Definitions from the Web
Helping Verb
A helping verb, also known as an auxiliary verb, is a type of verb used in conjunction with the main verb to express tense, aspect, mood, voice, or emphasis in a sentence. It assists the main verb in the formation of various verb tenses and grammatical constructions.
Senses:
- Grammatical Usage: A helping verb is used to form verb phrases, such as expressing tense (e.g., "He is going to the store"), mood (e.g., "She might study for the exam"), aspect (e.g., "They have eaten their lunch"), voice (e.g., "The cake was baked by my sister"), or emphasis (e.g., "They did finish their work").
- English Grammar: In English, the most common helping verbs include "be," "have," and "do." Other examples are "can," "could," "will," "would," "shall," "should," "may," "might," "must," and "ought to."
Examples:
- She is singing a beautiful song. (Tense: present)
- They have been waiting for hours. (Tense: present perfect continuous)
- He should do his homework. (Mood: recommendation)
- We will go to the beach. (Mood: intention)
- I can swim very well. (Ability: present)
- She might have missed the bus. (Possibility: past)
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