Auxillary verbs

Auxiliary verbs or helping verbs, are verbs that are used in conjunction with a main verb to form a verb phrase. They help to take additional information about the action expressed by the main verb, such as tense, temperament, voice, or characteristic.

The primary auxiliary verbs are:

1. Be (is, are, am, was, were, being, been)
2. Have (have, has, had, having)
3. Do (do, does, did, doing)

primary auxiliaries, there are also modal auxiliary verbs, which express requirement, opportunity, agreement, or skill. Some common modal auxiliary verbs are:

• Can
• Could
• May
• Might
• Must
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would

For example:

1. She is running. In this sentence “is” is the auxiliary verb that helps to show the present continuous tense of the main verb “running.”
2. They can swim. In this sentence “can” is the modal auxiliary verb that shows skill.

Types of Auxillary Verbs:

Auxiliary verbs are divided into two main types:

1- Primary auxiliary verbs

2- Modal auxiliary verbs.

1. Primary Auxiliary Verbs

Primary auxillary verbs are used to form different tenses, characteristics, and voices of main verbs. There are three primary auxiliary verbs in English:

• Be:It is used to form continuous tenses and the passive voice.
  • Example: “He is jumping.” (present continuous)
  • Example: “The book was written by her.” (passive voice)
• Have: It is used to form perfect tenses.
  • Example: “We have finished our homework.” (present perfect)
  • Example: “I had left before she arrived.” (past perfect)
• Do: It is used to form questions, negatives, and definite speeches.
  • Example: “Do you like tea?” (question)
  • Example: “I do not remember.” (negative)
  • Example: “I do want to go!” (emphasis)

2. Modal Auxiliary Verbs

These verbs express requirement, oportunity, aggrement, skill, or obligation. Some common modal auxiliary verbs are:

• Can:It shows skill or opportunity.
  • Example: “she can cook
• Could:It showsA past ability or polite needs.
  • Example: “Ali could play the guitar when he was younger.”
• May: It shows agreement or option.
  • Example: “she may leave early.”
• Might:It shows a weaker possibility.
  • Example: “It might rain later.”
• Must:It shows obligation or strong obligation.
  • Example: “He must wear a seatbelt.”
• Shall:It Often used to indicate future act or to make suggestions .
  • Example: “We shall return.”
• Should: Shows advice or approval.
  • Example: “You should see a doctor.”
• Will:Shows future aim or willingness.
  • Example: “Youiwill help me.”
• Would: Used for polite needs or imaginary conditions.
  • Example: “I would like a cup of tea.”

Examples:

Example sentences for both primary and modal auxiliary verbs, along with their functions:

Primary Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliary Verb	Example Sentence	Function
Be	She is cooking.	Forms the present continuous tense.
Have	We have finished our homework.	Forms the present perfect tense.
Do	Do you like tea?	Forms a question.
	I do not remember.	Forms a negative statement.
	I do want to go!	Adds emphasis to the main verb.

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Verb	Example Sentence	Function
Can	She can swim.	shows skill.
Could	He could play the piano when he was younger.	shows past ability.
May	You may leave early.	shows aggrement.
Might	It might rain later.	shows a weaker possibility.
Must	she must wear a seatbelt.	Shows necessity or strong obligation.
Shall	we shall return.	Indicates future act
Should	she  should see a doctor.	shows advice or approval.
Will	You will help me.	showss future intention or willingness.
Would	I would like a cup of tea.	Used for polite requests or imaginery conditions.

These examples express how auxiliary verbs function in sentences to caary different meanings and grammatical structures.