Auxiliary Verb

Introduction:-

 An Auxiliary Verb, also known as the Helping Verb, gives additional information about the main or full verb which follows it, The additional meaning given by the Helping Verb changes the basic form of the Main Verb.

Example:-

 The fabric is torn.

The above sentence places emphasis on the action, rather than the subject of the action.

Example:

I am washing my clothes.

 The above sentence states the temporary nature of the action being performed.

Examples:

Rajeev has lost interest in studies. This sentence speaks of a past action that has continuing relevance in the present.

The dummy Auxiliary Do is used to form questions and negatives, and to create emphasis when the Full Verb exists in the positive form of the sentence.

Examples:

Sharada drinks tea. (Positive)

 Does Sharada drink tea? (Question) 

Sharada does not drink tea. (Negative)

Sharada does drink tea .(Emphatic) 

Note: Auxiliary Verbs can be inverted to form questions

Examples:-

She will go shopping today .

Will she go shopping today?

Modal Auxiliaries

The following are Modal Auxiliaries: 

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

The above Helping Verbs help the speaker to express an opinion. They are sub standard verbs that cannot function as main verbs.

Examples:-

Could I get you some coffee? 

I may have to go to Chennai, tonight

I shall have to do it myself

Will he come to the meeting today? 

Sheela must do better in her current job.

 The 'To Be' Verb

The verb To Be refers to a state of being, rather than an action.

Examples:

I am sad at the moment (present).

 He was in the kitchen when the phone rang. (past)

 I will be in Lucknow this time, next week (future)

However, Be can be used in continuous verb forms. 

used in the following sentences to describe an action, not a state of being.

Examples:

The students are being very mischievous. (They are being mischievous.)

 Ram was being careless. (He was doing something carelessly.)

Now, compare them again with the following sentences that use Be to describe a state of being, not an action.

 Examples:

I hope they are happy. (NOT I hope they are being happy:)

 She was relieved when she received the job offer. (NOT she was being relieved.)

The Present form of To Be

Examples:

I am

You are

She is

We are

They are

She was being

The Past form of To Be

Examples:

I Was

You were

She was

We were

They were

The Future form of To Be

Examples

will be

You will be

She will be

We will be

They will be

Points to Remember

• Auxiliary Verbs give additional information about the main Verbs .
• Auxiliary Verbs are also known as Helping Verbs.
• Different forms of the Verb To Be refer to the states of being, rather than actions.