Page 47 - Grammar Glow - 6

C. Happenings : 1. Suddenly the wall collapsed.

2. It rained heavily throughout the day.

3. There happened a terrible road accident.

The words in italics in group A show actions.
The words in italics in group B show facts.

The words in italics in group C show happenings.

Kinds of Verbs

Read sentence 1 in A above. The verb consists of two words is reading.

But in all the other sentences, it consists of only one word.

Out of the two words making the verb in sentence 1 of A, the word reaping is the real verb.

The other word is has been used as a helping verb. So it is called the helping or auxiliary verb.
There are two main kinds of verbs.

1. Auxiliary or Helping Verbs 2. Principal or Main Verbs

Auxiliary Verbs

An auxiliary verb is used to form the mood, tense or voice of a main verb.

Study the following sentences carefully.
1. I have completed my office work.

2. We shall go for shopping tomorrow.

3. You may come inside.
4. They are returning to see the Taj Mahal.

5. They must do their duty well.

The words printed in colour in these sentences have been used to help the main verbs which are
in italics. They enable the main verbs to form their different tenses, moods and voices, etc. So they
are called helping or auxiliary verbs.

Here is a list of common auxiliary verbs used in English.

1. be (is, am, are, was, were, been are its different forms)
2. have / has 5. can

3. will / shall 6. may

4. do 7. must

Remember

Be, have, do, will are used as main verbs as well.

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