GRAMMAR FUNDA #4:Auxiliary verbs Auxiliary verbs are used together with a main verb to give grammatical information and therefore add extra meaning to a sentence, which is not given by the main verb.
They are used to form the passive voice.
They are used to form the continuous tense.
They are used to form the perfect tense.
Be, Do and Have are auxiliary verbs, they are irregular verbs and can be used as main verbs. The verbs 'to be' and 'to have' are the most commonly used auxiliary verbs and work alongside the main verbs in any statement.
Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to tense usage.
Every tense takes an auxiliary form of the verb. There are three exceptions to this rule:
Simple present positive: She works at a bank.
Simple past positive: He bought a new TV last week.
Positive imperative statements: Hurry up!
There are also a number of short forms that take ONLY the auxiliary form of the verb:
Yes / No answer short forms:
Do you live in India? - No, I don't.
Has she been to Delhi? Yes, she has.
Question tags:
They enjoy learning English, don't they?
He won't agree with me, will he?
Positive agreement / inclusion:
I went to the beach last weekend.
- So did I.
I'm working very hard at the moment. - So is she.
Negative agreement / inclusion:
They haven't worked here long. - Neither have I.
We won't be able to come next week. - Neither will I.
Here is a quick overview of auxiliary verb usage: DO / DOES
Used simple present question and negative forms:
What time does he get up?
They don't drive to work. They take the bus.
DID
Used in simple past question and negative forms:
When did they arrive yesterday?
He didn't finish his homework last week.
IS / ARE / AM
Used in present continuous and for the future with 'going to':
They are working hard at the moment.
She is going to study medicine at university.
WAS / WERE
Past continuous:
I was watching TV when you arrived.
What were they doing while you were cooking dinner?
HAVE / HAS
Present perfect and present perfect continuous:
How long have you lived here?
I've been working since seven this morning.
HAD
Past perfect and past perfect continuous:
He had eaten by the time I arrived.
She had been studying for two hours when he finally telephoned.
WILL / WON'T
Future with 'will':
What will the weather be like tomorrow?
He won't understand.
A small quiz on auxiliary verbs....
1. He ___dint__ come to school yesterday because he was ill.
2. She __has___ been working in the garden since two this afternoon.
3. He __had___ finished his homework by the time arrived.
4. I'm afraid I _wont____ be able to come to the party. I have to study.
5. You've visited London, _havent____ you?
6. They __are___ going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.
7. Why __did___ you buy that?! It's ugly!
8. She _would____ often go to the movies.
9. He __isnt___ watching TV. He's doing his homework at the moment.
10. They __have___ been playing tennis for two hours.
11.I don't like country music.
- Neither __do___ I.
12. They won't come to the party, _will____ they?
13. Mom ___had__ been working for two hours when I telephoned.
14. I think they are fantastic! - So _is____ she.
15. What __are___ they doing?
16. Mary hasn't enjoyed herself so much for a long time. - Neither _have____ I.
17. Mike _____ go on vacation last summer. He was too busy.
18. He's studying Russian this semester, _isnt____ he?
19. I ___had__ just been to the bank.
20. How long _have____ you been working for this company?
source: some website(sorry dont remember the exact name..
)
kindly attempt the quiz above...i will post the answers 2 morrow...
rgds
tarun...
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