem, he, unfriendly, does, ?
2. I, the typist, came, the letters, when, typing, was.
3. just, the agreement, has, by, the director, been, signed.
4. his mother, returns, he, be, will, working, when.
5. go, did, to, cinema, you, the, yesterday, ?
6. my, he, I, finished, before, had, work, returned.

Correct answers:

1. Translate into Russian.

1) TO BE
1. Matter is constantly changing and constantly moving.
2. The Curies worked for four years before radium was discovered.
3. Energy is measured in the same units as work.

2) TO HAVE
1. He told her what happened and left.
2. I will have to read the story by 10 o'clock.
3. Have you ever been to Moscow?

3) TO DO
1.Why didn’t you come by the 9 o’clock train?
2. Don't leave!
3. Does he help you? - Yes.

4) SHALL
1. I will be tired after the lecture.
2. Should I start an experiment for him?
3. You must bring all the necessary books tomorrow.

5) SHOULD
1. I said that I would be back on Sunday.
2. If he comes, I will talk to him about it.
3. You should measure the potential difference between points X
and Y.

6) WILL
1. We will help you if you want.
2. Okay, I'll do it.
3. Please allow me to look at this letter.

7) WOULD
1. She said that they will pass all exams by June 21st.
2. He said that he would be back soon.
3. He thought that we would work all day.

2. Choose the correct option.

1. a | 2. d | 3. c | 4. c | 5. c | 6. c | 7. b | 8. c | 9. c | 10.c

3. Make sentences.

1. Does he seem unfriendly?
2. The typist was typing the letters when I came.
3. The agreement has just been signed by the director.
4. He will be working when his mother returns.
5. Did you go to the cinema yesterday?
6. I had finished my work before he returned.

Auxiliary verbs These are helping verbs. They express only different grammatical meanings. Auxiliary verbs are very important because they show tense, number, person and voice. They are used together with semantic verbs that express the action itself.

What auxiliary verbs are there in English?

First of all, of course, to be, to have And to do, which are used almost everywhere, as well as modal verbs: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, ought to, will and would.

To be, to do and to have differ from other auxiliary verbs in that they can also be used in a sentence as semantic verbs.

Let's take a closer look at the verbs to be, to do and to have. (We will talk about modal verbs in a separate article).

Auxiliary verb TO BE

How and where is it used?

Auxiliary verb to be used in both affirmative, interrogative and negative sentences in the tenses of the Continuous group, as well as in the formation of all tenses in the passive voice.

Shape Features:

In the table below you can see all forms of the verb to be in the Present Simple. It is these forms that are involved in the formation of the Present Continuous tense.

I am (='m) am not ('m not)
We/You/They are (= 're) are not (aren’t / ‘re not)
He/She/It is (= 's) is not (isn’t / ‘s not)

The forms of the verb to be in the Past Simple can be found in the table below. It is these forms that are involved in the formation of the Past Continuous. The negative form is also formed by adding a particle not.

I/He/She/It was was not (= wasn’t)
We/You/They were were not (=weren’t)

In interrogative sentences, the verb to be is used before the subject. In short answers to general questions (= questions that can be answered with “Yes” or “No”) - after the subject. This applies to both Present Simple and Past Simple (and, accordingly, Present Continuous and Past Continuous).

For example:

Is he writing a letter now?

-Yes, he is./ No, he isn't.

Was he doing his homework at 6 p.m. m. yesterday?

-Yes, he was./ No, he wasn't.

N.B.: in a short affirmative answer, the full form of the verb to be (are, was etc.) is used, and in a short negative answer, as a rule, the abbreviated form is used (aren’t, wasn’t etc.).

The negative form of the imperative mood is formed using don't (don't), i.e. according to the general rule.

For example:

Don't be sad. = Don't be sad.

Also to be participates in the formation of tenses in the passive voice.

For example:

The dinner is being served now.

The book was read yesterday.

Auxiliary verbTO DO

How and where is it used?

Auxiliary verb to do used in interrogative and negative sentences, in short answers to general questions, as well as in affirmative sentences to enhance the emotional coloring of the statement in the Present Simple and Past Simple tenses.

Shape Features:

IN Present Simple verb has one form for pronouns I / you / we / they and another form for He /She / It in both affirmative and negative sentences. The negative form is formed by adding a particle not. In the table below you can see what forms the verb to do has in the Present Simple.

In interrogative sentences, the verb to do (in the appropriate form) is used before the subject in both the Present Simple and Past Simple. In short answers to general questions - after the subject.

Do do you work long hours?

Yes, I do. / No, I don't.

-Did he tell you about it?

Yes, he did. / No, he didn't.

Also to do used to enhance emotional coloring in affirmative sentences. In such sentences, after to do, the first form of the semantic verb is used (infinitive without the particle ‘to’).

For example:

I do love yoga! = I really / really love yoga!

He does appreciate it! = He really appreciates it!

We did try to help! = We really tried to help!

In such sentences it is very important to place emphasis on the verb to do(= say it louder and in a higher pitched voice than usual).

Auxiliary verb TO HAVE

How and where is it used?

Auxiliary verb tohave used in affirmative, interrogative and negative sentences, as well as in short answers to general questions in group tenses Perfect.

Shape Features:

Let's look at how the verb is used in the Present Perfect and Past Perfect tenses.

In time Present Perfect verb to have has one form for pronouns I / you / we / they and another form for pronouns he / she / it. The negative form is formed by adding a particle not.

I/You/We/They have have not (=haven’t)
He/She/It has has not (= hasn’t)

NB: it is important to remember that if the verb have used as semantic in Present Simple time, then the negation is constructed by adding a particle not to auxiliary verb do, not have.

For example:

She doesn't have any time.

However, if the sentence uses the construction have got, then the negation is constructed according to the rule described in the table above. For example: She hasn't got a car.

In the Past Perfect tense, the verb to have has the same form for all persons and numbers. The negative form is also formed by adding a particle not.

I / You / We / They / He / She / It had had not (=hadn’t)

In interrogative sentences, the verb to have is used before the subject in both the Present Perfect and Past Perfect. In short answers to general questions - after the subject.

For example:

-Has she bought a car yet?

-Yes, she / No, she hasn't.

Had he made dinner before 6 p.m.?

Yes, he had./ No, he didn't.



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