Helping Verbs

A verb tells of an action or state of being. Many verbs are made up of a main verb plus one or more helping verbs. These groups of verbs are called verb phrases.

Besides all the forms of the verb be (is, was, am, are, were), helping verbs include the following words: has have had shall will can may should would could might must do did does

Examples: He is leaving. She could jump.

Sometimes the parts of a verb phrase are interrupted by other parts of speech. Examples: She had always been thinking of her future. He should not have borrowed the car.

A. Underline the main verb in each sentence. Then circle the helping verb(s). 1. The fish were biting. 2. The ice had melted. 3. Nancy will draw a map. 4. I might make some vegetable soup. 5. Somebody should have told the police. 6. Nobody could run that fast. 7. Cesar had not been listening to the radio. 8. That class has been cancelled. 9. Can you help me? 10. May I see that newspaper? B. Write ten sentences using helping verbs. 11. You should have used smaller batteries. 12. Jeff has been telling us about his car. 13. I am teaching him the words to that song. 14. Suzy might have noticed something. 15. Their coats were spattered with paint. 16. Did all the doctors agree? 17. Marilyn was whistling a happy tune. 18. Have the potatoes been cooked long enough? 19. When was the phone disconnected? 20. Would anyone else have agreed with that?