1. HELPING VERBS HELPING VERBS
Sometimes, you can have a word that changes the meaning of a verb.
There are called Helping Verbs. They go together with the main verb to give us more information about the verb. A helping verb can (almost) never be alone.
HELPING VERBS
Be (am/are/is/was/were)
Will
May
Do (do/did)
Can
Might
*Have (has/have/had)
Could
Must
*Would
Should

2. HELPING VERBS
Helping verbs can: (1) Change the meaning of the verb, or
(2) Give us more information about the verb.
How is the meaning of each sentence below different?
I play hockey.
I am playing hockey.
I was playing hockey.
I can play hockey.
I should play hockey.
I will play hockey.

3. There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE
ABILITY
CHANCES (NOT 100%)
AM/ARE/IS + ING
WAS/WERE + ING
DO/DON’T WILL
CAN
COULD
SHOULD
MIGHT
MAY
MUST

4. HELPING VERBS PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE AM/ARE/IS + ING WAS/WERE + ING
There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE
AM/ARE/IS + ING
WAS/WERE + ING
DO/DON’T WILL
— Talking about what are you doing now
— Talking about what you were doing before
— Used to make questions or negatives
— Talking about the future

5. HELPING VERBS PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE AM/ARE/IS + ING WAS/WERE + ING
There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
PAST/PRESENT/FUTURE
AM/ARE/IS + ING
WAS/WERE + ING
DO/DON’T
WILL
I am playing basketball, right now.
I was playing basketball at break time.
Do you play basketball?
I don’t play basketball.
I will play basketball, tomorrow.

6. HELPING VERBS ABILITY CAN COULD — What you are able to do/good at
There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
ABILITY
CAN
COULD
— What you are able to do/good at
— Used as the past of “can” (what you were able to do/good at)
— Used as the polite version of “can”

7. HELPING VERBS ABILITY CAN COULD I can play basketball.
There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
ABILITY
CAN
COULD
I can play basketball.
I could play basketball in high school.
Could you play basketball with me at break?

8. HELPING VERBS CHANCES (NOT 100%) SHOULD MIGHT MAY MUST
There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
CHANCES (NOT 100%)
SHOULD
MIGHT
MAY
MUST
— What you think is the best idea to do
(but not 100% important to do it)
— 25% chance of doing it
— 50% chance of doing it
— 100% important that you do it!

9. HELPING VERBS CHANCES (NOT 100%) SHOULD MIGHT MAY MUST
There are three different ways to remember these helping verbs:
CHANCES (NOT 100%)
SHOULD
MIGHT
MAY
MUST
I should play basketball at break time.
I might play basketball after I eat.
I may play basketball with my friends.
I must play basketball today in P.E. Class.