Auxiliary/Helping Verbs

auxiliary just means helping

WARNING: Auxiliary verbs do not function as verbs. They HELP the main verb.

Auxiliary/Helping Verbs
the main verb express action or a state of being

To be am is are was were been being

To do do does did done

To have have has had

can would could should must

Auxiliary/Helping Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs

Verb Phrase

A verb phrase has one main verb and one or more auxiliary verbs

All the crowd is saying: You can win this fight, Bender!

Bender knows he must defeat his opponent, because all his friends are there and he cant disappoint them

Leela, Fry and Bender are walking to the Planet Express Ship Bender doesnt bring any helmet, because he can go the outter space without it Leela and Fry cant breathe without helmet in the outter space

Bender, go somewhere else and dont bother us!

Bender always does that when Fry and his friends go to a restaurant

No, I dont. Actually, it sucks. But it seems there is nothing else I can drink.

Hey Fry, do you really like that cup of coffee? Because you look like crap, dude

Yeah, that cup of coffee doesnt look pretty tasty, huh?

Nopes, I just wanna finish the last cup. Do you wanna try it? Hell no, mate, I cant. That crappy coffee would rust my metal

Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb?

The highlighted words can function as main verbs or auxiliary verbs.

Bender is a compulsive smoker.

Bender is smoking a cigar.

Auxiliary Verb or Main Verb? Your Turn! Make your own examples using each of these words in two ways: 1) as a main verb and 2) as an auxiliary verb in a verb phrase.

am/are/is do/does have/has

am/are/is
Fry and Bender are very good friends.

Bender is drinking a beer.

They are getting ready for a party

do/does
Goddamn, Bender! You always do this!
It seems that my speaker works pretty good, huh?

Oh yeah, you freaking prick, it does work

Handy Tip for Verb Phrases

Sometimes a verb phrase is interrupted by another part of speech, like an adverb. In a question, the subject often interrupts the verb phrase. Our school has always held a victory celebration when our team wins. Did you hear Jamie Foxxs speech?