Combining auxiliary verbs Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Lesson 35: Combining Auxiliary Verbs

All the sentences with helping (auxiliary) verbs that we've looked at so far have had only one helping verb. It's possible, however, for a sentence to have more than one helping verb. Here are some examples of sentences with two helping verbs; the helping verbs are underlined. (Remember that there are three kinds of helping verbs: (a) modals (e.g. should, can, might), (b) have, and (c) be. See Lessons 32-34.)

1. She should have studied. (modal + have)
2. She may be studying. (modal + be)
3. She has been studying. (have + be)

When a sentence has two helping verbs, which helping verb is first? If a sentence has a modal, that will always be the first helping verb, as you can see in sentences 1 and 2. If a sentence has both have and be as helping verbs, have will always be first, as you can see in sentence 3.

Can you think of a sentence with three helping verbs? Sentences 4 and 5 have three helping verbs (underlined):

4. She should have been studying.
5. Mary might have been looking at him.

If there are three helping verbs, they are always in the following order: modal + have + be, as you can see from sentences 4 and 5. And if there are only two helping verbs, they're still in this relative order, with modal first, and have before be.

Quick Tip 35.1

A sentence can have zero, one, or more than one helping verb. If there is more than one, they will always be in the following relative order: modal + have + be.

Question 1. For each sentence below, underline the main verb. Then decide if the sentence has zero, one, two, or three helping verbs before the main verb.
Sample: They may rent a car at the terminal. - 1

Getting Started (Answers on p. 165)

Question 1. She was focusing on the mirror.
Answer: Main verb: focusing. Helping verbs: was. Number of helping verbs: 1
In simple words: The word "focusing" is the main verb, and "was" helps it. There is only one helping verb.

Exam Tip: Always find the main verb first, then count every word that comes before it and acts as a helper.

Question 2. Andy should have been enjoying his new career.
Answer: Main verb: enjoying. Helping verbs: should, have, been. Number of helping verbs: 3
In simple words: The main verb is "enjoying." Three words help it: "should," "have," and "been." They follow the order modal + have + be.

Exam Tip: Remember the fixed order: if you see a modal, it comes first; then have; then be.

Question 3. Mrs. Packard's life changed at that point.
Answer: Main verb: changed. Helping verbs: none. Number of helping verbs: 0
In simple words: The word "changed" is the main verb, and there are no helping verbs before it.

Exam Tip: Not every sentence has helping verbs. A simple past tense verb standing alone has zero helpers.

Question 4. You can have two scoops of ice cream.
Answer: Main verb: have. Helping verbs: can. Number of helping verbs: 1
In simple words: The main verb is "have," and "can" helps it. There is one helping verb.

Exam Tip: Be careful: "have" can be either a helping verb or a main verb. Here it is the main verb.

Question 5. I might have committed a serious error.
Answer: Main verb: committed. Helping verbs: might, have. Number of helping verbs: 2
In simple words: The main verb is "committed." Two words help it: "might" (a modal) and "have." They follow the order modal + have.

Exam Tip: When you see modal + have together, always write them in that order, and look for the main verb after them.

More Practice (Answers on the Website)

Question 6. Tamara has been working for 22 years.
Answer: Main verb: working. Helping verbs: has, been. Number of helping verbs: 2
In simple words: The main verb is "working." Two words help it: "has" and "been." They follow the order have + be.

Exam Tip: When have and be appear together, have always comes first.

Question 7. He could have been telling the truth.
Answer: Main verb: telling. Helping verbs: could, have, been. Number of helping verbs: 3
In simple words: The main verb is "telling." Three words help it: "could" (a modal), "have," and "been." They follow the order modal + have + be.

Exam Tip: Three helpers always appear in the same order: modal first, then have, then be.

Question 8. The birds were chirping early in the morning.
Answer: Main verb: chirping. Helping verbs: were. Number of helping verbs: 1
In simple words: The main verb is "chirping," and "were" helps it. There is one helping verb.

Exam Tip: The verb "be" in its different forms (is, are, was, were, been) can also be a helping verb.

Question 9. Gauguin painted in Tahiti.
Answer: Main verb: painted. Helping verbs: none. Number of helping verbs: 0
In simple words: The word "painted" is the main verb. No words help it, so there are zero helping verbs.

Exam Tip: Simple past tense verbs with no helpers are common in statements about what happened.

Question 10. Tomorrow we will go to the movies.
Answer: Main verb: go. Helping verbs: will. Number of helping verbs: 1
In simple words: The main verb is "go," and "will" helps it to show future time. There is one helping verb.

Exam Tip: Modal verbs like "will" are always helpers that come before the main verb.

Test Yourself 35.2

Underline Each Helping Verb In The Sentences Below. Each Sentence Will Have At Least One Helping Verb.

Sample: The children have been working hard.

Getting Started (Answers on p. 165)

Question 1. You should read this book.
Answer: Helping verb: should
In simple words: The word "should" is the helper before the main verb "read."

Exam Tip: Modal verbs like "should," "can," and "might" are always helpers.

Question 2. She had been greeting me happily.
Answer: Helping verbs: had, been
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "greeting": "had" and "been." They follow the order have + be.

Exam Tip: When have and be work together, write have first, then be.

Question 3. Janice might have gotten the flu.
Answer: Helping verbs: might, have
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "gotten": "might" (a modal) and "have." The modal comes first.

Exam Tip: Modals always come before have in a helper chain.

Question 4. My question was bothering him.
Answer: Helping verb: was
In simple words: The word "was" helps the main verb "bothering" to show that the action was happening at a past time.

Exam Tip: Forms of "be" (is, are, was, were, being, been) work as helpers in progressive tenses.

Question 5. The prime suspect might have been telling the truth.
Answer: Helping verbs: might, have, been
In simple words: Three words help the main verb "telling": "might" (a modal), "have," and "been." They follow the order modal + have + be.

Exam Tip: When three helpers appear, they always follow the fixed order: modal, then have, then be.

More Practice (Answers on the Website)

Question 6. He could have been a hero.
Answer: Helping verbs: could, have, been
In simple words: Three words help the main verb "been": "could" (a modal), "have," and "been" (wait - "been" is both helper and main verb here). Actually, the main verb is "been" (in the sense of "to be"), and "could" and "have" help it.

Exam Tip: When be appears as both helper and main verb in the same phrase, count the ones that clearly come before the final meaning.

Question 7. The journalists will be traveling throughout Canada.
Answer: Helping verbs: will, be
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "traveling": "will" (a modal) and "be." The modal comes first.

Exam Tip: Modal + be appears in future progressive tenses.

Question 8. I have written many articles about the wealthy.
Answer: Helping verb: have
In simple words: The word "have" helps the main verb "written" to show that the action happened in the past and is now finished.

Exam Tip: The helper "have" with a past participle makes the present perfect tense.

Question 9. This has been a difficult time for me.
Answer: Helping verbs: has, been
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "been": "has" and "been." Wait - "been" is the main verb here, and "has" is the helper. The main verb is "been," and "has" helps it.

Exam Tip: In "has been," "has" is the helper and "been" is the main verb.

Question 10. The trial has been going on far too long.
Answer: Helping verbs: has, been
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "going": "has" and "been." They follow the order have + be.

Exam Tip: The pattern has + been + -ing shows the present perfect progressive tense.

Test Yourself 35.3

Underline Each Helping Verb In The Sentences Below. A Sentence Will Have Anywhere From Zero To Three Helping Verbs.

Sample: He and Bill shook hands. (No helping verb.)

Getting Started (Answers on p. 166)

Question 1. I had been writing to him often.
Answer: Helping verbs: had, been
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "writing": "had" and "been." They show that the writing action was happening over time in the past.

Exam Tip: Had + been + -ing shows the past perfect progressive tense.

Question 2. Their mother has spoken of you a lot.
Answer: Helping verb: has
In simple words: The word "has" helps the main verb "spoken." It shows that the speaking happened in the past but is linked to now.

Exam Tip: Has + past participle shows the present perfect tense.

Question 3. Sam will recognize it immediately.
Answer: Helping verb: will
In simple words: The word "will" helps the main verb "recognize" to show a future action.

Exam Tip: Will + base verb shows the simple future tense.

Question 4. We were good friends.
Answer: Helping verbs: none. The verb "were" is the main verb, not a helper.
In simple words: The sentence has no helpers. The verb "were" is the main verb itself, telling us about the state of being.

Exam Tip: When "be" stands alone as the only verb in a sentence, it is the main verb, not a helper.

Question 5. You should be studying right now.
Answer: Helping verbs: should, be
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "studying": "should" (a modal) and "be." The modal comes first.

Exam Tip: Modal + be + -ing shows the progressive form with a sense of obligation or possibility.

More Practice (Answers on the Website)

Question 6. He may have been working on the project.
Answer: Helping verbs: may, have, been
In simple words: Three words help the main verb "working": "may" (a modal), "have," and "been." They follow the order modal + have + be.

Exam Tip: Modal + have + been + -ing shows a past action that may have occurred, with uncertainty.

Question 7. We had a sudden downpour.
Answer: Helping verbs: none. The verb "had" is the main verb here, meaning "experienced" or "got."
In simple words: There are no helpers. The word "had" is the main verb, showing that the family got rain suddenly.

Exam Tip: When "have" or "had" stands alone as the only verb, it is the main verb, not a helper.

Question 8. This storm will pass soon.
Answer: Helping verb: will
In simple words: The word "will" helps the main verb "pass" to show that the action is expected in the future.

Exam Tip: Will + base verb is the simple future form.

Question 9. The attorney may have overstated her case.
Answer: Helping verbs: may, have
In simple words: Two words help the main verb "overstated": "may" (a modal) and "have." The modal comes first, showing that the action possibly happened in the past.

Exam Tip: Modal + have + past participle shows a past action with uncertainty or possibility.

Question 10. This relationship is improving rapidly.
Answer: Helping verb: is
In simple words: The word "is" helps the main verb "improving." Together they show an action happening right now.

Exam Tip: Is + -ing shows the present progressive tense, an action in progress now.

Test Yourself 35.4

Underline Each Helping Verb In The Sentences Below And Put A Squiggly Line Under The Main Verb. A Sentence Will Have Anywhere From Zero To Three Helping Verbs.

Sample: Paul was offering me a drink.

Getting Started (Answers on p. 166)

Question 1. They can do the research.
Answer: Helping verb: can (underlined). Main verb: do (squiggly line).
In simple words: "Can" is the helper showing ability. "Do" is the main verb showing the action.

Exam Tip: Mark helpers with underlines and the main verb with a different mark like a squiggly line to keep them clear.

Question 2. Suzanne might be leaving sooner.
Answer: Helping verbs: might (underlined), be (underlined). Main verb: leaving (squiggly line).
In simple words: "Might" and "be" are helpers showing possibility and progressive action. "Leaving" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: When marking multiple helpers, underline each one the same way to show they all support the main verb.

Question 3. Papa has been teasing him.
Answer: Helping verbs: has (underlined), been (underlined). Main verb: teasing (squiggly line).
In simple words: "Has" and "been" are helpers showing that teasing started in the past and continues. "Teasing" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The pattern has + been + -ing is a common helper combo for the present perfect progressive.

Question 4. I might have been being too cautious.
Answer: Helping verbs: might (underlined), have (underlined), been (underlined). Main verb: being (squiggly line).
In simple words: Three helpers support the main verb "being": "might" shows possibility, "have" and "been" show a past condition. "Being" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: Three helpers follow the order modal + have + be. The main verb comes after all of them.

Question 5. The plane was late.
Answer: Helping verbs: none. Main verb: was (squiggly line). (The verb "was" is the main verb, not a helper.)
In simple words: The word "was" is the main verb here, showing a past state. There are no helpers.

Exam Tip: When "be" is the only verb in the sentence, it is always the main verb, never a helper.

More Practice (Answers on the Website)

Question 6. The student will have completed his assignment by tomorrow.
Answer: Helping verbs: will (underlined), have (underlined). Main verb: completed (squiggly line).
In simple words: "Will" and "have" are helpers showing a future action that will be finished. "Completed" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: Will + have + past participle shows the future perfect tense.

Question 7. You are being silly.
Answer: Helping verb: are (underlined). Main verb: being (squiggly line).
In simple words: "Are" helps the main verb "being." Together they show an action happening now.

Exam Tip: Are + being shows the present progressive form.

Question 8. Everyone has had a great time at the party.
Answer: Helping verb: has (underlined). Main verb: had (squiggly line).
In simple words: "Has" helps the main verb "had," showing an experience in the past that is linked to now.

Exam Tip: Has + had shows present perfect tense of the verb "to have."

Question 9. The show was a great success.
Answer: Helping verbs: none. Main verb: was (squiggly line). (The verb "was" is the main verb, not a helper.)
In simple words: The word "was" is the main verb showing a past state. There are no helpers.

Exam Tip: A single "be" verb standing alone is always the main verb, never a helper.

Question 10. It must have been difficult to do that.
Answer: Helping verbs: must (underlined), have (underlined), been (underlined). Main verb: difficult (this is an adjective, not a verb in the traditional sense, but in this structure "been" is the main verb acting as a linking verb). Actually, the main verb is "been" (squiggly line).
In simple words: Three helpers support the sentence: "must" (a modal), "have," and "been." The verb "been" is the main linking verb.

Exam Tip: In structures like "must have been + adjective," all three helpers precede the main verb.