Helping Verbs
There are three kinds of VERBS.
1. Action verbs
2. Linking verbs
3. Helping verbs
Review: What is an action verb?
• Expresses an action
• Shows physical or mental activity
–Examples:
• bring, change, grow, consider, swim
–Examples:
• Victor spoke French.
• I thought about the weekend.
Review: What is a linking verb?
• Expresses a state of being
– Forms of “to be” - is, am, are, was, were
• Shows a relationship, not an action
• Links the subject to a word(s) that
identifies or describes the subject.
–Examples:
• Peanut is my kitten. -Peanut is tiny.
Helping Verbs…
• Helping verbs can’t stand alone.
• Helping verbs “help” the main verb in a
sentence.
• A helping verb + main verb = verb phrase.
• Example: I have written a novel.
What are the helping verbs?
Common Helping Verbs
Forms of Be
is
am
are
was
were
be
being
been
Forms of Have
have
has
had
Forms of Do
do
does
did
Others
may
might
must
could
should
would
can
shall
will
Helping Verbs…
• Daniel has played in the band before.
• Susan will be going to the mall after school.
• Lynn should have been cooking dinner.
• I am running in Saturday’s race.
Let’s Put it Together…
Underline the verb phrase. Circle all the helping verbs.
• We have eaten all the cookies.
• They will be finishing their project tomorrow.
• I should have studied for the test.
• Melanie can help with dinner.
How can I remember the helping verbs?
Old Mr. Do
Once upon a time there was a wealthy merchant named Mr. Do. Mr. Do was
very old and very rich. His many relatives were dreaming of the day the old
man would die. They wondered which one of them would inherit his money.
Finally, one day Mr. Do did die. All the relatives searched his house for a
will. They didn't find one. They searched his house three times. They still did
not find a will. The relatives did not get one dime of Mr. Do's fortune.
The moral: Maybe Mr. Do should have a will.
Remember this sentence and you will know how to set up a chart of the 23
helping verbs!
How can I remember the helping verbs?
Maybe
may
might
must
be
being
been
is
am
are
was
were
Mr. Do
do
does
did
should
should
could
would
have a will.
have
has
had
will
can
shall
(main)
(main)
(main)
Notice that verbs in three of the families can also stand alone and be the main verb
of the sentence.
Ex. We are seventh graders. (are = main [linking] verb)
Ex. We are learning about helping verbs. (are = helping verb; learning = main verb)