Helping Verbs

Helping Verbs

A helping verb helps the main verb express action or state of being.

Together, a main verb and at least one helping verb make up a verb phrase.

Common Helping VerbsC can could    H has have had  A am are    D do does did           B be been being           S shall should    W was were will wouldI is      M may might must

Present Perfect Tense Present perfect tense expresses action

completed at the present time (perfect means complete) or begun in the past and continuing into the present.

This tense uses the helping verbs has and have and the past participle of the verb.

Examples: o He has written a letter to his uncle.

(completed action)o The Walton's have lived here for seven

years. (continuing)

Past Perfect Tense Past perfect tense expresses

action completed before certain time in the past. (This is the before-past tense).

It uses the helping verb had and the past participle of the verb.

o Example: She had written the letter before I saw her.

Future Perfect Tense Future perfect tense expresses action

which will be completed before a certain time in the future. (This is the before-future tense).

It uses the helping verbs will have or shall have and the past participle of the verb.

o Example: He will have finished the paper before next Friday.

Helping Verb Practice

Complete Exercise 1 on p. 373. Please underline the entire verb phrase, not just the helping verb(s).