Helping Verbs

Like you just heard, there are 23 helping verbs. They do JUST that; they help the main verbs when creating sentences. Oh! By the way! Just listen to the audio again and try singing it to the tune of jingle Bells. That way, you can remember them.

Let’s see what they are and how to use them.

I read the story on the internet long back and then I revisited it.

Here goes:

There was a Mr. Do, a very wealthy Mr. Do. He was old and almost on his death bed… and poor Mr. Do passed away one day, leaving behind all this wealth. His greedy relatives gathered in his house and began looking for a will… they searched and searched and searched but could not find the will…

They were perplexed and shouted in unison:

MAY BE MR. DO SHOULD HAVE A WILL!

Let’s now categorise all the helping verbs in the categories.

MAY	BE	DO	SHOULD	HAVE	WILL
MIGHT	IS, AM, ARE	DOES	WOULD	HAS	SHALL
MUST	WAS, WERE	DID	COULD	HAD	CAN
	BEING, BEEN

We shall now look at each category in detail:

May/Might/Must

May

Used to ask for formal permission

For example: May I come in?

Used to suggest something that is probable

For example: It may rain today.

Might

Used to suggest a remote probability

For example: It might rain today. (The weather is sunny but since it rained yesterday, there is a remote possibility of rain today)

Must

Used to express something that is a necessity

For example: I must prepare the presentation today.

Used to show very high probability

For example: It must rain today. (The weather is windy and there is a strong probability of raining)

Is/Am/Are/Was/Were/Being/Been/Be

Is/Am/Are/Was/Were as an auxiliary verb

Used to make sentences in continuous form

For example:

He is making a presentation.

I am working right now.

They are really trying their best.

She was wearing a red dress yesterday.

We were playing chess last night.

Being/Been/Be as helping verbs

“Being” used in passive voice to make continuous tense

For example:

Active Voice- He is writing a book.

Passive Voice- A book is being written by him.

Active Voice- She was playing a piano.

Passive Voice- A piano was being played by her.

“Been” used in passive voice to make perfect tense

For example:

Active Voice- He has polished his shoes.

Passive Voice- His shoes have been polished by him.

Active Voice- I had done the work.

Passive Voice- The work had been done by me.

“Be” used with modals to make passive voice

For example:

Active Voice- He must learn English.

Passive Voice- English must be learnt by him.

Active Voice- The team should win the match.

Passive Voice- The match should be won by the team.

Do/Does/Did

Used in negative sentences

For example:

I do not know him.

She does not do her job properly.

They did not blame each other for the loss.

Used to form closed-ended questions

• Do you want to have a pen?
• Did he finish his work?
• Does he need to prepare for the interview?

Should/Would/Could

Should

Often used to express an opinion, suggestion, preference, or idea

For example: You should sleep for eight hours for a healthy mind and body.

Used to express that you wish something had happened but it didn’t (past form of shall)

For example: I should have waited for my turn to speak.

Used to ask for someone’s opinion through a question

For example: What should I wear for the interview?

Used to say something expected

For example: He should be here in ten minutes.

Would

Often used to express preference followed by ‘rather’

For example: I would rather go swimming than eating junk food.

Used to express a wish or desire followed by ‘like to’

For example: I would like to have one more pizza.

Used to express possibility in the ‘if’ statements

For example: If I were you, I would learn new things every day.

Used to express routine in the past

For example: I would often go out with my friends on weekends.

Could

Describes an ability that someone had in the past (past form of can)

For example: I could ride a bicycle when I was a kid.

Often used to express permission politely

For example: Could you please shut the door?

Used to express possibility

For example: You could always come to me with grammar issues.

Have/Has/Had

Used to form sentences in the perfect tense

For example:

I have worked really hard for this promotion.

He has polished his shoes.

She had done painting when her mother called her for dinner.

Will/Shall/Can

Will

Used to express desire, preference, choice, or consent

For example: I will take this assignment up.

Used to express the future

For example: The boys will continue to work tomorrow.

Used to express determination, insistence, or persistence

For example: I will meet you this weekend.

Shall

Used to express the future in British English

For example: We shall continue to serve you.

Used to express formal obligation or requirement in future

For example: There shall be no glitches on our part.

Can

Used to express ability (to be able to do something)

For example: I can speak French.

Used to make requests or suggestions

For example: Can I have the bill please?