1. Main Verbs and Helping Verbs
© Brent Coley |

2. 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.

3. 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.

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

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

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

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

8. Susan is walking her dog.

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

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

11. She had passed the math test.

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

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

14. The teacher was talking to the parent.

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

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

17. We have spoken to the principal.

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

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

20. They were talking to each other.

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

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

23. They will put their notebooks away.

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

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

26. My mom was cooking dinner.

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

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

29. Yesterday, Bob had brought his book.

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

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

32. They are listening to their iPods.

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

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

35. I am learning all about verbs.

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

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