Helping Verbs

Helping verbs support the main verbs.

Helping Verbs
• 'Be' verb
• 'Do' verb
• 'Have' verb
• Modals

Helping verbs are also called auxiliary verbs.

Modals

You have learnt that words like can, can't, may, might, will, would are used with main verbs to express ability, possibility, certainty, to make requests, or to take permissions. Such words are called modals.

Read these sentences

• She can speak and write seven languages. (shows ability)
• May I help you carry this box? (shows offer)
• Would you pass me the salad, please? (shows request)
• You should visit a doctor for your cold. (shows advice)
• You must watch this movie. (shows strong suggestion)

Modals in different forms can make up different types of sentences :

Positive Sentences

• I might be late for the meeting.
• You must lie down and take rest.

Negative Sentences

• I can't remember where I kept my shoes..
• You should not repeat the same mistake.

Interrogative Sentences

• Would you join us for the picnic?
• May I borrow your crayons?

Numbers and person of the subject cannot affect the form of modals.

Question Tags

Read these interrogative sentences :

• You can click photographs, can't you?
• Mary will not come with us, will she?
• Zayn shouldn't stay home alone, should he?

The mini questions can't you?, will she?, should he? at the end of these statements are question tags.

• A positive statement takes a negative question tag.
  For example:
  • Snow is white,isn't it?
• A negative statement takes a positive question tag.
  For example:
  • You can't see me,can you?

We add negative tags to positive sentences and positive to go to negative sentences.

Verbs

Finite Verbs

Finite verbs change according to their subjects, numbers, person, tense.

Set 1.	He liked Dancing.	He likes dancing.	He will like dancing.
Set 2.	I like to dance.	He likes to dance.	They like to dance.

In the first set of sentences, the verb like changes tense.

In the second set, the verb changes to match the subject in number and person (I/he/they). This is because it has a subject (I/he/they). Here, the verb like is a finite verb.

• A least one finite verb is compulsary in a sentence.
• Every sentence in English needs a finite verb. It is an essential part of a sentence.
• An infinitive is a non-finite verb that does the work of a noun in a sentence.
• An infinitive may be as the subject or object of a finite verb.

Non-finite Verbs

Now look at the verbs dancing and to dance. They do not change in either tense or number. These are called non-finite verbs.

Infinitive doesn't change according to tense or number or person of the subject.

Gerund also doesn't change according to tense or number or person of the subject.

1. Infinitive (to + V₁)
   Read these sentences :
   
   1. Birds love to sing.
   2. To help others is our duty.


2. Gerund (V₁ + ing)
   Read these sentences :
   
   1. Reading is a good hobby.
   2. I enjoy cooking.


3. Participle
   Read these sentences :
   
   1. The crying baby woke up everyday.
   2. I need some cheese for my toasted bread.

In these sentences, the verbs crying and toasted are formed by adding -ing and -ed to cry and toast respectively. They function as adjectives in these sentences. They cannot stand on their own as the main verb and are also a type of non-finite verbs.