Helping Verbs A helping verb auxiliary verb helps

Helping. Verbs A helping verb (auxiliary verb) helps the main verb express action or a state of being. Examples: • I can speak. • We were going to the party. • Who was laughing? • Has anyone heard?

Helping Verb (continued) – A helping verb helps the main verb express action or state of being. Examples: – can speak (can: helping verb; speak: main verb) – were going (were: helping verb; going: main v) – has been named (has been: helping verbs; named: main verb

Verb (continued) – A verb phrase contains one main verb and one or more helping verbs. Examples: – He can speak more about that later. – They were going to my house. – Tom has been named to the all star team.

Common Helping Verbs Forms of Be am, are, be been, being, was, were is Forms of Do do does did Forms of Have has had Other Helping can, Verbs could, may might, must, would, shall, will should

Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Then, identify the helping verb(s) and the main verb. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Haley is washing the dishes. I have been wrong in the past. The kids were watching the movie. Rafe was listening to the directions. All year we have been waiting for the news. 6. Could you believe that?

Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Then, identify the helping verb(s) and the main verb. 7. The band might play at the parade. 8. Have you read the book? 9. The answer should be listed below. 10. Who could have known the truth? 11. Bill is driving the bus. 12. Lillie has finally convinced us!