Is a verb that comes before the main verb (or lexical verb ) in a sentence . Together the helping verb and the main verb form a verb phrase
Helping verbs are also called "auxiliary verbs".
Helping verbs have no meaning on their own. They are necessary for the grammatical structure of a sentence, but they do not tell us very much alone. We usually use helping verbs with main verbs . They "help" the main verb (which has the real meaning). There are only about 23 helping verbs in English, and we divide them into two basic groups:
These are the verbs be , do , and have . Note that we can use these three verbs as helping verbs or as main verbs. On this page we talk about them as helping verbs.
We use them in the following cases:
 be o o to make continuous tenses (He is watching TV.) to make the passive (Small fish are eaten by big fish.)
 have o to make perfect tenses (I have finished my homework.)
 do o o o o to make negatives (I do not like you.) to ask questions ( Do you want some coffee?) to show emphasis (I do want you to pass your exam.) to stand for a main verb in some constructions (He speaks faster than she does .)
We use modal helping verbs to "modify" the meaning of the main verb in some way.
A modal helping verb expresses necessity or possibility, and changes the main verb in that sense. These are the modal verbs:
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 can, could may, might will, would, shall, should must

Here are examples using modal verbs:
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I can't speak Chinese.
John may arrive late.
Would you like a cup of coffee?
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You should see a doctor.
I really must go now.
Main Verbs »
Semi-modal verbs (3 verbs)
The following verbs are often called "semi-modals" because they are partly like modal helping verbs and partly like main verbs:
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 need dare used to
A helping verb always stands in front of a main verb. In this example, the helping verb is can and the main verb is ride : Shyla can ride her sister's bicycle.
More than one helping verb can be used in a sentence. In this example, the helping verbs are has and been : Shyla has been walking to school.
Sometimes a word (such as not ) separates the helping verb from the main verb. In this example, the helping verb is does and the main verb is want : Shyla does not want a new bicycle.
Verb phrases consist of one main verb and one or more helping verbs (also called auxiliary verbs ).
Sometimes they are separated .

*When we ask questions, the auxiliary verb comes at the beginning of the sentence, and the main verb comes later.
*Words like never, not, and the contraction n't are not part of the verb.
This seems obvious, right? They are made up of verbs. But, the point here is that although they are made up of different words , all of the words come together to act as one part of speech , a verb.
Here are a few examples.
The cheesecake might be exploding .
* might be exploding is telling us what the cheesecake is doing (an action).
Did you call Owen?
* Did call is asking what you did (an action).
Owen has become a great cook.

* has become is telling us Owen's state of being (a state of being verb).
Verb phrases are diagrammed on a horizontal line right after the subject.
Verb Phrases
A verb phrase is a combination of a verb and a particle. The meaning of some verb phrases can be understood by looking at the verb; however, others require a little bit of memorization. In addition to this, some may be separable and others may not.
The verb in this group can help you with the meaning of the verb phrase.
Meaning
1. come from origin
2. come in enter
3. eat out eat outside the home
4. go on continue
5. keep on continue
6. look out look outside
7. pick up* lift
This group requires memorizing their meaning.
Meaning
1. figure out* find a solution to a problem

2. hand out* give something to someone
3. look out be careful
4. make up * create
5. take off* remove something such as clothes
6. turn on*/off* start/stop equipment or light
In both groups, those followed by an asterisk(*) can be separated. This means that you can place a noun or a pronoun between the verb and the particle.
For example: 1).Sandy picks up the children from school.
Or
2).Sandy picks the children up from school.
Or
3).Sandy picks them up from school.
One thing to keep in mind is that if the noun that follows the verb phrase is changed into a pronoun (see example #3), it must be placed between the verb and the particle never after the particle.