Auxiliary Verbs in English Grammar

Auxiliary Verbs in English Grammar

 

Primary and Modal Auxiliaries
 

Types of Auxiliary Verbs
 

 

 

Auxiliary Verb:

An auxiliary verb in English is one which helps other verbs to make tenses, passive forms etc. There are two types - primary auxiliaries and modal auxiliaries.

 

Primary auxiliaries

 

•  Be, do, have and their various forms  are called primary auxiliaries.

 

•  Be is used with other verbs to make progressive and passive verbs forms.

 

Examples:-

-  He is reading.

-  It was presented for audience.

 

Do is used to make questions, negatives and emphatic forms of non-auxiliary verbs.

 

Examples:-

-  Do you know where George lives?

-  I don’t know.

-  Do sit down.

 

Have is used to make perfect verbs forms.

 

Examples:-

-  I have completed my work.

-  She has acted in a film.

-  They had forgotten to send the letter.

 

Primary auxiliaries merely help to express statements of fact.

 

Examples:

-  She is writing.

-  I am working.

- You have done wrong.

-  He did not come in time.

-  They have arrived.

 

Note that be, do and have can also function as principal verbs. They are called auxiliaries only when they help other verbs to form their tenses and moods.

 

Examples:-

-  You were wrong. (Principal verb)

-  You have done wrong. (Auxiliary verb)

-   She is a good singer. (Principal verb)

-   She is singing. (Auxiliary verb)