auxiliary verb examples
Categories: Basic English
Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)
Auxiliary verbs are verbs that help the main verb to form tenses, questions, negatives, or emphasis.
They don’t carry full meaning by themselves — they support the main verb.
1. Primary Auxiliaries
Be, Have, Do
- Be → used in continuous tenses / passive voice
- I am eating lunch.
- The homework was done by her.
- Have → used in perfect tenses
- She has finished her work.
- They had left before I arrived.
- Do → used in negatives, questions, emphasis
- I do not like coffee.
- Do you play chess?
- I do know the answer!
2. Modal Auxiliaries
Can, Could, May, Might, Shall, Should, Will, Would, Must, Ought to
- She can swim. (ability)
- You must wear a helmet. (necessity)
- I will help you. (future)
- He might come tomorrow. (possibility)
- We should be polite. (advice)
✅ Quick formula: Auxiliary Verb + Main Verb = complete verb phrase
Example: She is reading, They have gone, He will play
Auxiliary Verbs
1. Primary Auxiliaries
Auxiliary | Use | Example |
Be | Continuous tenses / Passive voice | I am eating. / The work was done. |
Have | Perfect tenses | She has finished. / They had left. |
Do | Negatives, questions, emphasis | I do not like tea. / Do you play? / I do know it! |
2. Modal Auxiliaries
Modal | Use | Example |
Can | Ability / Permission | She can swim. |
Could | Past ability / Polite request | When I was young, I could run fast. |
May | Permission / Possibility | You may leave early. |
Might | Small possibility | He might come tomorrow. |
Shall | Future (formal) | We shall overcome. |
Should | Advice / Duty | You should eat healthy. |
Will | Future / Strong intention | I will help you. |
Would | Politeness / Hypothetical | I would like some tea. |
Must | Necessity / Obligation | You must wear a helmet. |
Ought to | Moral duty | We ought to respect elders. |