GRAMMAR: Auxiliary verbs

Auxiliary verbs are known as 'helping verbs'.


helping verb + main verb = verb phrase


* The three most common auxiliary verbs are:

be, do and have


Be can be used as an auxiliary verb or the main verb in a sentence.

Be is also used to make passives.

Is tells us that an action is happening now or is going to happen in the future.

Are is used for they and we.

Was is used for the past tense of am and is.

Were is used for the past tense of you, we and they.


In statements:

I am 21.

You are Indian.

We are waiting.

They are excited

He/she is cool.


In questions:

Am I in the right place?

Are you my new boss?

Are we nearly there?

Are they the best players on the team?

Is he/she old enough to go to bars?

In negative sentences:

I am not. (I aren't)

You are not. (you aren't)

We are not. (we aren't)

They are not. (they aren't)

He/she is not. (he/she isn't)


 Form progressive tenses with the auxiliary verb be.
All progressive tenses use a form of be. Present progressive follows this pattern:

am, is, or are + present participle

Use the present progressive tense to convey an action or condition happening right now or frequently.

I am baking chocolate-broccoli muffins today.

Am = auxiliary verb; baking = present participle completing the verb phrase.

Alex is sitting at the kitchen table, anticipating his first bite.

Is = auxiliary verb; sitting = present participle completing the verb phrase.

Alex must wait a while longer because the muffins are cooling by the window.

Are = auxiliary verb; cooling = present participle completing the verb phrase.

Impatient Alex is always waiting to taste whatever I cook.

Is = auxiliary verb; waiting = present participle completing the verb phrase.


* Other common auxiliary verbs are:

can, could, may, might, must, ought, should, wouldThese are also known as modal verbs. We use them to show obligation, possibility and necessity.

For example:

Jack is late. He might be sleeping. (possibility)

I should clean my room today. (obligation)

I must wear a tie to school. (necessity)



Examples:

be1    She is the boss
be2    He is sleeping
be3    Hamlet was written by Shakespeare

have   They have understood

do    You did not understand

shall    You shall not pass
 

will    We will eat pie
would  Nothing would accomplish that 

can1    I can swim
can2   Such things can help

could1    I could swim
could2    That could help

may1    May I stay?
may2    That may take place



**********************************************************************************************

TO BE: (Ser/Estar)

Se usa para la forma progresiva o contínua y la voz pasiva.

 

















TO HAVE: (Tener/ Haber)

Se usa para la formación de los tiempos compuestos de pasado.

 

 
DO - DID:
Son auxiliares para las formas interrogativas y negativas de Presente Simple y Pasado Simple.

SHALL - WILL: 
a) Se usan para formar el futuro y sus pasados: shall, para las primeras personas del singular y plural; will, para las restantes;

b) En la forma interrogativa Will you? equivale a ¿Quieres?

 
SHOULD - WOULD: 
Se usan para formar los condicionales: should para las primeras personas del singular y plural; would, para las restantes.

 
LET: Se usa para la tercera persona del singular y plural, y primera del plural del imperativo.