Page 20 - Basic English Grammar Student Textbook short

Helping Verbs

A helping verb helps the main verb (which is either action or linking) by indicating tense (progressive, past, past
participle, future, and more) and voice (more on this later). A verb phrase consists of a main verb and its
helping verb(s). A verb phrase begins with one or more helping verbs and ends with a main verb, which is either
linking or action.

You’ll notice that there is some overlap with the linking verbs and helping verbs. If a word in Group 1 below is
used as a main verb (linking), then it is not a helping verb. If one of those words is used as a helping verb, then it
is not a linking verb. (Note: Group 2, when used alone, function as main action verbs. The verbs in Group 3 only
function as helping verbs.)

Helping Verbs
Group 1 Group 2 Group 3
am were have do shall may can
is be has does will might could
are being had did should must
was been would

He is leaving the store. (main action verb leaving; helping verb is)

The students will be leaving in December. (main action verb leaving; helping verbs will be)
The apple will taste bad if it is left outside too long. (main linking verb taste)

The woman has looked much younger than her age for a long time. (main linking verb looked)
Barbara is John’s sister. (main linking verb; no helping verb)
John has a bicycle. (main action verb; no helping verb)

LINKING VERBS HELPING VERBS

am
taste look is have may
feel appear are has shall might
smell become was had will must
sound seem were
be do should can
being does would could
been did

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