Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
Auxiliary verbs.............................................................................................................................1
Primary auxiliary verbs................................................................................................................2
Modal auxiliary verbs..................................................................................................................3
AUXILIARY VERBS.....................................................................................................................3
HAVE...........................................................................................................................................5
DO................................................................................................................................................5
MODAL VERBS.............................................................................................................................6
COULD........................................................................................................................................7
WILL........................................................................................................................................8
WOULD.......................................................................................................................................8
MAY............................................................................................................................................9
MIGHT.........................................................................................................................................9
SHALL.......................................................................................................................................10
SHOULD...................................................................................................................................10
MUST.........................................................................................................................................11
OUGHT TO...............................................................................................................................12
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................13
REFERENCE................................................................................................................................13
INTRODUCTION
Definition of terms
Auxiliary verbs
These are verbs that help the main verb in a sentence.
The verbs be (am, is, was, were, been and being), have and do, when used with
ordinary verbs to make tenses, passive forms, questions and negatives, are called
auxiliary verbs or auxiliaries. (Auxiliary or helping):
The verbs can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must and ought are
called modal verbs or modals. They are used before ordinary verbs and express
meanings such as permission, possibility, certainty and necessity. Need and dare
can sometimes be used like modal verbs.
Modals are often included in the group of auxiliaries. In some grammars they are
called "modal auxiliaries".
The modals can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must and ought are
termed Defective Verbs, because some parts are wanting in them. They have no-s
in the third person singular; they have no-ing and-ed forms.
They are also known as helping verbs. Auxiliary verbs are divided into two types
which are primary and secondary auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs can also appear
as the main verb when they stand alone in a sentence.
Primary auxiliary verbs
Primary auxiliary verbs are used with the main verb to give the grammatical
information and therefore, they add an extra meaning to a sentence which is not
given by the main verb. The primary auxiliary verbs are to be, to have, and to do.
Primary auxiliary verbs are formed by conjunction into the following:
Verb to be Verb to do Verb to have
Am Does Has
Is Do Have
Are Did Had
Was Having
Were
Being
Been

For example
i. They do work every day.
ii. They have gone to school.
iii. The bus is coming.
The primary auxiliary verb can stand on its own in a sentence as the main verb. For
example, they do their duties every day, she is a teacher, and we have some money.
Modal auxiliary verbs
A modal verb (also modal, ‘modal auxiliary verb’, ‘modal auxiliary’) is a types of
verb that is used to indicate modality that is likelihood, ability, permission, and
obligation. For example include the English verbs can/could may/might, must,
will/would and shall/should. They are also used as helping verbs in the sentence.
For example
i. We should go there.
ii. We can ride the bicycle.

AUXILIARY VERBS
Auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs. They are used with the main verb in
a sentence to make the sentence sensible.
They can also be used alone to show the state or condition of something
Auxiliary verbs are grouped into primary auxiliary verbs and modal verbs.
(a) Primary auxiliary verbs
These verbs are:
Be, is, are, am, was, were, been, being
BE
Be is used with other verbs to make progressive and passive verb forms. It take
eight forms as shown earlier
Example
 I am writing (progressive form)
 He was quarried for lying (passive form)
Be can be used as a main verb to show the status of a person or talk about facts
Examples
 Maria is a pilot.
 She a bright girl.
 He is annoyed. (status)
Be is used to give requests and commands.
Examples
 Be an obedient pupil.
 Be silent!
Be is used to show the past tense.
Examples:
 He was the best student. (singular)
 They were the best students. (plural)
Be is used to talk about future plans.
Examples:
 She is to cook for the visitors tomorrow.
 They are to visit the museum next week.
Be is used to show failed plans.
Example:
They were to join Form One next year, but their results were cancelled.
Be is used to show actions that have and are still happened going on.
Example:
 I have been sleeping since yesterday
Has
Have have
Have
Do
Does do
Did
Done
HAVE
The auxiliary have is used in the formation of the perfect tenses; as,
 He has worked. He has been working.
Have to is used with the infinitive to indicate obligation; as,
 I have to be there by five o'clock.
 He has to move the furniture himself.
The past form had to is used to express obligation in the past.
 I had to be there by five o'clock.
 He had to move the furniture himself.
In negatives and questions, have to and had to are used with do,
 They have to go. They don't have to go. Do they have to go?
 He has to go. He doesn't have to go. Does he have to go?
 He had to go. He didn't have to go. Did he have to go?
DO
The auxiliary do is used
To form the negative and interrogative of the simple present and simple past tenses
of ordinary verbs; as,
 He doesn't work. He didn't work.
 Does he work? Did he work?
To avoid repetition of a previous ordinary verb; as,
 Do you know him? Yes, I do..
 She sings well. Yes, she does.
 You met him, didn't you?
 He eats fish and so do you.
In the imperative, do makes a request or invitation more persuasive; as, do be
quiet,
 Oh, do come! It's going to be such fun.
In such cases do is strongly stressed.
Do has the following forms: do, did, done, does.
Do is used to make questions.
Example:
Did you call the police?
Do is used to in negative sentences.
Examples:
 He doesn't write legibly
 He did not take clear photographs.

MODAL VERBS
A modal verb, also called helping verb, is used in a sentence with the main verb to
show: Obligation, permission, ability and possibility
The following are examples of modal verbs:
Can - could,
Will-would
Shall-should
May-might
Must
Ought to
Can - could
It shows ability to do something.
Examples:
 I can dance.
 I can draw a lion.
Used to ask permission.
Examples:
 Can I go out please!
 You can always borrow my car.
Also used to show request
Examples
 Can I speak to Omondi
 Can I have some water please!
COULD
It is the past tense of the word can in reported speech.
Used to ask somebody for permission.
Examples
 Could I borrow you a pencil?
  Could I talk to Timothy!

Shows ability
Examples
 I could climb to the top of that tree.
 We could memorize the whole Quran.
WILL
It is used to talk about actions that are expected to happen in
Examples
 I will visit you in the weeks’ time.
 They will receive their awards tomorrow.
It is also used as a request, to ask somebody to do something.
Examples
 Will you sweep the class!
 Will you listen to your parent’s advice!
To order somebody to do something
Examples:
 Will you get out of my way!
 Will you keep quite
Used to state general truths.
Examples
 With the clouds in the sky it will rain.
 This stone will sink in the water.
WOULD
It is used as the past form of will in reported speech. Examples Direct speech: "I
will go to church on Saturday Jane said.
Reported speech: Jane said that she would go to church on Saturday.
Describes a possible action or event.
Examples:
 If I had money, I would buy a car.
 If I studied hard. I would pass exams.
To make a request. Examples
 Would you help me with my homework!
 Would you mind lending me a hand?
Used to express a wish
.Examples
 I wish he would come to see me.
 She would prefer staying home over the weekend, than going to practice.
It is used to show doubt, being unsure. It may or may not happen.
Examples
 He may win the elections.
 She may bring us the books today
MAY
May is also used to ask for permission or give permission.
Examples:
 May I have more soup!
 May I leave now?
To express a wish or what you hope.
Examples:
 May you succeed in all you do?
 We may see him again.
MIGHT
Might use as the past tense of the word may 1. It shows possibility and doubt.
Examples:
 We might get a chance to see the Pope when he comes to Tanzania.
 We might get an award today.
To make a polite request.
Examples:
 I thought we might call at his place.
 Might we be the victims?
To ask for information.
Examples:
 How might we tackle the problem at hand
 I wonder whether you might have any information on this
SHALL
It is used with I and we to predict the future.
Examples
 We shall travel to Mwanza next week.
 I shall call you when I arrive.
Used in questions with I and we to make suggestions or offers.
Examples
 What shall we buy mother for her birthday?
 Shall we invite them for the party?
Indicate people's determination and will.
Examples:
 We shall win this time.
 I shall complete my work in time.
SHOULD
Should It is used as the past form of shall when reporting what somebody has said.
Used to refer to a possible event or situation.
Examples:
 Should you come late, call me (if).
 We should complete the assignment as stated.
Used to show an obligation.
Examples:
 You should be seated before the exam begins.
 You should accept defeat, nobody is perfect.
Used when asking for advice.
Examples
 You should obey your parents.
 We should not be easily cheated by our friend.
Used after I and we for polite requests
Examples
 Should we leave immediately after breakfast
 Should I call the police!
MUST
It is used to show that something is necessary or very important
Examples
  Everyone must attend school
 We must accompany the youth in their adventures

Used as an obligation, a recommendation or advice, because it’s a good

Examples
 I must finish school before getting a job.
 I must obey my elders.
Used to say that something is logical or likely
Example
 You must have known he would come.
 You must be tired after carrying such a luggage.
OUGHT TO
Used to indicate an obligation, recommendation or advice.
Example
 You ought to exercise to keep fit.
 You ought to work hard so as to pass your exams.
Used to say what the right thing to do is
Examples:
 You ought to visit the sick in hospital.
 You ought to practice daily
It is used to say what you would like to happen.
Examples:
 They ought to be paid their dues.
 Kamau ought to be arrested and take the law
CONCLUSION
General a sequence of auxiliaries in a sentences depends on the tenses, mode and
voice of the main verb typically follow the order of model auxiliary verb, perfect
auxiliary verb, progressive auxiliary verbs and passive auxiliary verbs as we have
explained in broad on the above explanations and examples.
REFERENCE
Kabura, D., Munyi. J., Mbogo. L., & Gatheca. R, (2011) KCPE Mirror English:
Second Edition, Sportlight Publishers (Ea) Limited
P.C. Wren & H Martin (2011) High School English Grammar and Composition: S.
Chand & Company Limited.
Loberger. G., Shoup. K, (2009) Webster’s New World English Grammar
Handbook: Second Edition Wiley Publishing Inc
Michael. K (2010) English for Tanzania Secondary Schools Grammar and
Function English: Jamana Printers Limited.
Kioko. A., Jepkirul. M, (2010) Sport on Grammar, for Secondary: Oxford
University Press, East Africa L.t.d.