Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary Verbs
(Definition ) verbs that add functional meaning to other "main" or "full" verbs in a clause. They are used to create different tenses or aspects, to form negatives and interrogatives, or to add emphasis to a sentence. However, they do not have semantic meaning unto themselves.
Would
(Functions) When a sentence expresses a future possibility, expectation, intention, or inevitability that began in the past, we use (?) instead of will.
Would
(Functions) With opinion verbs (such as think or expect) to dampen the forcefulness of an assertion, making it sound more formal and polite: also ask for someone else's opinion by pairing it with a question word in an interrogative sentence,
Conjugating Modal verbs
(Rules) - we do not conjugate when it's third person singular nor do we conjugate a main verb when it is being used with. - It cannot use with main verbs that are in a past-tense form; the verb that follows must always be in its base form (the infinitive without the word to).
Forming negative sentences with not, using "do"
(Rules) - Because the auxiliary verb do conjugates to reflect the third-person singular, the main verb of the sentence reverts back to its base form. - if a sentence is in the past simple tense, do conjugates to did, and the main verb remains in the present-tense base form.
Expressing desires
(identify) • "I would like to go to the movies later." • "Where would you like to go for your birthday?" • "Would you like a cup of tea?" • "He would like the steak, and I will have the lobster." • "Ask your friends if they would care for some snacks."
Likelihood and certainty
(identify) • Speaker A: "There was a man here just now asking about renting the spare room." • Speaker B: "That would be Kenneth. He just moved here from Iowa."
Creating the future tense
(identify) • "I shall call from the airport." (future simple tense) • "We shall be staying in private accommodation." • "Our company shall not be held accountable for this." • "I shan't* be participating in these discussions."
Having
Have conjugates as present participle
Has
Have conjugates as third-person singular present tense
Shall
(Functions) when we create interrogative sentences using (?) without question words, it is usually to make polite offers, invitations, or suggestions. When we form an interrogative sentence with a question word (who, what, where, when, or how), it is used to politely seek the advice or opinion of the listener about a future decision,
Will
(Functions) - it is used to create an approximation of the future simple tense and the future continuous tense. - used to make the future perfect tense and the future perfect continuous tense. These tenses both describe a scenario that began in the past and will either finish in or continue into the future
Would
(Functions) Conditional sentences in the past tense are called second conditionals. Unlike the first conditional, we use the second conditional to talk about things that cannot or are unlikely to happen. To create the second conditional, we use the past simple tense after the if clause, followed by would + the bare infinitive for the result of the condition.
Polite advice
(Functions) • "I would apologise to the boss if I were you." • "I would talk to her tonight; there's no point in waiting until tomorrow."
Would (would that)
(Functions) Can also be used to introduce a "that" clause to indicate some hypothetical or hopeful situation that one wishes were true.
Would
(Functions) Discuss hypothetical or possible situations that we can imagine happening, but that aren't dependent on a conditional if clause.
Modal auxiliary verbs
(Functions) Helping verbs that distinguished by the fact that they are unable to conjugate into different forms, and they are only followed by a verb in its base form.
Semi-modal verbs
(Functions) Helping verbs that do not share all the characteristics of the modal verbs above and only function as auxiliary verbs in certain ways.
Primary auxiliary verbs
(Functions) Helping verbs that each can also be used as a main verb in a clause, and each is able to conjugate to reflect plurality, tense, or aspect.
Will
(Functions) In present-tense conditional sentences formed using if, we often use will to express an expected hypothetical outcome. This is known as the first conditional.
would
(Functions) Use in the first person to politely offer advice about something. (It is common to add the phrase "if I were you" at the end, thus creating a conditional sentence.) also use in the second and third person to offer advice, usually in the construction "you would be wise/smart to do something,"
Would
(Functions) Use with the main verb like to express or inquire about a person's desire to do something. (We can also use the main verb care for more formal or polite sentences.) We can use this same construction to express or ask about a desire to have something. If we are using "like" as the main verb, it can simply be followed by a noun or noun phrase; if we are using care, it must be followed by the preposition "for"
Would
(Functions) for certain expressions of a person or thing's ability or willingness to do something in the past, though they are usually negative.
Modal Verbs
(Functions) must always be used with a main verb—they cannot stand completely on their own. (Possible sometimes when the clause with (?) occurs later in a sentence which the main verb was already stated OR it is implied by the context in or around the sentence)
Shall
(Functions) tThe future tenses are most often formed using will or be going to. We can also use (?) to add formality or politeness to these constructions, especially the future simple tense and the future continuous tense.
Will
(Functions) to express or inquire about a person or thing's ability or willingness to do something. It is very similar to the future tense, but is used for more immediate actions.
Will
(Functions) to express the likelihood or certainty that something is the case in the immediate present.
Would
(Functions) to express the likelihood or certainty that something was the case in the immediate past.
Will
(Functions) to issue commands, orders, or maxims. These have an added forcefulness in comparison to imperative sentences, as they express a certainty that the command will be obeyed.
shall
(Functions) use in conditional sentences using if to express a likely hypothetical outcome. This is known as the first conditional.
Would
(Functions) use with the adverbs rather and sooner to express or inquire about a person's preference for something.
Modal Verbs
(Functions) used to uniquely shift the meaning of the main verb they modify, expressing things such as possibility, likelihood, ability, permission, obligation, or intention.
Would
(Functions) when we use question word why, we often follow it with (?) to ask the reason something happened or is true. OR If we use I or we as the subject of the question, it is often used rhetorically to suggest that a question or accusation is groundless or false,
Offers, suggestions, and advice
(Identify) • "Shall we walk along the beach?" • "Shall I wash the dishes?"
Creating the future tense in the past
(Identify) • "I thought he would be here by now." • "She knew they wouldn't make it to the show in time." • "I thought John would be mowing lawn by this point."
Ability and Willingness
(Identify) "You wash the dishes; I'll take out the trash." "This darn washing machine won't turn on." "Won't Mary come out of her room?"
Polite opinions
(Identify) • "I would expect that the board of directors will be pleased with this offer." • "One would have thought that the situation would be improved by now." • "What would you suggest we do instead?" • "Where would be a good place to travel this summer?"
Emphatic do
(Rules) - Used as an auxiliary to create emphatic sentences. This is sometimes referred to as the emphatic mood, one of the grammatical moods in English. Its purpose in this case is not to add any new meaning to the sentence, but rather to emphasise the fact that something happened or someone did something. - Comes before the main verb in a sentence. It takes the conjugation for tense or plurality, leaving the main verb in the base form.
Mixing modal verbs
(Rules) (?) is only used before a main verb, or sometimes before be or have when they are used to create a verb tense. We do not use (?) before auxiliary do, or in front of other modal verbs.
Have and have got
(Rules) (?) when used as a main verb meaning "to possess," means the same thing as the less formal (?). They can usually be used interchangeably, though not in every case.
Won't
(Rules) If we want to make any of the future tenses negative, we use not between will and the main verb or the next occurring auxiliary verb. We often contract will and not into
Inversion with auxiliary verbs "Have" (forming interrogative sentences)
(Rules) The auxiliary verb used to create the tense is inverted with the subject to create a question; if the verb is in a perfect continuous tense (and thus has two auxiliaries), then the first of the two auxiliary verbs is inverted.
Inversion with auxiliary do (forming interrogative sentences)
(Rules) When a sentence is in the present simple tense or past simple tense, we use the auxiliary verb (?) to form it into a question word. This is inverted with the subject, coming before it in the sentence.
Inversion of "Be"
(Rules) able to invert when it is functioning as a linking verb (meaning it is a main verb) as well as an auxiliary. The inversion also holds true when there is a question word (Who,When,Where,Why)
Forming negative sentences with not, using "do"
(Rules) if a verb does not already use an auxiliary verb (i.e., to form one of the tenses above), we use the auxiliary verb do/does to accomplish this.
Forming negative sentences, using not with other tenses
(Rules) if a verb is already using one or more auxiliary verbs to create a perfect, continuous, or perfect continuous tense, then it is the auxiliary closest to the subject that takes the word not.
Imperative sentences (using do)
(Rules) to add emphasis to a command, instruction, or request, though this usually adds a more formal or old-fashioned tone to the sentence. Unlike in declarative sentences, we can use when be is a main verb of an imperative sentence.
Using Adv. with Modal verbs
(Rules) we use adverbs after (?) and either before or after the main verb in a clause. Sometimes putting an adverb before a modal is not incorrect, but it will sound better if placed after it
Using Adv. with Modal verbs
(Rules) when (?) is made negative, though, it is sometimes the case that an adverb must go before.
Will
(Substituting Modal Verbs) we can use the word shall in place of will in to express polite invitations. Similarly, would can also be substituted in requests to make them more polite.
would
(Substituting Modal Verbs) In addition to using would to form the second conditional (which we use to describe something we would definitely do), we can also use could for what we would be able to do, as well as might for what it is possible.
Present continuous tense
(Tense ) The speaker is thinking about something that is unfinished or incomplete. Use when.. - to describe an action that is going on at this moment: eg. You are using the Internet. - to describe an action that is going on during this period of time or a trend: eg. Are you still working for the same company? - to describe an action or event in the future, which has already been planned or prepared eg. We're going on holiday tomorrow. - to describe a temporary event or situation eg. He usually plays the drums, but he's playing bass guitar tonight. - with "always, forever, constantly", to describe and emphasise eg. a continuing series of repeated actions: Harry and Sally are always arguing!
Past Perfect Tense
(Tense)
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
(Tense) Like the future perfect simple, this form is used to project ourselves forward in time and to look back. It refers to events or actions in a time between now and some future time are unfinished. It is most often used with a time expression. eg. I will have been waiting here for three hours by six o'clock. (Notice that have does not conjugate for the third-person singular in this tense.)
Present continuous tense
(Tense) Structured as am/is/are + the present participle of the main verb
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
(Tense) corresponds to the present perfect continuous, but with reference to a time earlier than 'before now'. As with the present perfect continuous, we are more interested in the process. eg. Had you been waiting long before the taxi arrived? This form is also used in reported speech. It is the equivalent of the past continuous and the present perfect continuous in direct speech: Jane said, "I have been gardening all afternoon." = Jane said she had been gardening all afternoon.
Past Continuous Tense
(Tense) describes actions or events in a time before now, which began in the past and is still going on at the time of speaking. In other words, it expresses an unfinished or incomplete action in the past. It is used: - Often, to describe the background in a story written in the past tense. e.g. "The sun was shining and the birds were singing as the elephant came out of the jungle. The other animals were relaxing in the shade of the trees, but the elephant moved very quickly. She was looking for her baby, and she didn't notice the hunter who was watching her through his binoculars. When the shot rang out, she was running towards the river..." - to describe an unfinished action that was interrupted by another event or action, e.g. "I was having a beautiful dream when the alarm clock rang." - to express a change of mind: e.g. "I was going to spend the day at the beach but I've decided to get my homework done instead." - with 'wonder', to make a very polite request: e.g. "I was wondering if you could baby-sit for me tonight."
Would that
(identify) • "Would that we lived near the sea." • Speaker A: "Life would be so much easier if we won the lottery." • Speaker B: "Would that it were so!"
Present Perfect Tense
(Tense) it is used to indicate a link between the present and the past. The time of the action is before now but not specified, and we are often more interested in the result than in the action itself. IT IS USED TO DESCRIBE - An action or situation that started in the past and continues in the present. eg. I have lived in Bristol since 1984 (= and I still do.) - An action performed during a period that has not yet finished. eg. She has been to the cinema twice this week (= and the week isn't over yet.) - A repeated action in an unspecified period between the past and now. e.g We have visited Portugal several times. - An action that was completed in the very recent past, expressed by 'just'. eg. I have just finished my work. -An action when the time is not important. eg. He has read 'War and Peace'. (= the result of his reading is important) ** Also use with EVER, NEVER, ALREADY, YET, FOR AND SINCE** http://www.ef.com/english-resources/english-grammar/verbs/
Future Perfect Tense
(Tense) refers to a completed action in the future. When we use this tense we are projecting ourselves forward into the future and looking back at an action that will be completed some time later than now. It is most often used with a time expression. eg. I will have been here for six months on June 23rd. eg. "She will have sung with a professional orchestra before the tour begins."
Past Perfect Tense
(Tense) refers to a time earlier than before now. It is used to make it clear that one event happened before another in the past. It does not matter which event is mentioned first - the tense makes it clear which one happened first. Event A Event B John had gone out when I arrived in the office. Event A Event B I had saved my document before the computer crashed. Event B Event A When they arrived we had already started cooking. Event B Event A He was very tired because he hadn't slept well.
Future Continuous Tense
(Tense) refers to an unfinished action or event that will be in progress at a time later than now. It is used for quite a few different purposes. - It can be used to project ourselves into the future. eg. This time next week I will be sun-bathing in Bali. - It can be used for predicting or guessing about future events. eg. He'll be coming to the meeting, I expect. In the interrogative form, it can be used to ask politely for information about the future. eg. Will Jim be coming with us?
Past Perfect Continuous Tense
(Tense) structured as had been + the present participle of the main verb
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
(Tense) structured as have been + the present participle of the main verb
Present Perfect Tense
(Tense) structured as have/has + the past participle of main verb
Past Continuous Tense
(Tense) structured as was/were + the present participle of the main verb
Future Continuous Tense
(Tense) structured as will be + the present participle of the main verb OR am/is/are + going to be + the present participle of the verb:
Future Perfect Continuous Tense
(Tense) structured as will have been + the present participle of the main verb (Notice that have does not conjugate for the third-person singular in this tense.)
Present Perfect Continuous Tense
(Tense) used to refer to an unspecified time between 'before now' and 'now'. The speaker is thinking about something that started but perhaps did not finish in that period of time. He/she is interested in the process as well as the result, and this process may still be going on, or may have just finished. ACTIONS THAT STARTED IN THE PAST AND CONTINUE IN THE PRESENT eg. She has been waiting for you all day (= and she's still waiting now). ACTIONS THAT HAVE JUST FINISHED, BUT WE ARE INTERESTED IN THE RESULTS eg. She has been cooking since last night (= and the food on the table looks delicious).
Future Perfect Tense
(Tense) will have + the past participle of the main verb (Notice that have does not conjugate for the third-person singular in this tense.)
Primary auxiliary verbs
(Types) be, do and have.
Auxiliary Verbs
(Types) be, do, have, can, could, will, would, shall, should, must may, might, ought to, used to, need, dare.
Modal auxiliary verbs
(Types) can, could, will, would, shall, should, must, may, and might
Semi-modal verbs,
(Types) ought to, used to, need, and dare
Would
(functions) use in the same way as will to form requests, except that would adds a level of politeness to the question,
Conditional sentences
(identify) • "If I see him, I will tell him the news." • "I won't have to say goodbye if I don't go to the airport."
Hypothetical situations
(identify) • "They would be an amazing band to see in concert!" • "Don't worry about not getting in—it wouldn't have been a very interesting class, anyway." • "She would join your study group, but she doesn't have any free time after school." • "I normally wouldn't mind, except that today is my birthday!"
Past ability and willingness
(identify) • "This darn washing machine wouldn't turn on this morning." • "Mary wouldn't come out of her room all weekend."
Likelihood and certainty
(identify) • (in response to the phone ringing) "That will be Jane—I'm expecting her call." • Speaker A: "Who is that with Jeff?" • Speaker B: "That'll be his new husband. They were just married in May."
Commands
(identify) •"You will finish your homework this instant!" • "This house will not be used as a hotel for your friends, do you understand me?"
Conditional sentences
(identify) • "If I went to London, I would visit Trafalgar Square." • "I would buy a yacht if I ever won the lottery."
Preference
(identify) • "There are a lot of fancy meals on the menu, but I would rather have a hamburger." • "They would sooner go bankrupt than sell the family home." • "Would you rather go biking or go for a hike?"
Asking the reason why
(identify) • "Why would my brother lie to me?" • "Why would they expect you to know that?" • "Why would I try to hide anything from you?" • "Why would we give up now, when we've come so close to succeeding?"
Are
Be as a first- person plural present tense, second-person singular/plural present tense, third-person plural present tense.
Were
Be as a first-person plural past tense, second-person singular/plural past tense, third-person plural past tense
Was
Be as a first-person singular past tense, third-person singular past tense
Is
Be as a third-person singular present tense
Am
Be as first-person singular present tense
Been
Be as past participle
Being
Be as present participle
Done
Do conjugates as past participle
Did
Do conjugates as past tense
Doing
Do conjugates as present participle
Does
Do conjugates as third-person singular present tense
Had
Have conjugates as past tense/participle
Have and Be
Primary Aux verbs which are used together to form the perfect continuous tenses (in form of past participle)
Be
Primary Auxiliary verb which is used on its own to form the continuous tenses.
Have
Primary Auxiliary verb which is used to form the perfect tenses.
Auxiliary Verbs
primary auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, semi-modal verbs
Polite requests
• "Would you please take out the garbage for me?" • "Would John mind helping me clean out the garage?"
