Helping verbs are verbs that help main verbs show their tenses, question forms, negative forms, etc.
| helping verbs | forms | usages | examples |
| do | do/does did |
simple tenses | I don’t like cigars. He didn’t come home. |
| be | am/is/are was/were |
continuous tenses | They are studying. I was running. |
| have | have/has had |
perfect tenses | You have seen him. She has eaten. |
- I do my homework. [main verb] – I don’t do my homework. [helping verb]
- Daniel is a teacher. [main verb] – He is teaching me English. [helping verb]
- I have a pen. [main verb] – I have broken the pen. [helping verb]
Modal verbs
Modal verbs are helping verbs too, but they follow their own rules and always take the infinitive without “to”.
- ꭗ I can to swim. ✓ I can swim.
- ꭗ Can you swimming? ✓ Can you swim?
Modals are the same for all pronouns.
- ꭗ She cans speak French. ✓ She can speak French.
- ꭗ It mays not work. ✓ It may not work.
To make a question, move the modal before the subject.
- Can you speak English?
- Will you sing us a song?
In negatives, only “cannot” is one word:
- ꭗ I can not speak Japanese. ✓ I cannot speak Japanese.
- ꭗ I willnot wait for you. ✓ I will not wait for you.
They take direct negative forms:
- You cannot park here.
- We will not come to the party.
- ꭗ You don’t should come late.
- ✓ You should not come late.
We do not combine with another modal verb.
- ꭗ I will can to buy a car soon. ✓ I will be able to buy a car soon.
- ꭗ I would must be careful. ✓ I would have to be careful.
ability/inability: can, could
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- I can speak fluent English.
- Jim could read Latin when he was 10.
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request or offer: can, could, may, would, will
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- Can I use your phone? [informal]
- Can I help you? [informal]
- Could I have the bill, please? [polite]
- May I have your phone number? [polite]
- Would you like some cake? [polite]
- Will you stop here, please?
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possibility: can, could, may, might
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- It can be cold here in the winter.
- He could arrive anytime now.
- It may rain tonight.
- I might be a few minutes late.
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permission: may, can, could
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- May I come in? [polite]
- Could you wait for me, please? [polite]
- Can I park here? [informal]
- You can’t park here. [informal]
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obligation: must
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- You must keep your word.
- You must obey the orders.
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ask/give advice: should, must
- You should see a doctor.
- Should I trust her?
- You must watch this movie. It’s really interesting.
probability: should, must
- The plane should take off anytime soon.
- Jim has been working all day; he must be tired.
expressing certainty: will, must
- I’m sure we will be late.
- Fred got promoted. He must be happy.
expressing willingness or refusal: would
- Who would work in the sun?
- The car wouldn’t start this morning.
