Auxiliaries

Concept: The Secret to Using 'are'

Definition

• The word ‘are’ is an auxiliary or a helping verb that is used with a main verb to build a sentence.
• It is also used to show the action happening in the present.
• It is used with only plural nouns and plural pronouns like you, they, we, etc.
• The auxiliary verb ‘are’ can also be called a ‘be-verb’.

Example:

1. We are playing hockey.
2. They are my students.
3. You are doing a wonderful job.
4. Ravi and his pet are walking in the park.

a) More Than One Person:

We used ‘are’ in the above sentence because the speaker is talking about more than one person.

b) More Than One Animal:

• In the sentence, we used the auxiliary be-verb ‘are’ to talk about more than one cat.
• The action (playing) is also taking place in the present.
• The auxiliary verb ‘are’ is used with the main action word ‘playing’ to build a sentence.

c) More Than One Place:

In the above example, the speaker is describing more than one place. Therefore, we used ‘are’ to talk about plural nouns.

d) More Than One Object:

• In the above sentence, the auxiliary verb ‘are’ is used to speak about more than one fruit.
• We used ‘are’ because the speaker is talking about the fruits that he is eating in the present.

Common Mistakes:

1. Don’t use ‘are’ with singular pronouns like I, he, she, it. Always use ‘am’ with I and ‘is’ with he, she, it.

Examples:

• He is a doctor.
• He are a doctor.
• I am a student.
• I are a student.

2. Don’t use ‘are’ if you are talking about pairs because one pair can’t be considered a plural noun. Instead, one pair is considered as one unit or thing; hence ‘a’ is used with the words ‘pair of’.

Example:

• A pair of gloves is on the table.
• A pair of gloves are on the table.

Exception:

Always use ‘are’ with ‘you’ even if the pronoun is describing a singular person.

Example:

• You are a very smart girl.
• You is a very smart girl.