Helping verbs

Helping verbs are the verbs that don't have a specific definition by themselves, but help the principal verb in a sentence by extending its meaning. They can also represent the time of action in a sentence. As a result, helping verbs are used to create the most complicated verb tenses in English: the continuous and the perfect tenses.

Many students make mistakes while using helping verbs in English, so here they can get a clear picture of using this type of verb!

Types of Helping Verbs: Helping verbs are significant as they are needed to frame the constitution of a sentence. They are intended to help the main verb. There are two types of verbs that can be used as helping verbs in English: auxiliary and modal.

Auxiliary Verbs: Helping verbs which add meaning to the sentence, where they are being used are called auxiliary verbs. They are used to express tense or to add emphasis. The three common auxiliary verbs have various forms:

• To be: am, is, are, was, were, be, been

• To have: have, has, had

• To do: do, does, did

Be, do and have can be either independent or auxiliary verbs. One can identify when these verbs are auxiliary if they are grouped with other verbs to complete the verb phrase. The following sentences are the examples:

• I am a teacher.( independent)

• My brother is sensitive.( independent)

• I am having a pocket dictionary.( auxiliary)

• My mother is making dinner for us now.( auxiliary)

• They do not know the address.(auxiliary)

• I have been waiting for three hours.(auxiliary)

• Rohit was given the title "Man of the match".(auxiliary)

Continuous and perfect tenses

Helping verbs are used for serving unusual purposes in sentences. One of the auxiliary verb's main functions is to place the action of a sentence in a particular aspect of time. The two foremost aspects that auxiliary verbs play a role in are the continuous aspect and the perfect aspect.

Using continuous tense

When the main verb in a sentence ends in -ing, the continuous aspect is being used. This form is used to convey the idea that an action is occurring in an ongoing manner.

The forms of the helping verb to be (am, is, are, was, and were) are used to create this feature:

• I am learning French for seven years.

• Sam is starting a new textile business.

• Ram and Shyam are studying in U.K.

• It was raining when we were going to our home town.

• The players were practicing earnest before the match.

Using perfect tense

There are three perfect tenses in English: past perfect, present perfect, and future perfect. The perfect tense is used to explain an action that is/was/ will be in a state of progress and is/was/will be finished before a particular time. The perfect tense can also be used in the continuous form to show actions that are in progress. Forms of the verb to have are often used to represent the various perfect tenses.

The following sentences show how helping verbs are used to represent these tenses:

• The train had started already by then. (past perfect)

• He had been watching a movie when I called him. (past perfect continuous)

• Ram has been doing the task the whole day. (present perfect continuous)

• Have you worked here long?

(present perfect)

Note: One central rule to keep in mind is that the verb expression in a sentence should not include more than three helping verbs. When used properly, helping verbs perform some of the most complicated works in English verb phrases. The writers should use the more complex tenses, continuous and perfect only if they already have a complete understanding of English sentence structure. For second language learners, helping verbs can create peculiar problems and should therefore be studied methodically.

Do forms:

Use DOES with me, you, us and them (in the present).

Use DOES with him, her and it (in the present).

DO and DOES show emphasis in a sentence.

I like cheese. I do like cheese.

She looks good in that dress. She does look good in that dress.

Use DID for all forms in the past.

Tip: When asking questions in the past with WHY, WHERE, and HOW + DID, we often shorten the word "did" in spoken English.

• Why'd she go home early yesterday?

• Where'd you buy that watch?

• How'd he finish his homework so fast?

Use DON'T, DOESN'T, and DIDN'T  to form negative statements:

• I don't like coffee.

• They don't like modern trends in clothing.

• The bank doesn't open on Saturdays.

• She didn't have any more work to do, so she went home.

• He didn't perform well in the last match.

Framing questions with do forms

Do, does and did are used to frame questions:

• Do you like chocolates?

• Where do you study?

• How does the ATM work?

• Does Ravi have a laptop?

• Did you attend the meeting yesterday?

• Why did she go home early yesterday?

Be forms:

BE is used to form the present, past, and future continuous tenses:

Present Continuous: AM, IS, ARE + -ing form

• I'm learning German.

• He is playing the Piano.

• We're having dinner right now.

Past Continuous: WAS, WERE + -ing form

• She was cooking all the day.

• They were admiring Shakespeare that time.

Future Continuous: WILL BE + -ing form

• My daughter will be flying to USA next year.

• He will be speaking at the conference next week.

FraMING QUESTIONS WITH BE forms

When you ask a question in the present, past, or future continuous, the word order changes and the helping verb comes before the subject:

Is he painting the door?

He's painting the door.

Were they living in Dubai?

They were living in Dubai.

Will John be speaking at the congregation?

John will be speaking at the congregation.

Have forms:

HAVE, HAS and HAD are used to form perfect tenses.

Present perfect: Use HAVE (with I, you, we, they) and HAS (with he, she, it)

• We have reached the airport just now.

• He has finished his project.

• They have already discussed the issue. In spoken English, we often shorten "he has" and "she has" to "he's" and "she's":

• She's just called me.

• He's applied for a loan.

Past perfect: Use HAD in all cases

• He had written the novel in a day.

• We had tried our best to finish the work, but we didn't.

In spoken English, we often shorten "had" to 'd

• He'd written the novel in a day.

• We'd tried our best to finish the work, but we didn't.

Future perfect: Use WILL HAVE in all cases

• By this time next year, I will have finished my course.

• She will have arrived here by next week.

Framing questions with have, has and had

When you ask a question with HAVE, the word order changes and the helping verb comes before the subject:

Have you attended the workshop?

I have attended the workshop.

Has he paid the fees?

He has paid the fees.

Have they invited you?

They have invited me.