Helping Verbs

Helping Verbs

By L. Antonini

Helping Verbs

Helping verbs are words that work with the main verb of a predicate to provide additional meaning to the sentence.

They're called all kinds of things: helping verbs, linking verbs, co-verbs...but ultimately they are additions to the main verb of a sentence.

In some languages of the world, co-verbs are used for emphasis!

Multiple Choice

Identify the main verb in this sentence:

Johnny had been dying to see the new Fast & Furious movie.

• had

• been

• dying

• to see

Multiple Choice

Identify the main verb in this sentence:

Johnny wanted her to show him all around town.

• wanted

• to show

• all

• around

Multiple Choice

Identify the main verb in this sentence:

Johnny was the best player on the rugby team.

• was

• best

• on

• team

Multiple Select

Identify the main verb(s) in this complex sentence:

Johnny keeps telling us that he was abducted by aliens.

• keeps

• telling

• was

• abducted

Stative verbs describe the state something is in:

be / have / seem / can / do

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Negation can also be considered verbal: not / no​

In Standard English, we cannot stack negatives, but in some dialects, speakers do!

Most helping verbs are stative verbs

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Multiple Select

Identify the helping verb(s) in this sentence:

Johnny had been dying to see the new Fast & Furious movie.

• had

• been

• dying

• to see

Multiple Select

Identify the helping verb(s) in this complex sentence:

Johnny keeps telling us that he was abducted by aliens.

• keeps

• telling

• was

• abducted

Helping verbs also tell the listener/reader about the speaker's ability to do something:

He may go to the store.

He can do a backflip.​

Permission/Ability

Helping verbs can tell us if something is happening in the past or not:

He had been talking to her.

He has been talking to her.​

Tense

So what are helping verbs helping with?

Remember, negatives can also work in these instances as well!

Multiple Choice

Fill in the blank:

His mother said that he _ calling her when he disappeared.

• be

• is

• was

• can

Multiple Choice

Fill in the blank:

They told their friends to meet them at the dock, but they _ find it.

• could

• can

• couldn't

• can't

Multiple Choice

We will _ been walking for 3 miles by the time we reach the road!

• can

• may

• not

• have

Poll

How do you feel about your ability to identify a helping verb in a sentence?

• Great!

• Okay.

• Not good.

• Uhh? I need help!