auxiliary verbs
Grammar's support words
Auxiliary verbs are verbs that combine with main verbs to express tense, mood, or voice.
The primary auxiliaries are be, have, and do: She is running, They have finished, Do you understand?
Modal auxiliaries—can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would—express possibility, necessity, or permission: You must leave, She might come.
Auxiliaries carry the grammatical weight while the main verb carries the meaning.
- doPerform an action
- haveKeep in possession
- has beenPerson past prominence
- will haveFuture tense of possession
- would haveContrary-to-fact auxiliary
progressive aspect · were · tense · future tense · copula · perfect · past participle · could · might be · had · should · conjugation · are · grammar · is · passive voice · syntax · shall
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