Situations like that are perfect for using Do/Does/Did to show you really mean something. If you were responding to a statement like, "You don't want to go to the park" you may want to reply with great emphasis. Do/ Does/ Did are used as helping verbs with have to make these sentences questions. Remember- DO, BE, and HAVE are only helping verbs when they are used with a second verb.ĭO is a helping verb when it is used to indicate questions, negatives, and emphasis. There are three categories for helping verbs: " do, be, have," modals, and two-word modals.ĭO BE, HAVE : they help other verbs make questions, negatives, and some verb tenses. When using helping verbs to form a question, the sentence structure will be: (adj, adv, noun, prepositional phrase, etc.) When using helping verbs to show tense, the sentence pattern will be: Helping verbs are always followed by a second verb. Helping verbs are used to show the perfect verb tenses, continuous/progressive verb tenses, and passive voice. Helping verbs Helping verbs are verbs that are used in a verb phrase (meaning, used with a second verb) to show tense, or form a question or a negative. Strategies for Taking Cloze Reading Tests.Modal verb with do (particularly in spoken English). Modal auxiliary verb (can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would) Modal with be(the verb can't be left out) Verb to be or verb to be as the auxiliary verb within a passive I am not walking up the mountain, but my brother is. 'Of course you didn't'.Īuxiliary verb 'have' either followed or not followed by 'done'. 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?'. The shortened form of the 2 auxiliary verbs, either the first or both, can be usedĬinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had (or had been). Here is a table to help you master these rules: Will you see Tony tonight? I might see Tony tonight. Where a modal auxiliary verb (can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would) is the auxiliary verb, we can use do (particularly in spoken English). Where have is the auxiliary verb, we can follow the auxiliary verb 'have' by 'done' in the second sentence. The shop said it would be delivered within a week. Where the verb to be is the main verb or the auxiliary verb within a passive in the previous sentence, we use a modal with be (which can't be left out). Is Ella staying for dinner? Yes I think she will be. Is Ella staying for dinner? Yes I think she will. Is Ella staying for dinner? Yes I think she is staying for dinner. Where the verb to be is the auxiliary verb in the previous sentence, we can use a modal verb with or without be and the second sentence is shortened to either of the two examples below. I am not walking up the mountain, but my brother is walking up the mountain. Where the verb to be is the main verb in the previous sentence, we repeat a form of the verb be in the second sentence 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?' 'Yes she has.' 4. 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?' 'Yes I do.' 'Do you think she has a chance of coming first?' 'Yes I do think she has a chance of coming first.'Ĭould become either of these more concise versions Where 'have' is the auxiliary verb in the first sentence, either 'to have' or 'to do' are used as the auxiliary verb in the second sentence 'I now run faster than he does.' 'Of course you do.' 3. 'I now run faster than he does.' 'Of course you run faster than he does.' Where there is no auxiliary verb in the first sentence or there is a form of the auxiliary do, 'to do' is used as the auxiliary verb for the second sentence Where 2 auxiliary verbs are used, the shortened form can use either the first or both in the second sentenceĬinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had been invited to the ball.Ĭinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had.Ĭinderella hadn't been invited to the ball, but her ugly sisters had been. In a longer expression, instead of repeating two verbs, we might use an auxiliary verb on its own in the second sentence or phrase. Leaving words out after auxiliary verbs: Explanation and use We have the grammar rules and a few exercises for you. In example 2 the auxiliary verb 'are' remains in the second sentence but the second verb 'singing' has been removed leaving the sentence group more concise. We use the auxiliary verb 'are' (to be) with 'singing' in the sentence group below but in example 1 the second sentence is too long and cumbersome. Leaving out words after an auxiliary verb allows us to avoid repeating whole verb groups from previous sentences.ġ.