Module 1 The use of Auxiliaries

What are English auxiliaries The verbs in English used as auxiliaries are: Verb to “be” and all its forms Verb to “ do” and all its forms Verb to “ have” and all its forms But remember we can also use these verbs as main verbs as in the following examples:

Verbs “ be”, “do” and “ have” as main verbs: I have an old car, I think it must be changed. I have just visited my grandpa. ( Aux) Sue is a very kind person. They were talking when I entered.( Aux) Adam did his assignment perfectly. We didn’t see anything strange yesterday night. (Aux)

Different uses of auxiliary verbs: To emphasise To make questions To avoid repetition

To emphasise: In short answers: A: Did you see John? B: Yes, I did. Any short answer is an emphasis In affirmative present simple and past simple: They do love their country.

Notice the use of verbs “ does” and “ did”: I saw a thief yesterday. I did see a thief yesterday. (adding emphasis) That man walks around his house one hundred times a day !!!! That man does walk around his house one hundred times a day !!!! (adding emphasis)

To make questions: Short Questions : ( to show interest) 1.You only need Aux + Subject 2.If the statement is positive the short question is also positive and if the statement is negative the question would be also negative. 3.It is made by another speaker. EX.1 A: I went to the cinema last Friday. B: Did you ?? Short question EX.2. A: They are not coming tonight. B: Aren’t they ???? Short question

Be aware of some words that give negative meaning: A: Nothing happened yesterday. B: Didn’t it. A: Nobody was available when I went there. B: Weren’t they ??? ( notice we use “ they “ instead of “ nobody” ) A: She has never been to Italy before. B: Hasn’t she ???

Question Tags: 1.You only need Aux + Subject 2.If the statement is positive the tag question is negative and if the statement is negative the question would be positive. 3.It is made by the same speaker. EX.1 A: She went (+) to the cinema last Friday; didn’t she (-) ? EX.2. A: They are not coming(-) tonight, are they(+)?

Be aware of some words that give negative meaning: A: Nothing happened yesterday, did it? (-) (+) A: Nobody was available when I went there; Were they ??? A: She has never (-) been to Italy before; Has she (+) ??? A: No rain has fallen since last year; has it ??

Avoid Repetition: We also use auxiliaries to avoid repeating the whole phrases: The other students in the class don’t understand Italian, but Alexandra understands Italian. Notice there is no need to repeat that phrase, so you can say: The other students in the class don’t understand Italian, but Alexandra does.

The students are preparing for the party and the teacher is. Notice : you have to use the suitable auxiliary for the tense. Notice 2: “but” changes the form of the phrase : I have done (+) my homework, but my sister hasn’t (-).