Introduction to auxiliary verbs
There are two main categories of verbs: ordinary verbs and auxiliary verbs.
Auxiliary verbs allow us to:
• conjugate verbs in tenses other than the present and the past simple (eg.: will for the future, would and should for the conditional);
• express notions of ability, obligation, probability, repetition, among others (eg.: can, must, may, etc.);
• express the passive voice (e.g.: 'The apple was eaten').
Note the difference between:
• irregular auxiliary verbs be, have and do, which can also be used as ordinary verbs ('be', 'have' and 'do');
• modal auxiliary verbs: must, can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, ought to, etc.
Auxiliary verbs allow us to:
• conjugate verbs in tenses other than the present and the past simple (eg.: will for the future, would and should for the conditional);
• express notions of ability, obligation, probability, repetition, among others (eg.: can, must, may, etc.);
• express the passive voice (e.g.: 'The apple was eaten').
Note the difference between:
• irregular auxiliary verbs be, have and do, which can also be used as ordinary verbs ('be', 'have' and 'do');
• modal auxiliary verbs: must, can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, ought to, etc.
Some important characteristics:
• To form the negative, we just need to add not after the auxiliary verb (with these verbs, the construction do not/doesn't/didn't is not used, as in the case for ordinary verbs):
• To form the negative, we just need to add not after the auxiliary verb (with these verbs, the construction do not/doesn't/didn't is not used, as in the case for ordinary verbs):
I will not come. [or won't: contracted form]
She cannot read his handwriting. [or can't: contracted form]
You mustn't believe everything he tells you. [or must not: non-contracted form]
Ordinary verb:
I do not want to come. [or don't: contracted form]
She cannot read his handwriting. [or can't: contracted form]
You mustn't believe everything he tells you. [or must not: non-contracted form]
Ordinary verb:
I do not want to come. [or don't: contracted form]
• In the spoken negative form, not is contracted and changes to -n't:
| is not | = | isn't |
| have not | = | haven't |
| cannot | = | can't |
| must not | = | mustn't |
| will not | = | won't |
| do not | = | don't |
• Modal auxiliaries are followed by a verb in the infinitive without to:
I must leave. I have to leave.
He should come. It would be good for him to come.
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