Main uses auxiliary verbs in English

1. AUXILIARY VERBS: USES
Intermedio 2

2. MAIN USES (1)
 To avoid repetition:
Ex.: I like watching soaps every day but my husband
doesn’t.
 To say something or someone is the same or different:
1) Positive verb: I love “Sálvame”.
So do I (the same: so+auxiliary+subject)
I don’t (different: if positive verb-negative auxiliary).
2) Negative verb: But I don’t like Belén Esteban.
Neither /nor do I (the same: neither/nor +auxiliary
+subject).
I do (different: if negative verb-positive auxiliary)

3. MAIN USES (2)
 To show interest or surprise in reply questions:
Ex.: A: We all passed the English exam.
B: Did you?
 For emphasis in positive sentences:
1) So you don’t like Belen Esteban
No, I do like her but I don’t adore her. (auxiliary before
the verb for the present)
2) So you didn’t pass the English exam.
I did pass it but not with flying colours. (auxiliary before
the verb for the past)
3) So you aren’t coming to the English class.
Yes, I am coming (with “to be”, “have”, modal verbs, the
auxiliary is stressed)

4. QUESTION TAGS
 Formation: positive auxiliary with a negative verb
and negative auxiliary with a positive verb.
 Uses:
1) To check information you think is true:
Ex.: The English exam is in June, isn’t it?
(with rising intonation)
Isabel Pantoja hasn’t gone to jail, has she?
2) To ask another person to agree with you.
 Ex.: We all love the English class, don’t we? (with
falling intonation)