The basic structure of auxiliary phrases Worksheet Practice Exercises with Answers

Lesson 31: The Basic Structure of Auxiliary Phrases

What are some sentences with helping (auxiliary) verbs? Here are a few examples, with the helping verb underlined:

• 1. She should study.
• 2. She has studied.
• 3. She is studying.

In these sentences, the main verb is a form of study, and the helping verb works to give us extra information that we can't get from just the main verb. (See Unit 2 to remind yourself about main verbs.)

There are not that many helping verbs; the basic ones are listed in Quick Tip 31.1.

Quick Tip 31.1

The basic helping verbs of English are:

• a. can may shall will must
  could might should would
• b. have has had
• c. am are is
  was were
  be been being

Now take another look at sentences 1-3, which have both a helping verb and a main verb. Which comes first? You can see that the main verb always comes after the helping verb.

Quick Tip 31.2

If a sentence has both a main verb and a helping verb, the main verb is always last.

Does every sentence of English have a helping verb? Here are examples of sentences that do not have a helping verb. Each only has a main verb, which is underlined.

• 4. She studies every day.
• 5. She studied every day.
• 6. He leaves at 9 in the morning.
• 7. He left at 9 in the morning.

Question 1. Does the sentence "He talked about himself" have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "talked," with no auxiliary verb before it.
In simple words: The sentence only has one verb - "talked." There is no helper verb in front of it.

Exam Tip: Always look for a verb that comes before the main verb - that is the helping verb. If you see only one verb, there is no helping verb.

Question 2. They were arguing loudly - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "were" and the main verb is "arguing."
In simple words: You can see two verbs here - "were" comes first and "arguing" comes after. The one that comes first is the helper verb.

Exam Tip: When you see two verbs in a sentence, the first one is always the helping verb and the second is the main verb.

Question 3. The frog had jumped five feet - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "had" and the main verb is "jumped."
In simple words: Two verbs appear here - "had" is the helper and "jumped" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: Look for the helping verb directly before the main verb - they usually appear right next to each other.

Question 4. You invited everyone - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "invited."
In simple words: This sentence has just one verb - "invited." No helper verb comes before it.

Exam Tip: Count the verbs in the sentence. If there is only one verb, there is no helping verb.

Question 5. I must buy some milk - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "must" and the main verb is "buy."
In simple words: The word "must" is a helper verb and "buy" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: Remember that "must" is one of the basic helping verbs listed in Quick Tip 31.1.

Question 6. Harry lives in Europe - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "lives."
In simple words: Only one verb is in this sentence - "lives." There is no helping verb.

Exam Tip: Simple present tense verbs that stand alone, like "lives," "plays," or "talks," do not have helping verbs.

Question 7. Jogging should increase your stamina - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "should" and the main verb is "increase."
In simple words: "Should" is the helper and "increase" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "should" suggests something is a good idea or is likely to happen.

Question 8. I have worked all day - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "have" and the main verb is "worked."
In simple words: "Have" is the helper and "worked" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "have" is part of the perfect tense, showing action that started in the past and connects to now.

Question 9. Sam will go fishing tomorrow - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "will" and the main verb is "go."
In simple words: "Will" is the helper verb showing the future, and "go" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "will" always marks future tense - action that has not happened yet.

Question 10. Judy left for Dallas at noon - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "left."
In simple words: Only one verb is here - "left." There is no helper verb before it.

Exam Tip: Past tense verbs in simple form like "left," "walked," or "talked" typically do not have helping verbs unless combined with a helper (like "had left").

Question 11. Joey was chasing a rascal all day long - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "was" and the main verb is "chasing."
In simple words: "Was" is the helper and "chasing" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "was" combines with a verb ending in -ing to show past continuous action - something that was happening for a while.

Test Yourself 31.2

Decide whether or not each sentence has a helping verb. This time the main verbs are not underlined.

Question 12. Does the sentence "Maggie was walking nearby" have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "was" and the main verb is "walking."
In simple words: Two verbs are here - "was" is the helper and "walking" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: Watch for the pattern of a form of "be" (am, is, are, was, were) with a verb ending in -ing - this always means there is a helping verb.

Question 13. You might write her a letter - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "might" and the main verb is "write."
In simple words: "Might" is the helper and "write" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "might" suggests possibility - something that could happen but is not certain.

Question 14. Congress voted on the bill - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "voted."
In simple words: Only one verb appears here - "voted." No helper verb is present.

Exam Tip: Simple past tense verbs without a helping verb form only one verb in the sentence.

Question 15. Beth has survived that ordeal - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "has" and the main verb is "survived."
In simple words: "Has" is the helper and "survived" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "has" marks present perfect tense - an action that happened at an unspecified time in the past or that started in the past and continues now.

Question 16. I could be an actor - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has two helping verbs: "could" and "be." The main verb is implied by the structure. "Could" and "be" work together as helpers.
In simple words: This sentence has two helper verbs - "could" and "be" - working together.

Exam Tip: Sometimes more than one helping verb can appear in the same sentence, and they work together to modify the main verb.

Question 17. The Giants won the Super Bowl - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "won."
In simple words: Only one verb is in this sentence - "won." There is no helper verb.

Exam Tip: Simple past tense verbs that stand alone without any form of "be," "have," or a modal verb do not have helping verbs.

Question 18. You should do that - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "should" and the main verb is "do."
In simple words: "Should" is the helper and "do" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "should" gives advice or shows what is expected or recommended.

Question 19. She could move nearby - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "could" and the main verb is "move."
In simple words: "Could" is the helper and "move" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "could" shows ability or possibility in the past or present.

Question 20. My friend wants a two-car garage - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "wants."
In simple words: Only one verb is in this sentence - "wants." No helper verb is present.

Exam Tip: Regular present tense verbs that stand alone do not have helping verbs.

Question 21. Jan must get that report done - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: Yes, this sentence has a helping verb. The helping verb is "must" and the main verb is "get."
In simple words: "Must" is the helper and "get" is the main verb.

Exam Tip: The helping verb "must" shows necessity or obligation - something that must happen.

Question 22. The sun rose at 5 A.M. today - does this sentence have a helping verb?
Answer: No, this sentence does not have a helping verb. It only has the main verb "rose."
In simple words: Only one verb appears here - "rose." No helper verb is present.

Exam Tip: Irregular past tense verbs like "rose," "went," or "came" do not have helping verbs unless combined with a helper (like "had risen").

Additional Note

The helping verbs belong to different subgroups, as shown in Quick Tip 31.1. Each of the three types of helping verbs will be examined more closely in the next few lessons.