Page 78 - Just Enough English Grammar Illustrated Book
P. 78
Helping Verbs
Verbs often use other verbs in sentences. Although a main verb
represents the important idea of the sentence, it may need a
helper to express its full meaning. Here are the forms of three
helping verbs that appear in this chapter:
to be am, are, is, was, were
to do do, does, did
to have have, has, had
Could, would, and must are examples of a special kind
of helping verb that will be explained later in this chapter.
The following explanation of these helping verbs will make it
easier to sort out how they do their jobs.
Helping verbs help the main verb to make
a statement, ask a question, or give a command.
Verbs are complex; we include here the essential information
for understanding verbs and how to use them. You will find the
following short definition of verbs helpful.
A verb is a word that tells what the subject
of a sentence does, experiences, or owns.
The next section will cover the two main verb groups that you
need to understand before we explain the principal parts of verbs.
4.4 Regular and Irregular Verbs
Verbs change in form. Based on how they change, verbs are
divided into two groups.
One group of verbs uses a predictable pattern in changing form.
65
