Am, is, are, was, were, be, do, have, will, shall, can, may, must, etc. are most used primary and secondary helping verbs in English grammar. Among these, am, is, are, was, were, be, are categorized as primary helping verbs of “to be”. Whereas, do, have, and has are called non-to be. Apart from this, will, shall, can, may, must, etc. secondary helping verbs are classified as modal auxiliary or helping verbs. In this article, I’m going to explain “Role and use of helping verbs”.
What are the different types of verbs in English grammar?
In English grammar, verbs play vital role in sentence formation. They are labelled as most basic and fundamental elements because without them it is impossible to form any sentence. Basically, there are three primary categories of verbs in English: action verbs, linking verbs, and helping verbs.
Action verbs indicate physical or mental activities, such as “drive” “think,” or “make.” Whereas, linking verbs do not express action but instead connect the subject to its complements. Helping verbs, on the other hand, support the main verb in a sentence to express tense, mood, or voice. They are often used in combination with main verbs to create more complex verb phrases.
Examples of linking verbs
- Tiger is a carnivorous animal.
- Himalaya is a lofty mountain.
- Ganga is a perennial river
Useful Examples of primary helping verbs along action verbs
- Leopard is hunting a deer in the early morning.
- He reached at the station before schedule.
- Mother has just finished her cooking.
Examples of Secondary helping or modal verbs
- He can swim.
- You should study regularly.
- She must learn driving.
Hereon, the subsequent section of article will focus on most used primary and secondary helping verbs in English grammar. So, let’s begin with primary helping or auxiliary verbs.
Understanding role and use of primary helping verbs
Helping verbs are the most fundamental elements used to help main verb in constructing meaningful sentences. To be, to do, and to have are basic primary helping verbs that help and play the same functions.
- To be: am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been,
- To have: have, has, had,
- To do: do, does, did.
Correct usages of primary helping verbs: to be, to have, and to do,
These are also called auxiliary verbs that assist the main verb by providing additional meaning related to tense, voice, or mood. The primary helping verbs in English are ‘be’, ‘have’, and ‘do’. Each of these verbs serves a specific function in the construction of various verb forms.
To be: to form continuous tense
In English grammar, “to be”primary helping verbs play important role in forming continuous tense by forming association with main action verbs. These don’t link complement with subject like linking verbs. Importantly, only primary auxiliary verbs ” To do, to have, to be” have conjugated forms. Basically, secondary auxiliaries do not conjugate. Here, we are discussing about helping verbs.
- Today, Rohan is painting his house.
- Now, I’m am washing my bicycle.
- All the day, they are planting mango plants.
- In summer, hot wind was blowing through groves.
- Players were practicing in the group.
- He will be taking charge tomorrow.
To have: to form perfect tense
Have, has, and had primary helping verbs are used to form perfect aspect of verb tense. They are used in association with main action verbs.
- Students have already submitted a request.
- My sister has just cleaned our house.
- Oh! The wall had already collapsed before the rescue operation began.
To do : for interrogation and negation
Primary helping verbs “to do” used to form interrogative and negative sentences. They are also used to emphasis on main action verbs.
- Do you repair the road?
- Does he exercise regularly?
- Did she qualify for semifinal?
- I do not understand stock market.
- Tiger does not run too long.
- Mike did not apply for that job.
Usages of primary helping verbs in passive voice
Primary helping verbs are also used to form passive voice. Here are some useful examples for understanding purpose.
- The food is cooked by master chef.
- My bike is being serviced by service center.
- The road was constructed by government itself.
- Tiger has been trapped by forest guard.
- Medical report will be sent by official.
- Men Eater Leopard had been sent to zoo by official.
Understanding secondary helping verbs
Modal auxiliary verbs like can, could, may, might, shall, should, might, will, would, are secondary helping verbs used to describe different degrees of possibilities and obligations.
“Really, this is very tough equation. I need some help. Tom, “Would you guide me, please? I know you are the only who can solve this. If I fail to solve, my class teacher may not spare me. And, if I were you, I would help”.
In the above conversation, “Would, may, can, and need” are used to express variety of moods like request, ability, possibility, and necessity.
Examples of modal or secondary helping verbs
1 Shall
2 Should
3 Will
4 Would
5 Can
6 Could
7 May
8 Might
9 Must
Examples of Semi modal auxiliary verbs
1.Dare
2.Need
3.Used to
4.Ought to
5.Have to
6.Had better
Modal and semi modal verbs
Will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, and must are known as true modal verbs. Whereas, Need, dare, have to, ought to, had better, and used to etc. modals belong to semi-modal auxiliary verbs.
Explaining characteristic of secondary helping verbs
Modal verbs do not play the role of linking verbs as they help to function main base verbs.
- He is a creative writer. (linking verb to link subject description)
- He can write creatively. (modal verb to express general ability)
As I explained in previous article that linking auxiliary verbs used to describe state, condition and facts.
Examples of modal auxiliary or secondary helping verbs
- Would you drop me at school? (Polite request)
- I can go by bus. (Ability)
- Shall I inquire for you? (Making offer)
- You should be punctual. (Duty and advice)
- They may reach on time. (Possibility)
- He cannot be late. (Possibility)
- You have to follow the instructions here. (Necessity)
- I used to meditate daily. (Habitual action)
- Everyone ought to respect the wish of parents. (Moral obligation)
- It could be unveiled anytime. (Possibility)
Secondary verbs cannot be used as primary helping verbs. Nor do they take infinitive. Main verb used with modal verbs doesn’t inflect in other forms as like in primary auxiliary verbs. Simply, modal verbs convey the mood and modalities through base form of main verbs.
Overlapping meaning of modal auxiliary verbs
The meaning of each modal auxiliary verb cannot be confined within certain domain as there many modal indicate similar overlapping sense of meaning with varying degrees such as —
- Can and may,
- could ,might,
- Should and ought
- Must and have to
- Could, would and could
- Shall and should etc.
Specifically, can is used for permission and possibilities but in a different manner.
Mastering most used secondary helping verbs or modal auxiliary verbs
Difference between Can and may
To express ability, possibility, and permission, “Can” modal auxiliary is used. On the other hand, to express stronger permission, factual possibility, and wish “may” modal plays important role.
Theoretical vs factual possibility
- The river water can damage bridge. (It is not damaged yet, and there is evidence to happen so)
- Oh! The river water is crossing danger mark, and it is possible that it may damage bridge soon.
“Can” modal auxiliary verb is used to express theoretical possibility, whereas “may” modal expresses factual possibility.
Stronger Vs weaker permission
May” modal auxiliary verb is more preferred in terms of permission than “Can”. It is stronger and more formal compare to “Can”.“May” is used as more formal word compared to “can” in daily conversations.
- Your duty is over. Now, you can go.
- Do you know that you are too late? So, you can’t continue.
- Sir, I have submitted my application. Can I go now?
- Ok. My work is done. He may go now.
- She cannot leave without completing his job.
- I know how to make drawing. May I help you?
May modal verb for expressing wish or hope
Expression of wish is an another ground on which Can and may modal auxiliary verbs differ from each other. Expression of wish sounds good with the use of “may” modal verb.
- Examples of may modal verb to express wish and hope
- May his soul rest in peace.
- I think he may find some respite after this verdict.
- You have just married. May you have a happy married life.
Will, Would, Shall and Should
Shall modal auxiliary takes priority while making offer, command, official statements, and ask polite advice or opinions. Besides, it also plays role to form conditional sentences as well.
“Would and should” modals are past form of “will and shall” modal verbs.
Should modal expresses advice, duty, obligation, recommendation, and largely used in the higher level of conditional sentences.
Whereas, would modal is used to express request, desire, possibility, and hypothetical conditions.
Will modal verb for Presentation of offers and requests
Offers and requests are generally expressed in the interrogative sentences. Besides would, use of modal auxiliary will is preferred.
- Will he give us his extra time after office?
- Will you give me that book?
- Will you need my help?
- Will you have a glass of water?
Will modal verb to express likelihood
- I think that will be his new bike about which he mentioned earlier.
- Definitely, she will be with her mother.
- Nothing to worry.
- They will come on time. We haven’t visited market for a week.
- The prices of bananas will be affordable now.
Would you Vs could you
Could is used only for request; whereas, would is preferred to express polite request.
- Could you solve this problem?
- Would you solve this problem?
In these examples, second one is more polite than earlier.
Shall” modal verb to make offers
- In this time, shall I negotiate on the behalf of you?
- Today, shall I complete your homework?
- I think you are busy. Shall I book a ticket for you?
To make an official statement and command
- Recently, Supreme Court ruled that no citizen shall be hungry and deprived now onwards.
- No person shall be permitted to enter in the premises of school during exams.
- Definitely, he shall be punished for his misbehaviour.
Use of “Shall” modal verb to seek an advice or opinions.
- What shall I do without your guidance?
- Where shall we go for holiday celebration?
- Who shall I call for discussion?
Conditional sentences by “Shall” modal.
“You shall contact the shopping company if your product hasn’t arrived by next week.If your order is cancelled, you shall not be beneficiary of discount offer.”
In case to make future tense, “Will or will be is more applicable compare to shall and shall be.
How to use Semi modal auxiliary verbs
Dare, need, used to, ought to, have to, had better are the semi-modal auxiliary verbs used in english language.
There are some more words like be going to, be able to, be about to, be likely to, be supposed to and would rather considered as semi modal verbs. But they are rarely used. These semi-modal auxiliary verbs are preferred to express necessity, habitual action, moral obligation, advice etc.
Use and examples of “Dare and need” semi-modal verbs
“Dare” means to be courageous, brave and even reckless while doing something. “Dare” doesn’t conjugate in other forms.
- How dare he challenge me?
- How dare they ask me about my identity?
- I dare not ask for compensation again.
- Thinkers dare to challenge the existing social system.
Examples of “need”
- We need to finish this project before submission dates.
- Do I need to show original documents.
- She needs to attend some court hearings to be a good lawyer.
Examples of have to
- Have to semi modal auxiliary is used to indicate compulsion.
- I have to get up early in the morning.Medical practitioners have to follow guidelines given by medical council.
Usages of used to
Used to is a kind of semi modal verb for showing past habits or habitual actions.
- My elder brother used to go tennis court for practice early in morning in his college days.
- We used to live in small hut in our village a decade ago.
Apart from these, “Have to” is alternative for “Must”; whereas, “Ought to” for “Should”. “Used to” is generally used to express repeated daily activities or past habitual actions.
Through this article, “Most used primary and secondary helping verbs” So far, we have discussed in detail the important primary and secondary helping verbs. We study rules, usages, examples. Now, you might have a clear picture in your mind regarding the nature of primary and secondary helping verbs.