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Main Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs

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Latest post Sun, Oct 25 2009 1:59 PM by Yankee. 1 replies.
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yaggy74  +  952489 Sun, 25 Oct 09 01:20 PM
Hi There,

 

I am having trouble understanding Main verbs and Auxiliary verbs could someone please assist me.

 

If there is a modal verb before the main verb would I class this as a main verb?

I understand that the primary Auxiliary verbs are be, have, do

 

I have answered the questions as I understand it, however I understand if it is negative or a question it is Auxiliary but I am still not sure.

I would be most grateful if someone could check my answers and explain to me where I have gone wrong and why. Thank you for your time.

 

Please read the following sentences and decide which sentences include an Auxiliary verb, and which only have one main verb.

 

1. Chris is in Tokyo at the moment. AUXILIARY

2. Richard might win the tournament. MAIN

3. I should speak to Amy. MAIN

4. I have a million ideas in my head at the moment. AUXILIARY

5. Could you shut the door please. MAIN

6. When does Maki come to England? AUXILIARY

7. I'm the boss here. MAIN

8. I want some chocolate. MAIN

9. Do you have the time please? AUXILIARY

10. Are you working now? AUXILIARY

11. I like fish. MAIN

12. Can you swim 50 meters under water? AUXILIARY
yaggy74
Joined on Mon, Aug 3 2009
Junior Member 55
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Yankee  +  952515 Sun, 25 Oct 09 01:59 PM
I have put all of the main verbs in blue boldface type in your sentences.

The auxiliaries are in purple:



1. Chris is in Tokyo at the moment. AUXILIARY  BE (is) = MAIN verb

2. Richard might win the tournament. MAIN = win,  AUXILIARY = might

3. I should speak to Amy. MAIN = speak,  AUXILIARY = should

4. I have a million ideas in my head at the moment. AUXILIARY have = MAIN verb

5. Could you shut the door please. MAIN = shut,   AUXILIARY = could

6. When does Maki come to England? AUXILIARY = does, MAIN = come

7. I'm the boss here. MAIN = be (am)

8. I want some chocolate. MAIN = want

9. Do you have the time please? AUXILIARY = do, MAIN = have

10. Are you working now? AUXILIARY =  be (are), MAIN = work(ing)

11. I like fish. MAIN = like

12. Can you swim 50 meters under water? AUXILIARY = can, MAIN = swim


Sentences 1, 4, 7, 8 and 11 contain only main verbs (i.e. no auxiliaries).


The rest of your sentences contain both main verbs and auxiliary verbs.


yaggy74
“I understand that the primary Auxiliary verbs are be, have, do”

Yes, but they are not the only ones. In addition, auxiliaries can be divided into different categories.


Modals are also auxiliaries. Basically, modals cannot function as main verbs, whereas be, have and do can be used either as main verbs or as auxiliaries.
Yankee
Joined on Sat, Apr 15 2006
Connecticut, USA
Veteran Member 6,500
Amy "You can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." - Mark Twain
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