Helping Verb: Definition, List, Chart, and Examples in English

English grammar is like the framework of a building, and verbs act as the foundation that holds it together. While main verbs show the central action or state, helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs) work alongside them to give sentences accuracy, clarity, and depth.

Imagine saying:

• “She running fast.”

This sentence is incomplete and incorrect. Add a helping verb, and suddenly it becomes:

• “She is running fast.”

That tiny word “is” completely changes the meaning, makes the grammar correct, and communicates the intended action.

In this detailed guide, we’ll explore what a helping verb is, study the helping verbs list, examine a tense helping verb chart, and go through definitions, examples, and worksheets. You’ll not only learn the rules but also understand how to apply them in daily communication.

What is a Helping Verb?

A helping verb is a verb that accompanies the main verb to form a verb phrase. It adds detail about the time (tense), possibility, necessity, or voice of the action. Without it, many English sentences would either sound unnatural or be grammatically wrong.

Examples:

• They are going to the park.

• She has finished her homework.

• I will attend the meeting.

Notice that “are,” “has,” and “will” are not showing the main action but are helping the main verb.

Key points to remember:

• Helping verbs cannot stand alone; they always need a main verb.

• They clarify whether something is happening now, happened before, or will happen later.

• They also help form questions and negatives.

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Helping Verbs List in English

English has a limited set of helping verbs, but they are used very frequently. Memorizing the helping verbs list helps learners spot them easily in sentences.

Primary Helping Verbs:

• Be (am, is, are, was, were, be, being, been)

• Have (have, has, had)

• Do (do, does, did)

Modal Helping Verbs:

• Can, Could

• May, Might

• Must

• Shall, Should

• Will, Would

👉 Together, these 23 words are used in countless sentence structures

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Types of Helping Verbs

Helping verbs in English can be classified into two main categories:

1. Primary Helping Verbs

These are the most basic auxiliaries: be, do, and have.

• Be: Used in continuous tenses and passive voice.

  • She is writing a letter.

  • The work was completed on time.

• Have: Used in perfect tenses.

  • I have seen that movie.

  • They had left before you arrived.

• Do: Used for questions, negatives, and emphasis.

  • Do you like pizza?

  • She does not agree.

  • I do want to help you.

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2. Modal Helping Verbs

Modals express ability, permission, obligation, or possibility.

• Can: He can swim fast.

• Might: She might come tomorrow.

• Should: You should study harder.

• Must: We must respect our elders.

These words are essential for expressing nuances in English.

Helping Verb Definition

The simplest definition of a helping verb is:

A helping verb is a word that helps the main verb show tense, voice, or mood.

Unlike main verbs, helping verbs do not show action by themselves. Instead, they add precision to the action of the main verb.

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Helping Verb Chart (Tense-wise)

A tense helping verb chart shows how auxiliaries work in different situations:

👉 This helping verb chart is a quick reference for students learning English grammar.

Helping Verb Examples

Here are more helping verb examples in different contexts:

1. She is dancing gracefully.

2. They were studying all night.

3. He has gone to the market.

4. I will attend the class.

5. You must finish your homework.

6. We can play outside today.

Notice how each sentence sounds incomplete without the helping verb.

Helping Verb Sentences

Let’s practice with sentences using helping verbs:

• She is cooking pasta for dinner.

• He has written three books.

• They will join the competition.

• You should listen carefully.

• We were laughing together.

By adding a helping verb, each sentence gains clarity and accuracy.

Difference Between Main Verb and Helping Verb

Students often confuse these two. Here’s a simple comparison:

👉 Helping verbs depend on main verbs, while main verbs can exist alone.

Common Mistakes with Helping Verbs

Learners frequently make errors while using helping verbs. Let’s see some:

1. Omitting the helping verb in continuous tense.

   • ❌ She running fast.

   • ✅ She is running fast.

2. Wrong agreement with subject.

   • ❌ He have gone.

   • ✅ He has gone.

3. Unnecessary use of two modals together.

   • ❌ She can might come.

   • ✅ She might come.

4. Confusing main verb with auxiliary use.

   • ❌ I am agree.

   • ✅ I agree.

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Helping Verbs Worksheet (Practice Exercises)

Try these exercises to test your knowledge:

A. Fill in the blanks:

1. They ___ playing cricket.

2. She ___ finished her assignment.

3. You ___ not worry about it.

4. He ___ be late today.

5. I ___ never been to London.

Answers: 1. are, 2. has, 3. should, 4. may/will, 5. have

B. Identify the helping verb:

• She is working hard.

• They have gone home.

• He must finish his work.

👉 Practicing with worksheets improves accuracy.

Why are Helping Verbs Important?

Helping verbs are more than just small grammar words. They:

• Show time of action (past, present, future).

• Help form negative sentences.

• Make questions possible.

• Express possibility or obligation.

• Allow sentences to be written in the passive voice.

Without them, English would lose flexibility and precision.

Advanced Notes on Helping Verbs

1. Be, Do, Have as both main and helping verbs:

   • Main Verb: I have a car.

   • Helping Verb: I have eaten lunch.

2. Contractions in spoken English:

   • I am → I’m

   • She will → She’ll

   • They have → They’ve

3. Multiple helping verbs together:

   • She will have finished the work.

👉 These advanced rules help learners sound natural and fluent.

Helping Verbs in English Grammar Learning

For students, helping verbs are a stepping stone to mastering English. Once you understand them, you can easily learn tenses, questions, modals, and passive voice.

Practical activities like games, worksheets, role plays, and storytelling make grammar fun and interactive.

Helping verbs may be small, but they have big importance in grammar. From forming tenses to expressing moods and questions, they are at the heart of English communication.

By studying the helping verbs list, chart, examples, and worksheets, learners can build confidence in speaking and writing.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What is a helping verb in English?
A helping verb is a verb that supports the main verb to show tense, mood, or voice.

Q2. Can a sentence have more than one helping verb?
Yes. Example: She will have completed the project.

Q3. What is the difference between main verb and helping verb?
Main verbs show the action, helping verbs support them.

Q4. How many helping verbs are there in English?
There are 23 commonly used helping verbs (primary + modals).

Q5. Why are helping verbs important?
They make it possible to express tense, negatives, questions, and passive voice.

Q6. Can "do" be used as both a main verb and a helping verb?
Yes. As a main verb, it expresses an action (e.g., I do my homework). As a helping verb, it is used for questions, negatives, or emphasis (e.g., Do you like apples?).

Q7. What are some examples of sentences with two helping verbs?
Examples:

• She will have completed her project by tomorrow.

• They might have been waiting for hours.
  In these sentences, two or more helping verbs work together with the main verb.

Q8. Are modal verbs the same as helping verbs?
Modal verbs are a type of helping verb, but they serve a special role by showing ability, permission, possibility, or necessity (e.g., can, must, should).

Q9. How do helping verbs change in questions?
In questions, helping verbs often move to the beginning of the sentence.

• Statement: She is reading a book.

• Question: Is she reading a book?