Semantic and auxiliary verb in English. Auxiliary

Auxiliary verbs in English are verbs that do not have their own lexical meaning, with the help of which various complex forms of the verb are formed. Auxiliary verbs include: to be, to have, to do, will (would), shall (should).

Auxiliary verbs themselves do not have lexical meaning, they only participate in the construction of complex forms, but note that the verbs to be, to have, to do can be used as semantic ones (in the meanings of “to be”, “to have”, “to do” ), in which case they will have a lexical meaning. The verb to be can also be used as a linking verb, and the verbs will (would), shall (should) can be used as modal verbs.

Auxiliary verb to be

The verb to be is the only verb that has special forms in different persons and numbers. It can be used as a linking verb, an auxiliary verb and a semantic verb. Read more about the forms of the verb to be (all forms are given in the form of tables and cards).

As a semantic verb, to be is used in the meaning of “to be”, “to be”:

Do you want to be our friend? - You want be our friend?

I have to be at home now. - I have to now be Houses.

Like a linking verb– in a compound predicate (consisting of to be + noun, adjective or pronoun) in the place where the verb “to be” or “to appear” can be used in Russian (in Russian it is usually omitted).

I am your friend. - I am your friend.

He is a doctor. - He is a doctor.

We are not rich. - We are not rich.

As an auxiliary the verb to be is used:

1. For the formation of all tenses Continuous and Perfect Continuous in the active (active) voice.

I am looking for someone. - I'm looking for someone.

We were expecting a better result. – We expected a better result.

I have been waiting for you for two hours. - I've been waiting for you for two hours.

2. For the formation of all forms.

The newspapers have been delivered. - The newspapers have been delivered.

The building is being constructed now. - The building is currently under construction.

Auxiliary verb to have

The verb to have can be used as semantic in its direct meaning “to have”, “to possess”:

I have a big family. - I have a big family.

I don't have time. - I have no time.

As an auxiliary, the verb to have is used to form all Perfect tenses:

You have done a lot of work. – You did a lot of work.

We had finished the task by two o’clock. – We completed the task before two o’clock.

I will have read the article by nine. – I will have read the article by nine o’clock.

Auxiliary verb to do

The verb to do is used as a semantic in the meaning of “to do”, “to engage in”:

Read more about the forms of the verb to do in the article.

He does what he wants. - He does what he wants.

Just do it! - Just Do It This!

As an auxiliary, the verb to do is used:

1. For the formation of interrogative and negative forms and all verbs, except auxiliary and.

Do do you understand me? - Do you understand me?

My sister doesn't trust her husband. – My sister doesn’t trust her husband.

Did did you see that? -Did you see this?

We didn't see anything. - We didn't see anything.

2. To form a negative form of the imperative mood.

Don't touch the button! - Don't touch the button!

Don't be late. - Do not be late.

3. To enhance the meaning of a verb in the form or in the affirmative form.

Why did you say I don’t know your sister? I do know her. - Why did you say that I don’t know your sister? I know her.

You don’t believe that I helped them, but I did help them. “You don’t believe that I helped them, but I really helped them.”

Auxiliary verb will (would)

The verb will (would) can be used both modal and auxiliary.

As an auxiliary it is used:

1. The verb will – to construct all forms of the future tense.

The winter will be cold. - The winter will be cold.

I will be walking with my dog ​​this evening. – I will walk the dog this evening.

2. The verb would – to construct forms of the future tense in the past (Future in the Past).

He said that the winter would be cold. - He said that the winter would be cold.

She said that she would be walking with her dog. She said she would be walking her dog.

Auxiliary verb shall (should)

1. The auxiliary verb shall is used to construct forms of the future tense (that is, instead of will) with the 1st person singular and plural:

I shall meet you at the gate. - I'll meet you at the gate.

We shall discuss it later. - We'll discuss this later.

2. The auxiliary verb should is used to construct forms of the future in the past (that is, instead of would) with the 1st person singular and plural:

I told him that I should meet him at the gate. “I told him I would meet him at the gate.”

They said that we should discuss it later. “They said we would discuss it later.”

In modern English, will and would are used in all these cases. Auxiliary (not modal, namely auxiliary) verbs shall, should can be found in books about good old England, films about Sherlock Holmes and Soviet English textbooks.

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Auxiliary verbs in English play a very important grammatical role. They do not have a translation into Russian, which makes them especially difficult for students.

Why are auxiliary verbs needed?

This group of words is required to compose statements in various tense forms. Conventionally, we can divide these helping verbs into 2 groups:

• those that are present in all types of sentences and are part of a compound verbal predicate:

I will remember about this. – I will remember this. (will is an auxiliary verb in the simple future tense Future Simple)

I will not (won’t) forget about this. - I won't forget about this.

Will you remember about this? – Will you remember this?

• verbs that appear only in negative and interrogative sentences:

I love reading scary stories. – I love reading scary stories.

Do you love reading scary stories? – Do you like to read scary stories? (verb do - auxiliary in the present simple tense Present Simple)

I don’t love reading scary stories. – I don’t like reading scary stories.

Only a few English verbs can be auxiliary: to be, to have, to do, will. These words also have independent meanings and can be used in sentences as semantic ones.

I have just done my homework. - I just did my homework. (to have is an auxiliary verb in the present completed tense Present Perfect)

I have a lot of tasks to do. – I have a lot of tasks left. (to have is a semantic verb)

Mary will make a delicious cake. – Maria will bake a delicious cake. (will is an auxiliary verb in the future simple tense Future Simple)

She doesn't know what else to will. “She doesn’t know what else to wish for.” (will is an independent verb)

It is necessary to learn to distinguish in what capacity one or another of the verbs listed above is used, so as not to make mistakes during translation. Helper words have no equivalents in Russian sentences.

He will go on a voyage around the world. - He will go on a circumnavigation of the world. (Wrong: He will go on a circumnavigation of the world.)

Table “Auxiliary verbs in English”

To make it easier to memorize helper words, it is necessary to combine them into a summary table indicating grammatical tenses and types of sentences according to the purpose of the statement. Some verbs can be used in pairs.

This lesson will cover a fairly difficult topic to remember, so you should concentrate as much as possible. Auxiliary verbs in English, the table of which will be presented below, are parts of speech that do not have individual meaning in terms of vocabulary, but act as assistants. Their main function is to help correctly compose a construction for a complex verb form. Verbs considered:

• to do,
• will (would),
• to be
• shall (should),
• to have.

We will look at the topic in detail so that you do not have any questions.

Why are auxiliary verbs needed?

Auxiliary verbs in English are used when there is a need to express gender, number or time period of an action. In this case, this part of speech is added.

It should be noted that some parts of speech from the topic under consideration can be used as semantic ones, these include: to be (to be), to have (to possess), to do (to do). In addition, in many cases, to be is used in construction as a connective, and the verbs shall (should) and will (would) are used as modals. The parts in question are a universal assistant, but are not translated into Russian. When translating, no questions are even asked to them.

Examples:

• She is at the hospital now. - She's in the hospital now.
• She swims here every morning. – She swims here every morning.
• You were young and didn’t understand your father. – You were young and did not understand your father.

Example with a semantic verb:

• I'm a teacher. - I'am a teacher.

Verb to have

This part of speech can be used as a semantic verb in its main meaning.

For example,

• I don't have time. - I have no time.
• I have a big family. - I have a big family.

To form the Perfect of any tense, use this part of speech.

For example,

• I will have read the article by nine. – I will have read the article by nine o’clock.
• You have done a lot of work. – You did a lot of work.
• We had finished the task by two o’clock. – We completed the task before two o’clock.

Verb to be

The auxiliary verb that will be considered is the only one, having a special form in the singular, plural and persons. It can be used as a link, used as a semantic one, or used as an auxiliary part of speech in a construction.

As a semantic verb, this verb is used in the meaning of “to appear” and “to be.”

Examples of declarative sentences and those using questions:

• I have to be at home now. - I should be home now.
• Do you want to be our friend? – Do you want to be our friend?

As a linking verb, this part of speech is part of the predicate (this verb + attribute or character). In a sentence, it corresponds to the place where the verb “to be” should logically be located (as a rule, in Russian such omitted).

For example,

• He is a doctor. - He is a doctor.
• I am your friend. - I am your friend.

The verb to be as an auxiliary is used to form all Continuous and Perfect Continuous tenses in the active voice.

For example,

• We were expecting a better result. -We expected a better result.
• I am looking for someone. - I'm looking for someone.
• I have been waiting for you for two hours. - I've been waiting for you for two hours.

Just like an auxiliary, this verb is used to form all forms of the passive (passive) voice.

For example,

• The building is being constructed now. - The building is currently under construction.
• The newspapers have been delivered. - The newspapers have been delivered.

Verb to do

As a semantic verb, this verb is used in the meaning of “to engage”, “to do”.

For example, Just do it! - Just do it! He does what he wants. - He does what he wants.

The verb to do is used as an auxiliary when the Present Simple and Past Simple forms of all verbs, in addition to modal and auxiliary, are formed. But this only applies to negative and interrogative sentences.

For example,

• Do you listen to me? -Are you listening to me?
• My sister doesn't trust her husband. – My sister doesn’t trust her husband.
• We didn't see anything. - We didn't see anything.

Also, as an auxiliary, this part of speech helps to form the negative form of the imperative mood.

For example,

• Don't be late. - Do not be late.

In addition, this verb, acting as an auxiliary part of speech, enhances the meaning of the verb in the form of Present Simple or Past Simple, when the speaker proves his point of view.

For example,

• Why did you say I don’t know your sister? I do know her. - In connection with what, you said that I don’t know your sister? I know her.

Verb will (would)

This verb is used as an auxiliary and modal.

The auxiliary (will) is used to make up all forms of the future tense.

For example,

• The winter will be cold. - The winter will be cold.
• I will be walking with my dog ​​this evening. - I will walk the dog this evening.

Would is used when constructing a future form in the past.

For example,

• My friend told me he would watch this film at the weekends. My friend said that he would watch this film at the weekend.

Verb shall (should)

Modern English classifies the verb shall (should) only as modal, however, in textbooks published during the Soviet era one can find information that:

• Instead of will, the verb shall is used as an auxiliary when it is necessary to create a future tense construction with the 1st person singular and plural. For example, We shall talk about it. - We'll talk about this later.
• With the same parameters, but in order to create the form of the future tense in the past, the verb should can be used instead of would. Eg, I said that we should discuss it later. - I said we'll discuss this later..

In modern British language this verb is replaced by will and would. The verb shall (should) can be found in old English textbooks, old books and films in the original language.

English is not particularly rich in auxiliary verbs , however, one should keep in mind in what cases one or another verb is used. The main thing to do is to learn these verbs, in what cases and in what forms they are used. And do not confuse them with semantic ones, which carry lexical load in the constructed construction.

Auxiliary verbs in English table

To summarize the information, you can use the table below.

Auxiliary verbs are so called because they help form tenses and voices in English. The main auxiliary verbs in English are the verbs BE, DO and HAVE, each of which has its own forms, which we will discuss below. Auxiliary verbs also sometimes include modal verbs that do not change their form.

A feature of auxiliary verbs (except modal ones) is the absence of any meaning other than the grammatical one.

I have been to London. - I was in London. (The verb to have has no meaning, but simply helps to construct the Present Perfect tense form)

So what are auxiliary verbs for?

• For the formation of times
• For the formation of interrogative and negative sentences.
• To form the passive voice
• To form a dividing question.

Auxiliary verbs for forming tenses.

To form tenses, auxiliary verbs be / do / have / will are used.

Let's look at the table of using auxiliary verbs in different tenses in affirmative, negative and interrogative sentences.

If you look closely at the table, you can draw the following conclusions about how auxiliary verbs work.

• The auxiliary verb do (does/did) is used only to form Present Simple and Past Simple tenses.
• The auxiliary verb be (am / is /are /was /were /will be) is used only to form Continuous tenses.
• The auxiliary verb have (has / had) is used to form Perfect tenses
• The auxiliary verb will is used to form future tenses.

Knowing these 4 points, you can accurately determine which auxiliary verbs to use to form any tense. Take, for example, the Future Perfect Continuous - to form it we need as many as 3 auxiliary verbs:

• will (since it is future),
• have (since it is perfect),
• been (form of to be – since it is continuous).

Auxiliary verbs for forming negative and interrogative sentences.

The tense-appropriate auxiliary verb with the particle not will help you construct negative sentence. It is important to know that auxiliary verbs with the particle not can be written separately or together, forming a short form.

Consider the table:

In order to construct an interrogative sentence, the auxiliary verb is placed before the subject. If there is more than one auxiliary verb, only the first of them is placed before the subject, the rest come after the subject.

• Are are you playing tennis now?

• Have did you ever play tennis?

• Will you be playing tennis at two o’clock tomorrow?

• Why is he playing tennis now?

Thus, almost every interrogative sentence in English begins with either an auxiliary verb or a question word followed by an auxiliary verb. For information on how to make a sentence interrogative, read the article - Pay special attention to.

LET'S SUMMARY:

AuxiliaryBE.

As we said earlier, the auxiliary verb to be has 3 forms of the present tense (am / is / are), 2 forms of the past tense (was / were) and 1 form of the future tense (will be).

The auxiliary verb to be is used:

• To form Continuous tenses.
• To form the passive voice.

Molly is reading a magazine. (Present Continuous)

Children were talking. (Past Continuous)

England were beaten by Germany in the final (Past Passive)

AuxiliaryHAVE.

Have (has/had) is used to form perfect tenses as well as perfect forms of the passive voice.

• The judge has asked the witness to speak up. (Present Perfect)

• In some years, they will have established community gardens. (Future Perfect)

• I will have been asked by 3 o'clock tomorrow (Future Perfect Passive)

AuxiliaryDo

The auxiliary verb do (does /did) is used to form negative and interrogative sentences in Present Simple (do /does) and Past Simple (did).

You might find it useful to do and

The auxiliary verb do is sometimes used for emphasis in affirmative sentences.

He did look tired. “He really looked tired.”

You need to understand that the verbs be, have and do have a dual nature, if you like, they lead a double life: they can be both auxiliary and semantic.

So as a semantic verb TO BE is translated - “ to be, to be, to be”

She was at home. - She was at home. (to be (was) is a semantic verb, has a lexical meaning and is translated into Russian)

She was crying. – She cried (to be (was) is an auxiliary verb, has no lexical meaning, cannot be translated).

As a semantic verb TO DO is translated “ do”, and to HAVE – “ have":

I did what I could. – I did what I could.

I have a cat. - I have a cat

Often in an English sentence you can find 2 identical verbs, one of which is semantic, and the second is auxiliary.

I had had dinner before my mum came. (the first had is an auxiliary verb for the formation of the Past Perfect, the second had is the semantic verb “have dinner - have dinner / have dinner”).

Did you do what you could? (did – auxiliary, do – semantic)