An auxiliary verb is used to add functional or grammatical meaning to the main verb. Auxiliary verbs are function words that indicate things like tense, aspect, modality, voice, emphasis, etc. but do not have substantial meaning on their own. Common auxiliary verbs in English include be, do, have, will, can, may, must, shall, should, would, and others. Auxiliary verbs are used to form questions, negatives, passive voice, and different tenses like the present perfect.

1. Auxiliary Verbs

2. What is

3. An auxiliary verb is used
to add functional or
grammatical content to
the information
expressed by another
verb, considered to be
the main verb.

4. Are function words, a type
of closed class which is
constituted of words that
have grammatical function
as opposed to content
words, which are open
class of lexical words.

5. Examples
• I am writing a book.
• He has done the work.
• We will be there in a minute.
• Would you help me with
this homework?
• Can you open the door?
• Did you visit New York last
holiday?
• Do you like chocolates?
• They must get there on time.

6. The 23 Auxiliary Verbs
Am Is Are
Was Were
Has Have Had
Do Does Did
Will Would
Shall Should
Can Could
May Might Must
Be Been Being

7. Uses of Auxiliary Verbs in a
Statements and Questions
Do/ does/ did
Do is common for forming
questions and making
negatives. Did is used for do
and Does in the past tense.
Do is never used for the past
tense.

8. Be= am/is/ are
Be can be used as an auxiliary verb or the
main verb in a sentence. Is tells us that an
action is happening now or is going to
happen in the future. Be is also used to
make passives. Are is used for they
and we. Was is used for the past
tense of am and is. Were is used for
the past tense of you, we and they.

9. Have= has/ had
Have is used to make the perfect
tense(it always followed by the past
participle). Has is used for the third
person singular. Had is used for past
tenses especially the past perfect
tense. It describes an action that
began in the past and continues
into the present or that occured in
the recent past.

10. Other Common Auxiliary Verbs
Can Could May Might
Must Ought Should would
These are also known as modal
verbs. We used them to show
obligation, possibility and necessity.

11. Lets Have a Quiz!

12. Directions: Tell whether if the bold
word in the sentences is an auxiliary
or a full verb.
1. Dad is working in the garden.
2.We do the shopping once a week.
3.These students never have classes on
Fridays.
4.What do you do for a living?
5.The kids were dancing to the music.

13. 6.Did you see him?
7.The door is closed.
8.Where have you been?
9.My parents are on holiday.
10.I had just finished my
breakfast when the phone rang.

14. 1. auxiliary verb
2. full verb
3. full verb
4. auxiliary verb
5. auxiliary verb
6. auxiliary verb
7. auxiliary verb
8. auxiliary verb
9. full verb
10. auxiliary verb
Answers:

15. Thank You!