Verb Super Helpers: Auxiliary and Modal Verbs!

Hi Super Students! Ready to learn about some super special words? We call them Auxiliary Verbs and Modal Verbs. Think of them as the best friends of our main action words (verbs)! These helper words don't show the main action themselves, but they add cool powers! They help us know when something is happening (like right now, yesterday, or tomorrow), if we're asking a question, or if we want to say "no." Some helpers, the modals, also tell us if we can do something, if we should do it, or if something might happen. Let's explore how these amazing helpers make our sentences even better!

The verbs be (is, am, are, was and were), have and do are called auxiliary verbs when they are used with ordinary verbs to make tenses, passive forms, questions and negatives.

The verbs can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must and ought are called modal verbs. Modal verbs are used before ordinary verbs and express ideas such as permission, possibility, certainty and necessity. Need and dare are also sometimes used like modal verbs.

The Helper 'Be' (Auxiliary be)

The auxiliary verb be is used:

In the formation of the continuous tenses (shows an action is ongoing):
- I am writing.
- She was singing.
- It was raining.
- They were playing.
In the formation of passive verb forms (shows the subject receives the action):
- I was shocked.
- The boys were praised.
- He was questioned.

Be can be followed by an infinitive (to + verb). This structure is used to talk about an arrangement, a plan, an agreement or a command.

I am to see him tomorrow. (Arrangement)
They are to be married next month.
You are to leave at once. (Command)

The Helper 'Have' (Auxiliary verb have)

The auxiliary have has the following uses:

In the formation of the perfect tenses (shows an action is completed or started in the past):
- She has come.
- They have returned.
- She has been waiting.
With the infinitive to indicate obligation (something you must do):
- I have to be there by 12 o’clock.
- She has to finish the work.

Had + infinitive can be used to talk about an obligation that existed in the past.

I had to be there by 12 o’clock.

Important Notes on 'Have to':

In questions and negatives, have to and had to are used with the helpers do, does and did.

Let's Compare:

She had to go.
Does she have to go?
She doesn’t have to go.

They have to go.
Do they have to go?
They don’t have to go.

I had to go.
Did I have to go?
I didn’t have to go.

More Examples for Practice!

Let's find the helper verbs in these sentences. The answer tells you which helper it is and what it's doing!

We are learning grammar. (Helper: are - shows continuous tense, happening now)
The cat is sleeping on the mat. (Helper: is - shows continuous tense)
He was playing outside yesterday. (Helper: was - shows continuous tense in the past)
The yummy cake was eaten by everyone. (Helper: was - shows passive voice, the cake received the action)
This song is sung by many famous singers. (Helper: is - shows passive voice)
The windows were cleaned this morning. (Helper: were - shows passive voice)
She is to meet the principal after lunch. (Helper: is to - shows an arrangement or plan)
We are to finish our project by Friday. (Helper: are to - shows a plan or command)
You have grown so much since last year! (Helper: have - shows perfect tense, completed action)
My mom has cooked a delicious dinner. (Helper: has - shows perfect tense)
They had already left when I arrived. (Helper: had - shows perfect tense in the past)
We have to wear our school uniforms on Monday. (Helper: have to - shows obligation)
He has to study hard for the big test. (Helper: has to - shows obligation)
She had to wake up very early for the trip. (Helper: had to - shows past obligation)
You can play after you finish your homework. (Modal Helper: can - shows permission or ability)
It may rain later today, so take an umbrella. (Modal Helper: may - shows possibility)
We will go to the zoo next weekend. (Modal Helper: will - shows future action or intention)
You should always brush your teeth before bed. (Modal Helper: should - gives advice or shows mild obligation)
He must be very tired after running the race. (Modal Helper: must - shows certainty or strong necessity)
Could you please pass me the blue crayon? (Modal Helper: Could - makes a polite request)

Little Dictionary: Tricky Words Made Easy!

Auxiliary Verbs: These are special 'helping' verbs like be, do, have. They help the main verb show when something happens or if it's a question. (Example: "She is jumping." - 'is' helps 'jumping')
Modal Verbs: These are also 'helping' verbs, like can, will, should, may, must. They show if something is possible, allowed, or necessary – like the 'mood' of the action. (Example: "You can play." - 'can' shows you are allowed)
Ordinary Verbs: These are the main action words in a sentence, like run, eat, play, sing, think. They tell you what's happening.
Tenses: This word tells us about the time an action happens – present (now), past (before), or future (later). (Example: I walk (present), I walked (past), I will walk (future).)
Passive Forms (or Passive Voice): This is when the person or thing doing the action isn't the main star of the sentence. Instead, the person or thing receiving the action is the subject. (Example: "The cake was eaten." - We focus on the cake, not necessarily who ate it.)
Negatives: These are sentences that say "no" or "not." Helper verbs are often used to make them. (Example: "He is not sleeping." or "She doesn't like broccoli.")
Continuous Tenses: These show an action that is, was, or will be going on for some time (it's 'continuing'). They usually use a form of 'be' + a main verb ending in '-ing'. (Example: "They are playing.")
Perfect Tenses: These show an action that is completed or happened before another point in time. They use a form of 'have' (have, has, had) + the past participle of a verb (like 'eaten', 'seen', 'gone'). (Example: "She has finished her homework.")
Infinitive: This is the basic, 'to' form of a verb, like its starting point before it changes for tense or person. (Example: to run, to see, to be, to play.)
Obligation: Something you must do or feel you have to do, like a rule you need to follow or a duty. (Example: "You have to do your homework.")
Arrangement: A plan that has been made with someone for something to happen in the future. (Example: "We are to meet at 3 PM.")
Permission: Being allowed to do something; getting the 'okay'. (Example: "You may go out to play now.")
Possibility: Something that might happen, but we're not 100% sure. (Example: "It might rain later.")
Certainty: Being very sure that something is true or will definitely happen. (Example: "He studied hard, so he must pass the test.")
Necessity: Something that is absolutely needed or has to be done; it's essential. (Example: "We need to drink water to live.")

Auxiliary verbs