Auxiliary Verbs

A verb which helps another verb with respect to formation of its tense, voice or specific meaning is known as an auxiliary verb.

Auxiliary verbs are of two types: Primary Auxiliary Verbs and Modal Auxiliary Verbs.

Primary Auxiliary Verbs

Primary Auxiliary Verb	Functions
To be: am, is, are, was, were, shall, will, being, been	Formation of the progressive tense, passive voice.
To have: have, has, had	Formation of the perfect tense.
To do: do, does, did	Formation of interrogation and negation, emphasis, request, invitation.

Examples:

They are enjoying themselves in the garden. (Progressive tense)
The car was being repaired by the man. (Passive voice)
The computer has completed its task. (Perfect tense)
Do you know that? (Interrogation)
I did not buy any papers today. (Negation)
We did check all the cabins. (Emphasis)
Do come with me to the cinema. (Request)

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Modal Auxiliary Verb	Function
Can	Ability, Informal permission, possibility
Could	Ability, Informal permission, possibility
May	Formal permission, possibility, expression of wish
Might	Formal permission, possibility
Shall	Future action, command, compulsion, formal request
Will	Future action, determination, threat, promise, intention, wish, invitation.
Should	Duty/obligation, advice, condition, approval.
Would	Habitual action, polite request, wish, refusal, determination, invitation.
Must	Compulsion, determination, duty/obligation.
Ought (to)	Moral obligation, advice
Dare	Courage
Need	Necessity
Have to	Compulsory obligation

Examples to understand:

I can study well in a quiet hall. (Ability)
Can I see your beautiful eyes? (Informal permission)
He could not survive in such a critical situation. (Inability)
Could I have this letter typed? (Polite request)
You may enter the room. (Formal permission)
I may go to Pune next week. (Possibility)
It might rain this evening. (Probability)
We shall watch a film this evening. (Future action)
Shall I get you a cup of tea? (Informal request)
You shall not leave until I permit you to do so. (Command)
You must remain silent. (Compulsion)
We ought to respect our senior citizens. (Duty/obligation)
He dared to face the consequences. (Courage)
She needs to fill in this form. (Necessity)
My father has to go to office on Sundays too. (Compulsive obligation)
You shouldn't talk so impolitely. (Obligation/Advice)
Would you care for a continental meal? (Formal request)
Ajith would go out jogging every morning. (Habitual action)
The students would not admit their fault. (Determination/refusal)
Father would like a cup of coffee. (Wish/Polite request)

Identify the auxiliary verb and state its functions:

I don’t know exactly how much it costs.
We’ll settle up when you get back.
But I couldn’t find it.
Parking was prohibited.
It was not commercially economic to grow it.
It will produce certain volatile oils.
He had to consult many scholars.
She does not give up easily even when the odds are against her.
She would do well to practise a little more.
India has committed itself to reducing its carbon emissions by 20-25 per cent by 2020.
Power shortages could be the single biggest factor to derail the country from its high-growth trajectory.
Solar water heaters can save enough electricity to pay back for their cost in three to five years.
The government has launched the Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) mechanism.
We had to borrow from a lady, who was a housemaid in Chaupati in Mumbai.
Few people realize that the application of these well-tried methods can revolutionize more new departments of human life.
Before an idea or opinion can be accepted as truth, it must satisfy certain conditions.
It must be rational.
The idea or belief must be consistent with the knowledge already acquired.
Can faith take the place of reason, knowledge, hard work or right conduct in daily life?
Can you please take her home?
Europe has forgotten it, whereas India still uses it.
It would not be as tasty.
Politicians don't really catch my attention.
I don't think it is a correct work ethic.
This, however, does not last long and cannot be considered as mehendi in its true sense.

Answers

don’t (do not) - Primary Auxiliary (to do) - Formation of negation.
’ll (will) - Modal Auxiliary - Future action.
couldn’t (could not) - Modal Auxiliary - Inability.
was - Primary Auxiliary (to be) - Formation of passive voice.
was - Primary Auxiliary (to be) - Indicates past tense (here, as a linking verb with negation).
will - Modal Auxiliary - Future action.
had to - Modal Auxiliary (semi-modal) - Compulsive obligation.
does not - Primary Auxiliary (to do) - Formation of negation.
would - Modal Auxiliary - Advice/Suggestion (as in 'would do well').
has (in 'has committed') - Primary Auxiliary (to have) - Formation of the perfect tense.
could - Modal Auxiliary - Possibility.
can - Modal Auxiliary - Ability.
has (in 'has launched') - Primary Auxiliary (to have) - Formation of the perfect tense.
had to - Modal Auxiliary (semi-modal) - Compulsive obligation.
can - Modal Auxiliary - Possibility.
can - Modal Auxiliary - Possibility; must - Modal Auxiliary - Obligation/Compulsion.
must - Modal Auxiliary - Obligation/Compulsion.
must - Modal Auxiliary - Obligation/Compulsion.
Can - Modal Auxiliary - Asking about possibility/ability.
Can - Modal Auxiliary - Polite request (asking about ability).
has (in 'has forgotten') - Primary Auxiliary (to have) - Formation of the perfect tense.
would not - Modal Auxiliary - Conditional possibility (negated).
don't (do not) - Primary Auxiliary (to do) - Formation of negation.
don't (do not) - Primary Auxiliary (to do) - Formation of negation.
does not - Primary Auxiliary (to do) - Formation of negation; cannot - Modal Auxiliary - Inability.

Difficult Words and Their Meanings:

Auxiliary: Helping or supporting.
Tense: The form of a verb that shows the time an action happened (e.g., past, present, future).
Voice (in grammar): Shows whether the subject of a sentence performs the action (active voice) or receives the action (passive voice).
Primary (Auxiliary Verb): A basic helping verb (be, do, have) used to form tenses, questions, and negatives.
Modal (Auxiliary Verb): A helping verb (e.g., can, may, must, should, will) that expresses necessity, possibility, permission, or ability.
Progressive (tense): Shows an action that is ongoing or in progress (e.g., "is walking").
Passive (voice): When the subject of the sentence is acted upon by the verb (e.g., "The ball was thrown by the boy").
Perfect (tense): Shows an action completed at some point in the past or before another past action (e.g., "has eaten," "had finished").
Interrogation: The act of asking a question.
Negation: Making a statement negative (e.g., using "not").
Emphasis: Giving special importance or stress to something.
Permission: Allowance to do something.
Possibility: A chance that something may happen or be true.
Probability: The likelihood of something happening.
Obligation: A duty or a commitment; something you must do.
Compulsion: A strong, irresistible urge or a feeling of being forced to do something.
Determination: Firmness of purpose; not giving up.
Intention: An aim or a plan.
Necessity: The state or fact of being required.
Consequences: The results or effects of an action.
Impolitely: Rudely; without good manners.
Habitual: Done regularly or as a habit.
Rational: Based on or in accordance with reason or logic.
Consistent: Agreeing or in harmony with; not contradictory.
Ethic (work ethic): A set of moral principles, especially those related to good conduct in work.
Volatile (oils): (Of a substance) easily evaporated at normal temperatures.
Derail: To cause to go off course or stop progressing.
Trajectory: The path followed by a projectile or object moving under the action of given forces. (Here, refers to a path of growth/development).