List of Helping Verbs
Helping verbs, also known as auxiliary verbs, assist the main verb in a sentence by extending its meaning. They help to form different tenses, voices, and moods.
Here is a comprehensive list of helping verbs:
List of Helping Verbs
- Am: Used with present participles to form continuous tenses (e.g., I am running).
- Are: Used with present participles to form continuous tenses (e.g., You are running).
- Aren’t: Contraction of are not, used to negate present participles (e.g., They aren’t running).
- Be: Used with various participles to form different tenses (e.g., She will be going).
- Been: Used with past participles to indicate a completed action (e.g., They have been called).
- Being: Used with other verbs to indicate a continuous action (e.g., He is being helpful).
- Can: Indicates ability or possibility (e.g., She can swim).
- Can’t: Contraction of cannot, used to indicate the inability to perform an action (e.g., He can’t drive).
- Could: Past tense of can, used to indicate a possible action or ability (e.g., She could read when she was four).
- Could’ve: Contraction of could have, indicating a possible action or ability in the past (e.g., She could’ve been there).
- Couldn’t: Contraction of could not, used to indicate a past inability (e.g., They couldn’t attend the meeting).
- Dare: Used in questions and negatives to indicate challenge or courage (e.g., How dare you?).
- Did: Past tense of do, used to form questions and negatives in the past simple tense (e.g., Did they go?).
- Didn’t: Contraction of did not (e.g., He didn’t call).
- Do: Used to form questions and negatives in the present simple tense (e.g., Do you like coffee?).
- Does: Third person singular form of do (e.g., Does he play guitar?).
- Doesn’t: Contraction of does not (e.g., She doesn’t know).
- Had: Used to form the past perfect tense (e.g., She had left).
- Hadn’t: Contraction of had not (e.g., They hadn’t noticed).
- Has: Third person singular form of have, used to form the present perfect tense (e.g., She has eaten).
- Hasn’t: Contraction of has not (e.g., He hasn’t arrived).
- Have: Used to form the present perfect tense (e.g., They have finished).
- Haven’t: Contraction of have not (e.g., We haven’t started).
- Is: Used with singular subjects in continuous tenses (e.g., He is working).
- Isn’t: Contraction of is not, used to negate present participles (e.g., He isn’t playing).
- May: Indicates permission or possibility (e.g., You may leave).
- May’ve: Contraction of may have (e.g., They may’ve forgotten).
- Might: Indicates a lower possibility than may (e.g., It might rain).
- Might’ve: Contraction of might have, indicating a possible action or state in the past (e.g., They might’ve seen it).
- Must: Indicates necessity or strong probability (e.g., You must finish your work).
- Must’ve: Contraction of must have, indicating a strong probability or necessity in the past (e.g., He must’ve known).
- Mustn’t: Contraction of must not (e.g., They mustn’t be late).
- Need: Used to indicate necessity in questions and negatives (e.g., Need you ask?).
- Ought: Indicates duty or correctness, typically used with to (e.g., You ought to listen).
- Shall: Indicates future action (e.g., I shall return).
- Shan’t: Contraction of shall not (e.g., I shan’t forget).
- Should: Indicates obligation or probability (e.g., You should apologize).
- Shouldn’t: Contraction of should not (e.g., They shouldn’t wait).
- Used to: Indicates a past habit or state (e.g., She used to play piano).
- Was: Past tense of be for singular subjects (e.g., She was dancing).
- Wasn’t: Contraction of was not (e.g., He wasn’t invited).
- Were: Past tense of be for plural subjects and singular formal/plural second person (e.g., They were playing).
- Weren’t: Contraction of were not, used to negate past participles (e.g., They weren’t going).
- Will: Indicates future action (e.g., I will help).
- Won’t: Contraction of will not (e.g., She won’t go).
- Would: Indicates a future action from a past perspective or polite requests (e.g., I would like to know).
- Would’ve: Contraction of would have, indicating a future action from a past perspective or hypothetical situation (e.g., I would’ve gone).
- Wouldn’t: Contraction of would not (e.g., He wouldn’t leave).