Auxiliary Verb Usage ESL Grammar Review

Auxiliary verbs are conjugated depending on the subject of a sentence. Here are a few examples of auxiliary verbs: Tom  has  lived in Boston for twenty years.They  didnt  come to the party last night.I  was  cooking dinner when you telephoned.What  are  you doing tomorrow afternoon? Knowing correct auxiliary verb usage is key to tense usage. Every tense takes an auxiliary form of the verb. There are three exceptions to this rule: Simple present positive: She works at a bank.Simple past positive: He bought a new TV last week.Positive imperative statements: Hurry up! There are also a number of short forms that take ONLY the auxiliary form of the verb: Yes / No answer short forms: Do you live in England? - No, I dont.Has she been to Paris? - Yes, she has. Question tags: They enjoy learning English, dont they?He wont agree with me, will he? Positive agreement / inclusion: I went to the beach last weekend. - So did I.Im working very hard at the moment. - So is she. Negative agreement / inclusion: They havent worked here long. - Neither have I.We wont be able to come next week. - Neither will I. Overview of Auxiliary Verb Usage DO / DOES Used simple present question and negative forms: What time does he get up?They dont drive to work. They take the bus. DID Used in simple past question and negative forms: When did they arrive yesterday?He didnt finish his homework last week. IS / ARE / AM Used in present continuous and for the future with going to: They are working hard at the moment.She is going to study medicine at university. WAS / WERE Past continuous: I was watching TV when you arrived.What were they doing while you were cooking dinner? HAVE / HAS Present perfect and present perfect continuous: How long have you lived here?Ive been working since seven this morning. HAD Past perfect and past perfect continuous: He had eaten by the time I arrived.She had been studying for two hours when he finally telephoned. WILL / WONT Future with will: What will the weather be like tomorrow?He wont understand. If you dont understand all of these tenses, dont worry. This overview chart shows the positive, negative and interrogative (question) forms of all the principal tenses in English with a brief description of the principal usage. The timeline tenses chart provides a handy visual reference sheet to English tenses and their relationship to the past, present  and future. Included you will find active, passive, simple and continuous forms positioned according to their occurrence in time.​ Test your Understanding of Auxiliary Verbs In each of the following  sentences,  an auxiliary verb is missing. Write the missing auxiliary verbs on a piece of paper and then  check the answers below. He _____  come  to school yesterday because he was ill.She _____ been working in the garden since two this afternoon.He _____ finished his homework by the time arrived.Im afraid I _____ be able to come to the party. I have to study.Youve visited London, _____ you?They _____ going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.Why _____ you buy that?! Its ugly!She _____ often  go  to the movies.He _____ watching TV. Hes doing his homework at the moment.They _____ been playing tennis for two hours.I dont like country music. - Neither _____ I.They wont come to the party, _____ they?Mom _____ been working for two hours when I telephoned.I think they are fantastic! - So _____ she.What _____ they doing?Mary hasnt enjoyed herself so much for a long time. - Neither _____ I.Mike _____ go on vacation last summer. He was too busy.Hes studying Russian this semester, _____ he?I _____ just been to the bank.How long _____ you been working for this company? Answers: Auxiliary Verb Quiz He  didnt  come to school yesterday because he was ill.She  has  been working in the garden since two this afternoon.He  had  finished his homework by the time arrived.Im afraid I  wont  be able to come to the party. I have to study.Youve visited London,  havent  you?Theyre  going to attend a meeting in Chicago next week.Why  did  you buy that?! Its ugly!She  doesnt  often go to the movies.He  isnt  watching TV. Hes doing his homework at the moment.Theyve  been playing tennis for two hours.I dont like country music. - Neither  do  I.They wont come to the party,  will  they?Mom  had  been working for two hours when I telephoned.I think they are fantastic! - So  does  she.What  are  they doing?Mary hasnt enjoyed herself so much for a long time. - Neither  have  I.Mike  didnt  go on vacation last summer. He was too busy.Hes studying Russian this semester,  isnt  he?Ive  just been to the bank.How long  have  you be en working for this company?