Name _____________________________
Date ___________
Main Verbs and Auxiliaries
Some verbs are only one word. Sometimes several words together make up the
verb.
Kenneth walked home.
I will be going home soon too.
A verb that is made up of more than one word is called a verb phrase. The last
word in a verb phrase is the main verb. The other verbs are called auxiliary verbs
or helping verbs.
Bill Moore has arrived home.
The door has been locked.
Common Auxiliary Verbs
am
is
are
was
were
be
being
been
do
does
did
have
has
had
can
may
must
will
shall
could
might
would
should
Sometimes the auxiliary verb in one sentence is the main verb in another. Be sure
to read the whole sentence before you identify a main verb and its auxiliaries.
Verb
Main Verb
Auxiliary Verb
did
I did my homework.
I did wait for you.
has
Bob has it.
Bob has taken it.
Name _____________________________
Date ___________
Questions are often formed with auxiliary verbs. In questions, the main verb and
its auxiliaries may be separated by the subject of the sentence.
Should we leave now?
Will the show start early?
Who would like a ticket?
Summing Up:



Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs.
A verb phrase is made up of one or more auxiliary verbs and a main verb.
The main verb is the last word in a verb phrase.
Guided Practice
Directions: Find the verb phrase in each sentence. Which words are main verbs?
Which are auxiliaries?
Example: Before 1803 the land between the Missouri River and the Rock
Mountains was owned by France.
Verb Phrase = was owned
Main Verb = owned
Auxiliary Verb = was
1. By 1803 this land had been bought by the United States.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
2. The purchase was called the Louisiana Purchase
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
Name _____________________________
Date ___________
3. The United States had paid fifteen million dollars for this land.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
4. No one had explored this area.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
5. Who would explore this land?
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
6. The explorers would be selected carefully.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
7. A dangerous journey would begin soon.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
8. Many men would take this trip.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
9. The journey would last more than two years.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
Name _____________________________
Date ___________
10. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were chosen by President Thomas
Jefferson.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
11. They had lived in the wilderness.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
12. A route to the Pacific Ocean would open fur trading.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
13. President Jefferson had wanted information about the Northwest.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
14. Did the travelers have a map of the land?
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
15. Did the explorers leave from St. Louis?
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
16. By 1806 Lewis and Clark had become the first explorers in Idaho.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
Name _____________________________
Date ___________
17. The Oregon region was claimed by the United States.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
18. The exploration had opened a new area for pioneers.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
19. It was considered a great success.
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
20. Should I write a report about their expedition?
Verb Phrase = ___________________
Main Verb = ____________________
Auxiliary Verb = _________________
Name _____________________________
Date ___________
Independent Practice
Directions: Underline the auxiliary verb once and the main verb twice.
Example: A Native American princess may have saved the Lewis and Clark
expedition. .
1. Sacajawea was born in Idaho in 1787.
2. She had been kidnapped from her tribe.
3. In 1805 her French husband was hired as a guide for Lewis and Clark.
4. Would the princess stay behind?
5. Could they cross the Rocky Mountains on foot?
6. Horses were needed for that part of the trip.
7. They had met a Native American tribe.
8. The princess had belonged to the tribe at birth.
9. Her brother had been made a chief of the tribe.
10. Her tribe, however, had distrusted strangers.
11. The princess must have helped the explorers.
12. The tribe was given gifts in exchange for horses.
13. The explorers had hoped for information.
14. The tribe did tell them about paths in the mountains.
15. The Rocky Mountains were crossed at last.
16. The trip through the mountains had taken one month.
Name _____________________________
Date ___________
17. Did the explorers return to St. Louis by 1806?
18. They had traveled almost eight thousand miles!
19. People had lost hope for their return.
20. The explorers were welcomed with cheers from the people.
21. Lewis was made the governor of Louisiana.
22. Clark was promoted to a higher rank in the army.
23. Lewis and Clark had written about their journey.
24. Their writing was read by many people.
25. People can read this material today.