Auxiliary Verbs Examples

Free grammar tips, lessons and tests			Recommended purchases
This site: Grammar Monster on line	Daily tips with Grammar Monster's gadget	Daily tips with Grammar Monster on Twitter	The best grammar reference books	Grammar Monster off line	The only grammar checker we'll endorse
Common grammar errors Easily confused words Grammar terms & definitions Grammar tests Grammar lessons Search this site

Auxiliary Verbs - Glossary of Terms

Auxiliary Verbs

An auxiliary verb (or helping verb) accompanies another verb in order to help express its tense, mood or voice. The verbs to have, to be, to do, can, may and shall are commonly used auxiliary verbs.

Examples:

Do you have to leave at six o'clock?

I can help you.

Interactive example:

You could have been killed. [show me the auxiliary verb]

Remember, can denotes capability; whereas, may denotes permission.

Can I listen to your CDs?

(Nowadays, this ruling is only for the grammatically pure!)

Associated pages:

What are verbs?
Glossary of grammatical terms