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50 Most Common Irregular Verbs

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.

50 Most Common Irregular Verbs