Helping Verbs: Definition, Types, Functions, Rules & Examples

In English grammar, helping verbs are an important part. They are used along with main verbs to form clear and meaningful sentences. These verbs help express tense, voice, mood, and other grammatical details that make sentences clearer and more accurate. Learning how helping verbs work can improve your writing and speaking skills. In this guide, you will learn the concept of helping verbs with simple explanations and examples. 

Table of Contents

• What is a Helping Verb?
• List of Helping Verbs
• Types of Helping Verbs
• How to Use Helping Verbs
• Rules for Using Helping Verbs
• Functions of Helping Verbs
• Helping Verbs Exercises

What is a Helping Verb?

A helping verb is a verb that is used together with a main verb to form a complete and meaningful sentence. It supports the main verb, which shows the main action, by adding more information about the tense, voice, or mood of the sentence. As the name suggests, a helping verb “helps” the main verb to express the action more clearly.

Helping verbs are also called auxiliary verbs. They combine with main verbs to create verb phrases that show time, possibility, ability, necessity, and other details. Without helping verbs, it would be difficult to form different tenses, ask questions, or make negative sentences correctly.

Some commonly used helping verbs in English include: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, do, does, did, have, has, had, may, can, must, might, shall, will, should, would, and could. These verbs play an important role in making sentences clear and grammatically correct.

List of Helping Verbs

1. Am

2. Is

3. Are

4. Was

5. Were

6. Be

7. Being

8. Been

9. Have

10. Has

11. Had

12. Do

13. Does

14. Did

15. Can

16. Could

17. May

18. Might

19. Shall

20. Should

21. Will

22. Would

23. Must

24. Ought To

 

Helping verbs across all tenses

Here is how helping verbs combine with main verbs to form every tense:

How to Use Helping Verbs

To use helping verbs correctly, it is important to understand how they change form to show different tenses, moods, and voices. Helping verbs work with the main verb to add meaning to a sentence. The examples below show how helping verbs are used in different situations.

• She is reading a novel right now.

• They are planning a trip for the holidays.

• Do you understand the question?

• He has finished his homework already.

• The bridge was repaired last year.

• We can solve this problem together.

• I did complete the project on time.

• Were they waiting for the bus?

• She will join us for the meeting later.

• You should follow the instructions carefully.

 

Rules for Using Helping Verbs

• Helping verb comes before the main verb: Always place the helping verb immediately before the main verb.
  Incorrect: Reading she is.
  Correct: She is reading.

• Agreement with subject: Primary auxiliaries change form based on the subject's person and number.

• I am

• He/She is

• They are

• He has

• They have

• She does

• I do

• Modal verbs do not change form: Modals stay the same for all subjects. No "-s" for third person.
  Correct: She can go.
  Incorrect: She cans go. 

• Negatives use 'not' after the helping verb
  Examples:
  • She is not coming.
  • I cannot do it.
  • We did not go.
• Questions invert helping verb and subject
  Example:
  • Are you ready? 
  • Has he left?
  • Will she come?
• No more than three helping verbs per verb phrase: A verb phrase should not contain more than three helping verbs.
  Example: She will have been working.
• Avoid ‘no’ or ‘not’ alone as a negative helper: Always use ‘don't / doesn't / didn't’ not bare ‘no’ or ;not’.
  Incorrect: I not like it.
  Correct: I don't like it.

Helping Verbs Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify the Helping Verb

1. She is singing a song.

2. They have completed the project.

3. We can play football.

4. He was sleeping.

5. You should study harder.

Answers:

1. is

2. have

3. can

4. was

5. should

Exercise 2: Fill in the Blanks

Choose the correct helping verb.

1. She ___ reading a book.

2. They ___ finished their homework.

3. I ___ swim very well.

4. We ___ visit Delhi tomorrow.

5. You ___ obey traffic rules.

Answers:

1. is

2. have

3. can

4. will

5. should

Exercise 3: Correct the Errors

1. He are playing football.

2. She can sings well.

3. They has arrived.

4. I is happy.

5. We has completed the work.

Answers:

1. He is playing football.

2. She can sing well.

3. They have arrived.

4. I am happy.

5. We have completed the work.