Types of Main Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs, Uses With Examples

 Types of Main Verbs and Auxiliary Verbs, Uses With Examples

1. Main Verbs (Lexical Verbs)

Definition

Main verbs are the primary verbs in a sentence that show the main action or state of being.

Use

They carry the real meaning of the sentence.

Examples:

·         She runs every morning.

·         They built a house.

·         I understand your problem.

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Types of Main Verbs

Type	Description	Example
Action Verbs	Show physical or mental action	She writes a letter.
Linking Verbs	Link subject to subject complement	He is a doctor.
Transitive Verbs	Need a direct object	They played cricket.
Intransitive Verbs	Don’t need an object	She sleeps peacefully.

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2. Auxiliary Verbs (Helping Verbs)

Definition

Auxiliary verbs are helper verbs that support the main verb to express tense, mood, voice, aspect, or question/negation.

Use

They are used to:

·         Form tenses (present, past, future)

·         Make negatives

·         Ask questions

·         Create passive voice

Examples

·         She is reading.

·         They have finished.

·         We can swim.

·         The book was written by him.

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Types of Auxiliary Verbs

A. Primary Auxiliary Verbs

Used to form tenses, negatives, questions, and passive voice.

Verb	Forms	Examples
Be	is, am, are, was, were, be, being, been	She is dancing. / The work was done.
Have	have, has, had	I have eaten. / They had gone.
Do	do, does, did	I do not know. / Did she come?

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B. Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Show possibility, ability, permission, necessity, or advice.

Modal Verb	Use	Example
Can	Ability, permission	She can speak English.
Could	Past ability, polite request	Could you help me?
May	Permission, possibility	May I come in?
Might	Less possibility	It might rain.
Shall	Suggestion, future (formal)	Shall we go now?
Should	Advice, obligation	You should study.
Will	Future tense	I will call you tomorrow.
Would	Polite request, hypothetical	Would you like tea?
Must	Strong obligation/necessity	You must follow rules.
Ought to	Moral duty	You ought to help the poor.

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Summary Table

Category	Description	Example
Main Verb	Shows main action or state	He reads books.
Auxiliary Verb	Helps the main verb form correct structure	She is reading.
Primary Auxiliary	Be, Have, Do	They have finished.
Modal Auxiliary	Can, May, Must, Should, etc.	You should study.