Identify main verbs and helping verbs

Key Notes:

📝 Identify Main Verbs and Helping Verbs

What is a Verb?

A verb is a word that shows an action or a state of being.

• 💃 Example: run, jump, eat, is, am, are

Main Verb (Action Verb)

The main verb tells the main action in the sentence.

It shows what the subject does.

Can stand alone in a sentence.

Examples:

• She runs fast. 🏃‍♀️
• They eat ice cream. 🍦
• I play football. ⚽

Helping Verb (Auxiliary Verb)

A helping verb comes before the main verb.

It helps the main verb to show:

• ✅ Tense (past, present, future)
• ✅ Mood (possibility, ability, permission)
• ✅ Voice (active or passive)

Common Helping Verbs:

• be → am, is, are, was, were
• have → has, have, had
• do → do, does, did
• modal verbs → can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must

Examples:

• She is running fast. 🏃‍♀️ (is = helping, running = main verb)
• They have eaten ice cream. 🍦 (have = helping, eaten = main verb)
• I can play football. ⚽ (can = helping, play = main verb)

How to Identify

Look for the main action → that’s the main verb.

Look for words that come before it to help it → those are helping verbs.

Example:

Sentence: He was reading a book. 📖

• was → helping verb
• reading → main verb

Tips to Remember

• Every sentence has a main verb ✅
• Helping verbs cannot stand alone ❌
• Helping verbs always work with main verbs 🤝

✨ Fun Practice:

Underline the main verbs and circle the helping verbs:

• She is singing beautifully. 🎤
• They have finished their homework. 📚
• I will call you tomorrow. 📞

Let’s practice!