What are 'auxiliary verbs'?

Grammar A group of verbs that combine with the main verb to form the verb phrase: Auxiliary verbs are also known as 'helping verbs'. Primary be have Modal shall can may must ought (to)
Tense

is am are was were been has had will should would could might

Meaning The action which is ongoing An action that was ongoing in the past. Action that began in the past and is still going on.

Use of Be

Present Progressive

She is baking a cake today.

Past Progressive

She was baking a cake yesterday. She has been baking a cake today.

Present Perfect Progressive

Past Perfect Progressive

Action that started in past She had been baking a and finished at another cake last night. ti e in the past.

Passive Si ple Present Si ple Past Present Perfect

Use of Be The cake is The cake was ade. ade. ade.

The cake has been

Past Perfect !"t"re

The cake had been The cake will be

ade.

ade.

Tense

Meaning Action that happened at "nspecified ti e before now Action that happened before another action in the past Action that began in the past and is still going on. Action that started in past and finished at another ti e in the past. Action that happened at "nspecified ti e before now Action that happened before another action in the past

Use of #ave She has baked a cake. She had baked a cake. She has been baking a cake.

Present Perfect

Past Perfect

Present Perfect Progressive

Past perfect Progressive

She had been baking a cake.

Present Perfect $Passive %oice& Past Perfect $Passive %oice&

The cake has been ade. The cake had been ade.

Tense

Meaning An action pro ised)ass" ed in the f"t"re. An action that will be finished in the f"t"re.

Use of 'ill

!"t"re (

She will not bake a cake.

!"t"re ( (

She will have baked a cake.

Tense Si ple Present

Meaning

Use of *o

Action taking place now + once or She does not bake cakes.

several ti es or never. Action that happened in the past + once) any ti es) never.

Si ple Past

She did not bake cakes.

Tense

Meaning

Use of *o

Si ple Present

Action taking place now + once or Does she bake cakes, several ti es or never. Action that happened in the past + once) any ti es) never.

Si ple Past

Did she bake a cake,

-eason The ain verb is Be

.egative Sentence There was no cake.

/"estion Is there any cake, Will yo" have so e cake, Can she ake a cake,

There is another #elping %erb There is a Modal %erb

There wont be any cake.

She cant

ake a cake