Main and Helping Verbs

Main and Helping Verbs

Main vs. Helping verbs

-Main verbs show actions or states of being. Ex: running, standing, swimming, went

-Helping verbs helps show more about the main verb and have to work with a main verb. Ex: had, have, do, did, may, must.

Multiple Choice

What is the main verb in the sentence?

The children have awakened because of the noise.

• have

• awakened

• noise

• because

Multiple Choice

What is the helping verb in the sentence?

Birds were calling to each other.

• other

• each

• were

• calling

Main verbs

• Usually have some sort of action (Ex: ran)

• Can be in past, present, or future (Ex: watched, watch, watching)

• May need a helping verb in order to make sense in the sentence

Multiple Choice

What is the main verb in the sentence??

He had waited for the perfect opportunity.

• had

• waited

• perfect

• opportunity

Helping verbs

• adds meaning about the TIME or POSSIBILITY of the main verb. Ex: had, may

• can be past, present, or future tense Ex: had, are, will have

• need a main verb to make sense in a sentence

Multiple Choice

What is the helping verb in the sentence?

His teammates are jumping for joy.

• jumping

• for

• are

• joy

Multiple Choice

It was destroyed in a fire last year.

• helping verb

• main verb

Multiple Choice

They are buying many books for gifts.

• helping verb

• main verb

Multiple Choice

The girls are eating pizza after practice.

• helping verb

• main verb