Helping Verbs and Verb Phrases
A verb may include one word or it may include two or more verbs placed as group. When a
group of words make up one verb, it is called a verb phrase. The last word in a verb phrase is
called a main verb. The verbs that appear before the main verb are called helping verbs.
(Sometimes they are also called auxiliary verbs.)
Sentence
The balloon will burst
with a pop!
Your mom has been
calling your name for
five minutes.
The player could have
scored a run.
Verb Phrase
will burst
Helping Verb(s)
will
Main Verb
burst
has been calling
has been
calling
could have scored
could have
scored
The 23 Helping Verbs
(You need to know these . . . )
May does have some wild (&) crazy “bees.”
MAY DOES HAVE
3 M’s
3 D’s
3 H’s
(One of them
is May.)
(One of them
is does.)
(One of them
is HAVE.)
May
Might
Must
Does
Do
Did
Have
Has
Had
Some Wild (&) Crazy
BEes
2 groups of words that begin with
SWC:
3 -oulds
3 other SWC
words
8 Forms
of “Be”
Should
Would
Could
Shall
Will
Can
Be
Being
Been
Am
Is
Are
Was
Were