Introduction: Auxiliary Verbs List

In English grammar, auxiliary verbs (also called helping verbs) are used alongside main verbs to create phrases, show tense, form negatives, ask questions, or express mood. A robust understanding of the auxiliary verbs list helps learners, students, and competitive exam aspirants build flawless sentences and communicate more precisely. This article provides over 100 examples with meanings, practical tips, and everything needed to master auxiliaries.

What Is an Auxiliary Verb?

Auxiliary verbs support the main verb to express tense (am writing), mood (might arrive), or voice (was cooked). The most common are:

• Primary auxiliaries: be (am, is, are, was, were, been, being), have (has, have, had), do (do, does, did)
• Modal auxiliaries: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, dare, need, used to, have to.

100+ Auxiliary Verbs List Examples with Meanings

Primary Auxiliary Verbs (Be, Have, Do) — Examples 1–30

1. She is singing. (form of “be”: present continuous)
2. I am reading a book. (“am”: present continuous)
3. We are studying for exams. (“are”: present continuous)
4. He was playing football. (“was”: past continuous)
5. They were laughing loudly. (“were”: past continuous)
6. He has finished his work. (“has”: present perfect)
7. I have eaten lunch. (“have”: present perfect)
8. She had gone out. (“had”: past perfect)
9. She is being careful. (“is being”: present continuous passive)
10. The food was cooked by mom. (“was”: passive voice)
11. The letter was written yesterday. (“was”: passive)
12. The children are playing in the park. (“are”: present continuous)
13. My dog has been running all morning. (“has been”: present perfect continuous)
14. We were chosen for the team. (“were”: passive voice)
15. The task is completed. (“is”: passive voice)
16. I do want ice cream. (“do”: emphasis)
17. Do you like tea? (“do”: question)
18. He does his homework every day. (“does”: habitual action)
19. She did not come. (“did”: negative, past)
20. Did you read the book? (“did”: question, past)
21. The teacher has explained the problem. (“has”: present perfect)
22. We had been waiting for hours. (“had been”: past perfect continuous)
23. He is being silly today. (“is being”: present continuous passive)
24. The class is taught by Mrs. Rao. (“is”: passive)
25. I have been learning French. (“have been”: present perfect continuous)
26. She was annoyed by the noise. (“was”: passive)
27. The dog has barked all night. (“has”: present perfect)
28. The work has been done already. (“has been”: present perfect passive)
29. Are you coming to the party? (“are”: question)
30. He has not arrived yet. (“has not”: present perfect negative).

Modal Auxiliary Verbs — Examples 31–80

31. She can swim well. (“can”: ability)
32. Could you help me? (“could”: polite request)
33. He may come tomorrow. (“may”: possibility)
34. It might rain today. (“might”: weak possibility)
35. You must finish your work. (“must”: necessity)
36. We should study daily. (“should”: advice)
37. I will call you later. (“will”: future)
38. Would you like some coffee? (“would”: polite offer)
39. You ought to apologize. (“ought to”: moral obligation)
40. She shall play the piano. (“shall”: intention/formal future)
41. Will you visit London? (“will”: future question)
42. You can speak English fluently. (“can”: ability)
43. She must leave now. (“must”: obligation)
44. Should I open the window? (“should”: asking advice)
45. He would often walk in the park. (“would”: past habit)
46. She could finish the work early. (“could”: possibility)
47. The children may participate. (“may”: possibility)
48. They might join us for dinner. (“might”: uncertainty)
49. You must obey rules. (“must”: necessity)
50. I shall help you. (“shall”: formal intention)
51. You should eat more vegetables. (“should”: advice)
52. Can you ride a bike? (“can”: ability question)
53. He could play chess when he was 7. (“could”: past ability)
54. May I leave now? (“may”: permission)
55. She might visit next week. (“might”: possibility)
56. You must pay attention. (“must”: necessity)
57. She ought to be careful. (“ought to”: advice)
58. He need not worry. (“need”: necessity/negative)
59. Dare you challenge me? (“dare”: challenge)
60. We have to finish the project soon. (“have to”: obligation)
61. You had to wait outside. (“had to”: past obligation)
62. I used to play cricket. (“used to”: past habit)
63. He will be attending the meeting. (“will be”: future)
64. You should have called earlier. (“should have”: advice about past)
65. She must have left already. (“must have”: guess about past)
66. They could have won the game. (“could have”: possibility about past)
67. You would have liked it. (“would have”: imagining past)
68. We may have missed the train. (“may have”: possible past)
69. Might I ask a question? (“might”: formal permission)
70. He should be studying for exams. (“should be”: expectation)
71. All students must be present. (“must be”: requirement)
72. She can be very persuasive. (“can be”: ability)
73. You could be right. (“could be”: possibility)
74. The team will be champions. (“will be”: future prediction)
75. He might be late today. (“might be”: possibility)
76. Priya should have arrived by now. (“should have”: expectation past)
77. You must not be rude. (“must not”: prohibition)
78. You don’t have to worry. (“don’t have to”: absence of necessity)
79. The train may be delayed. (“may be”: possibility)
80. She can’t come today. (“can’t”: impossibility).

Negative, Interrogative, Passive, and Emphasis — Examples 81–110

81. He does not like ice cream. (“does not”: present negative)
82. Did you enjoy the movie? (“did”: question, past)
83. She is not coming today. (“is not”: present negative)
84. We were not invited. (“were not”: past passive negative)
85. Has she submitted the report? (“has”: present perfect interrogative)
86. The book has been published. (“has been”: present perfect passive)
87. The letter was not delivered. (“was not”: past passive negative)
88. Could he solve the problem? (“could”: ability question)
89. You must not forget your passport. (“must not”: prohibition)
90. She has not met him before. (“has not”: present perfect negative)
91. The proposal was rejected by the board. (“was”: passive)
92. We have not started yet. (“have not”: negative present perfect)
93. Do you know the answer? (“do”: present question)
94. I do understand your feelings. (“do”: emphatic present)
95. The cake was baked by my mother. (“was”: passive)
96. The shop was closed at 9 pm. (“was”: past passive)
97. The questions are being answered. (“are being”: present continuous passive)
98. She is being questioned by the police. (“is being”: passive progressive)
99. Should we start now? (“should”: suggestion question)
100. The homework has been completed by Reema. (“has been”: present perfect passive)
101. Will you help with the bags? (“will”: future question)
102. The decision has been made. (“has been”: present perfect passive)
103. Do you want some water? (“do”: interrogation)
104. He did not study for the test. (“did not”: negative past)
105. The news was announced yesterday. (“was”: passive past)
106. Has the package arrived? (“has”: interrogative perfect)
107. She will be missed by everyone. (“will be”: passive)
108. You mustn’t smoke here. (“mustn’t”: prohibition)
109. The items are sold online. (“are”: passive present)
110. My friend has been chosen as captain. (“has been”: present perfect passive).

Auxiliary Verbs List: Important Tips for Students & Exam Candidates

• Primary auxiliaries (be, have, do) help form continuous, perfect, and passive verb phrases.
• Modal auxiliaries (can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, need, dare, used to) express necessity, possibility, ability, or permission.
• Modal verbs do not change for tense or subject (no “cans” or “mays”).
• To form negatives/questions in simple present/past, use “do/does/did” + base verb.
• Auxiliaries are essential for forming passive voice (“was finished”), questions (“did she call?”), and emphasis (“I do understand”).
• Many competitive exams have fill-in-the-blank, error-spotting, and transformation questions based on auxiliary verbs.

Conclusion on Auxiliary Verbs List

Mastering the auxiliary verbs list enables learners to form correct tenses, ask questions, show passive voice, and express attitudes. Whether for writing, speaking, or exam success, fluency with auxiliary verbs is key to accurate and powerful English.

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