Main Verbs and Helping Verbs © Brent Coley 2008 | www.mrcoley.com

In some sentences, the verb is one word. Bill ran to the store In some sentences, the verb is one word. Bill ran to the store. The children drank some milk. The dog barked loudly.

In other sentences, the verb can be more than one word In other sentences, the verb can be more than one word. Bill was running to the store. The dog had barked all day.

The main verb is the most important word The main verb is the most important word. The helping verb comes before the main verb.

Lucy is walking down the sidewalk Lucy is walking down the sidewalk. is = helping verb walking = main verb

The students had taken the test. had = helping verb taken = main verb

See if you can correctly identify the helping verb and main verb in the following sentences.

Susan is walking her dog.

Susan is walking her dog. is = helping verb

Susan is walking her dog. is = helping verb walking = main verb

She had passed the math test.

She had passed the math test. had = helping verb

She had passed the math test. had = helping verb passed = main verb

The teacher was talking to the parent.

The teacher was talking to the parent. was = helping verb

The teacher was talking to the parent The teacher was talking to the parent. was = helping verb talking = main verb

We have spoken to the principal.

We have spoken to the principal. have = helping verb

We have spoken to the principal. have = helping verb spoken = main verb

They were talking to each other.

They were talking to each other. were = helping verb

They were talking to each other They were talking to each other. were = helping verb talking = main verb

They will put their notebooks away.

They will put their notebooks away. will = helping verb

They will put their notebooks away. will = helping verb put = main verb

My mom was cooking dinner.

My mom was cooking dinner. was = helping verb

My mom was cooking dinner. was = helping verb cooking = main verb

Yesterday, Bob had brought his book.

Yesterday, Bob had brought his book. had = helping verb

Yesterday, Bob had brought his book Yesterday, Bob had brought his book. had = helping verb brought = main verb

They are listening to their iPods.

They are listening to their iPods. are = helping verb

They are listening to their iPods They are listening to their iPods. are = helping verb listening = main verb

I am learning all about verbs.

I am learning all about verbs. am = helping verb

I am learning all about verbs. am = helping verb learning = main verb