Verbs: helpers

Last chapter you learned about verbs. How they match their subject and the timing of the sentence. And how easy it is to use the infinitive to create the simple present: an action that happens now.

Instead of modifying the verb too much, English likes adding other verbs in front of one. Below are just examples. The other tenses are explained in later chapters.

Example

I walk => I have walked (past)
You see => You will see (future)
We speak => We have been speaking for a while now (started in the past, still going on)

Auxiliary verbs

As you saw in the example, these will help you form the other tenses.

They can also be used on their own. In fact, you’ll see they are very common! So let’s start simple and only look at them on their own.

Remark

Remember, different versions of the same word are called “conjugations”. We say the verb is “conjugated” to match the rest of the sentence. I won’t use the word often, as it’s not an easy one. But you’ll find it everywhere when articles talk about grammer.

Present

-	to be	to do	to have
I	am	do	have
You	are	do	have
He/she/it	is	does	has
We	are	do	have
You	are	do	have
They	are	do	have

Example

I am angry. (😡)
They do a dance. (🕺💃)
We have a cow. (👪 🐄)

Past

These are used when something isn’t happening now, but happened some time ago—in the past.

-	to be	to do	to have
I	was	did	had
You	were	did	had
He/she/it	was	did	had
We	were	did	had
You	were	did	had
They	were	did	had
Past participle	been	done	had

Don’t worry about the “past participle” for now.

Example

I was angry yesterday
They did a dance this morning
We had a cow when I was younger

Modal verbs are special types of auxiliary verbs. They can not stand on their own. They must always support the actual main verb.

They show an obligation, possibility or necessity. What does that mean?

Without them, any action you describe happens and is true.

Example

“The boy eats bread” is a statement. The boy eats, that is certain.

With a modal verb, the action is suddenly only possible. It’s uncertain. The action itself might not happen. You are talking about the main action maybe happening.

Example

“The boy might eat bread”. Now we’re not sure if he eats … but he might!

They only have a single form that never changes. When used, the main verb also doesn’t change anymore. (See the example above. It’s “the boy might eat bread”, not “the boy might eats bread”.)

All modal verbs are:


can	you have the ability to do something	could	you had the ability sometime in the past
may	you are allowed or will maybe do something	might	you are maybe allowed to do something, or could perhaps do it
must	you are obliged to do something, or it’s likely to be done	ought	it’s likely, expected or “the right thing” to do something
should	you strongly advice or insist on doing something	would	if you had the possibility or opportunity, you would have done the action

These will become clear once you use and read them more. Study the examples below.

Example

I can write code and make websites
When I was young, I could stay up all night.
May I please come inside?
If you work hard, you might get into a top university.
You must submit your homework before Friday!
You ought to be honest and tell the truth.
They should fix this issue with their app.
I would visit Disneyland if I had the money.

Just remember that these modify the possibility or probability of an action. If you communicate an action that isn’t certain or definitely true, it probably needs a modal verb before the main verb.

I left out one modal verb, on purpose. It’s a special one.

The verb will always indicates a future action.

Remark

It actually has a large number of meanings and functions. But those are discussed in chapters about future tenses.

The word is always written as will, no variations. I will, you will, he will, etcetera.

Example

I will do my homework => you’re not doing it now, but in the future you will do your homework

Example

They will go to school => not now, but in the future they will go to school

The verb shall means the same, but is older and less used nowadays.

Continue with this course