Sometimes a sentence needs more than one verb to make the thought clear. These verbs are called helping verbs.
Helping Verbs Helping verbs assist the main verb. Helping verbs are found before the main (action) verb. Helping verbs are action verbs and linking verbs working together to make a complete thought. Common helping verbs are: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being, can, could, did, do, does, had, has, have, might, may, must, shall, should, will, and would.
Helping Verbs He could run. main verb (action)= run helping verb=could verb phrase= could run
Helping Verbs Amber has grown so tall. main verb (action)= grown helping verb=has verb phrase= has grown
Helping Verbs I must order dinner quickly. main verb (action)= order helping verb=must verb phrase= must order
Helping Verbs Nick has delivered all the newspapers. main verb (action)= delivered helping verb=has verb phrase= has delivered
Helping Verbs William may walk to the beach with you. main verb (action)= walk helping verb=may verb phrase= may walk
Helping Verbs The elephants have eaten all the peanuts. main verb (action)= eaten helping verb=have verb phrase= have eaten
Helping Verbs Frank did complete his assignment. main verb (action)= complete helping verb=did verb phrase= did complete
Helping Verbs The builders were planning the demolition. main verb (action)= planning helping verb=were verb phrase= were planning
Helping Verbs Dad is cooking dinner tonight! main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs Annie will stay at our house tomorrow. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs We have listened to this story before. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs I would have been skating in the game. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs My little brother has been breaking all of my toys. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs I am sewing a pair of jeans. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs The detective did solve the mystery. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs The packages have arrived safely. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs You should see the Grand Canyon! main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs You might have felt the same if it happened to you. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs We must correct our answers. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs I am leaving for Disney in the morning. main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?
Helping Verbs Now you try it! main verb (action)= ? helping verb=? verb phrase= ?