Level: A2-B1

Helping (Auxiliary) Verbs — Practice

Find the helping verbs and modals in a sentence — be, have, do, can, could, will, should, must, may, might. Includes the simple “last verb is the main verb” test, patterns with up to three helpers, modals with their special rules, and 50+ example sentences. Every example is click-to-hear.

📝 Verbs unit · lesson 8 of 17 ⏱ about 15 minutes 🔊 every example has audio

Builds on The 5 Verb Forms Next in unit Modal Verbs →

Helping verbs and modals — quick guide

A helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) works together with a main verb to form a verb phrase. Helping verbs show tense, voice, questions, negatives, or attitudes like possibility, ability, or obligation.

Primary auxiliaries — be, do, have (and their forms):
She is reading. (is = helping, present continuous) They have finished. (have = helping, present perfect) Do you like pizza? (do = helping, forms a question)
Modal auxiliaries — can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must, ought to. They add meaning like ability or possibility:
You should study. (should = modal, shows advice) She can swim. (can = modal, shows ability)
Up to three helpers in a row:
She should have been waiting. (three helpers: should + have + been) The car will have been fixed by now.

🎯 The “last verb is the main verb” test

Find the last verb in the phrase — that’s the main verb. All the verbs before it are helping verbs.

She is reading. → last verb = reading (main) → is is helping.
They have been waiting. → last verb = waiting (main) → have, been are helping.
She might have been sleeping. → last verb = sleeping (main) → might, have, been are all helping.

Watch out: be, do, and have can also be MAIN verbs when used alone:

I am a teacher. (am = main verb — no other verb)
I am teaching English. (am = helping — teaching is the main verb)
They have a car. (have = main)
They have bought a car. (have = helping; bought is main)

Modal quirks: modal verbs (can, must, should…) never take an -s in he/she/it form, and they’re always followed by the base form of the next verb (no to, except for ought to).

📖 Want the full explanation with modal meanings, the helping-verbs summary table, and how this fits with action and linking verbs? See English Verbs → Helping verbs and Modal verbs and their quirks on the main grammar page.

How to use this page

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One helping verb — be / have / do
She is reading.
They are playing.
He was cooking.
We were watching.
I have finished.
You had left.
Does she like coffee?
Do you understand?
Did they go?
She does not speak.
They do not live here.
He did not come.
What did he say?
Have you seen this movie?
One modal verb
I can swim.
You may enter.
We must leave.
She should apologize.
They will arrive.
He would visit.
Could you help?
Would you close the door?
Might we try again?
You ought to try.
Two helping verbs in a row
The package is being sent.
They have been waiting.
He will be studying.
She might have forgotten.
You should have called.
We could have gone.
It must be snowing.
They may not be coming.
Why are you being followed?
Where will you be going?
She has been working.
I had been thinking.
They will have finished.
The report should be printed today.
You must not be distracted.
He could not have done it.
She would have liked to come.
Why have you been hiding?
We will not be going.
The bread has been baked.
Three helping verbs in a row
She will have been waiting for hours.
They might have been planning a surprise.
I should have been paying attention.
Could you have been waiting long?
The work could have been finished sooner.
He may have been sleeping.
The car should have been fixed by now.
By 9 p.m. they will have been driving for ten hours.
Going-to future (special pattern)
They are going to buy a car.
I am going to study tonight.
She is going to call me later.
We are going to visit Paris next year.
He was going to leave early.
They are not going to come.

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