Practice
Helping verbs: use and examples
In the sentence "Maya is studying," studying names the action. Is helps show that the action is happening now. The two words work together as a verb phrase.
Recognize a helping verb and use be, do, and have with a main verb to show time, questions, negatives, or emphasis.
Read and practice
Read the examples and try the written questions in this guide. Listening recordings are not available for this lesson yet.
Try the written questions
She has finished the work. /ʃi hæz ˈfɪnɪʃt ðə wɝk/
The short answer
A helping verb works with a main verb. Use be for forms such as is working, have for forms such as has finished, and do for questions, negatives, or emphasis such as Do you agree? and I do agree.
They have packed their bags.
Why it works: Have supports packed and helps form the present perfect.
5 more examples
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The children are building a model.
Are helps building show an action in progress.
Not this:The children
buildmodels every weekend. What changes: Build alone describes a regular habit, not an action happening at this moment. -
Rina has sent the email.
Has helps form the present perfect with sent.
Not this:Rina
sentthe email yesterday. What changes: Sent alone places the action at the finished time yesterday. -
Do you need a copy of the schedule?
Do helps turn the statement You need a copy into a question.
Not this:You
needa copy of the schedule. What changes: Without do, the words make a statement. -
I do not remember the address.
Do combines with not to make the sentence negative.
Not this:I
rememberthe address. What changes: The main verb remember is positive when do not is removed. -
We did enjoy the concert.
Did adds emphasis to the speaker's statement.
Not this:We
enjoyedthe concert. What changes: Both sentences are grammatical, but did makes the reassurance stronger.
Read the full guide
Look for a pair of verbs before you decide. In We are waiting, waiting is the main verb and are is the helping verb. A helping verb does not usually name the main action by itself. It changes how the main action is understood.
Find the main verb first
Start with the word that names the action. In They are painting the wall, painting is the action. Are comes before it and gives extra grammar information.
They are painting the wall.
Painting names the action. Are helps show that the action is in progress.
Which word names the action: are or painting?
Painting names the action. Are is the helping verb.
Use be for actions in progress
Use am, is, or are with an ing form when the action is happening around now. Choose the form of be that matches the subject.
I am learning a new route to work.
Am supports learning. Together they show an action in progress.
Complete the sentence: My neighbors ___ moving today.
Use are: My neighbors are moving today.
Use have for completed actions connected to now
Use have or has with a past participle when the result matters now or when you do not name a finished past time. The main verb follows the helping verb.
Our train has arrived.
Has supports arrived and forms the present perfect.
Choose the helping verb: She ___ already eaten.
Use has: She has already eaten.
Use do in questions and negatives
Use do, does, or did with the base form of the main verb in many questions and negatives. The helping verb changes for the subject or time, while the main verb stays in the base form.
Did you call the office?
Did shows past time and helps call form a question.
Choose the sentence for a negative meaning: She does not drives or She does not drive?
Use She does not drive. After does not, use the base form drive.
Tell helping verbs from main verbs
Be, have, and do can also be main verbs. Look at what follows. If there is another verb, the first verb may be helping. If the word is followed by a noun, adjective, or no second verb, it may be the main verb.
We are ready for the meeting.
Are is the main verb here because ready is an adjective, not an action verb.
In I have a pen, is have helping another verb?
No. Have is the main verb because it means possess and no second verb follows it.
Before you go
Remember this
Find the main verb first. A helping verb works beside it to show time, make a question or negative, or add emphasis. Be, have, and do are common helping verbs, but their job depends on the words that follow.
Practice with the written examples
You can practice with the written questions in the Learn tab. Each answer includes an explanation.
Try the written questionsListening test not available yet
This lesson does not have the recordings needed for a listening test. Use the written questions in the guide to check your understanding.
Try the written questionsQuestions about "Helping verbs: use and examples"
What is a helping verb?
A helping verb works with a main verb and adds grammar information. It can show time, form a question, make a negative, or add emphasis. In The children are building a model, are is the helping verb and building names the action.
The children are building a model.
Which verbs can be helping verbs?
Common helping verbs include forms of be, have, and do. Be can support an ing form, have can support a past participle, and do can form questions or negatives. In Rina has sent the email, has helps the main verb sent.
The children build models every weekend.
Why do questions sometimes use do?
English often uses do, does, or did to form a question when there is no other helping verb. Do you need a copy of the schedule? uses do before the subject, while You need a copy of the schedule is a statement.
Rina has sent the email.
Why is the main verb plain after does or did?
Does and did already carry the agreement or past-time information, so the next verb stays in the base form. Say She does not drive and Did you call the office? Do not add s or ed to the main verb after does or did.
Rina sent the email yesterday.
Can be, have, and do be main verbs too?
Yes. Their job depends on the rest of the sentence. In We are ready, are is the main verb because ready is an adjective. In I have a pen, have is the main verb because it means possess. Look for another verb before calling one a helping verb.
Do you need a copy of the schedule?