Primary auxiliary verb (a)

Level

[C], [D]

Language
English
Topic
Grammar
Definition
The primary auxiliary verbs are be, have and do. These verbs modify other verbs in a full verb
phrase, e.g. is going, has gone, or did go.
Notes
1. When they function as modifiers, the primary auxiliary verbs is, do and have give information
about the tense and aspect of the verb phrase. When used as an auxiliary, do makes an assertion
emphatic, I DID go!
2. All three primary auxiliary verbs can be used by themselves as main verbs, e.g. That was lovely. In
England, however, the concept of possession is more likely to be expressed by have got (with have
as auxiliary) than have (with have as main verb). Thus in Scotland people tend to say I have/ve a
new computer game and in England, I have/ve got a new computer game. The use of do is now
confined mainly to negatives, questions and emphatic assertions.
Compare
Modal auxiliary verbs
Concept
Categorisation