Helping Verbs

Their Function Helping verbs "help" or combine with the main verb (which has the real meaning).

“To Be” Helping Verbs Am Is Are Was Were Be Being Been

“To Have” Helping Verbs Has Had

“To Do” Helping Verbs Do Does Did

Helping Verbs Could Would Should

Helping Verbs Will Can Shall

Helping Verbs May Might Must

Keep in Mind… Not every sentence will have a helping verb with the main verb. When you see an "ing" verb such as "running", look for a helping verb also. Sometimes there is another word which separates the helping verb from the main verb. Example: "not" as in: The boy could not find his socks. Helping verb: could Main verb: find. A sentence may contain up to three helping verbs to the main verb. Example: The dog must have been chasing the cat. Helping verbs: must, have, and been; main verb: chasing.