Grammar exercise sheet designed to help students practice identifying helping verbs and main verbs within various sentences.
Finding Helping Verbs Worksheet with instructions, examples, and practice sentences for circling helping verbs and underlining main verbs.
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Helping Verbs Worksheets | Finding Helping Verbs Worksheets
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Helping Verbs Worksheets | Finding Helping Verbs Worksheets
Let's solve the "Finding Helping Verbs Worksheet" step by step.
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We are to:
- Circle the helping verb(s) in each sentence.
- Underline the main verb (the action verb that comes after the helping verb).
> Remember:
> - A helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) helps the main verb express tense, mood, or voice.
> - The main verb is the actual action word.
Examples of helping verbs:
will, would, can, could, may, might, should, are, is, am, have, has, had, was
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Now, let’s go through each sentence one by one.
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- Helping verb: *is* → circle it
- Main verb: *growing* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Your little brother _is_ growing fast!
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- Helping verb: *will* → circle it
- Main verb: *play* → underline it
✔ Answer:
She _will_ play a classical song on the piano.
---
- Helping verb: *would* → circle it
- Main verb: *enjoy* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Taylor _would_ enjoy watching Annie the musical.
---
- Helping verb: *might* → circle it
- Main verb: *drive* → underline it
✔ Answer:
My mother _might_ drive me to Yogurtland.
---
- Helping verb: *should* → circle it
- Main verb: *listen* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Isaac _should_ listen to his teacher in class.
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- Helping verb: *could* → circle it
- Main verb: *smell* → underline it
✔ Answer:
She _could_ smell the flowers from the hallway.
---
- Helping verb: *was* → circle it
- Main verb: *holding* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Brandon _was_ holding a flashlight.
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- Helping verb: *was* → circle it
- Main verb: *reading* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Kaitlyn _was_ reading a book this afternoon.
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- Helping verb: *will* → circle it
- Main verb: *cost* → underline it
✔ Answer:
The game _will_ cost a lot of money.
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- Helping verb: *may* → circle it
- Main verb: *dance* → underline it
✔ Answer:
They _may_ dance in a recital this evening.
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- This sentence has two helping verbs: *should* and *have*
- Both are helping verbs (modal + perfect form)
- Main verb: *eaten* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Ella _should_ _have_ eaten her Brussels sprouts.
> Note: In this case, "should have" is a modal phrase, and "eaten" is the past participle of the main verb "eat".
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| Sentence | Helping Verb(s) | Main Verb |
|--------|------------------|-----------|
| 1 | is | growing |
| 2 | will | play |
| 3 | would | enjoy |
| 4 | might | drive |
| 5 | should | listen |
| 6 | could | smell |
| 7 | was | holding |
| 8 | was | reading |
| 9 | will | cost |
| 10 | may | dance |
| 11 | should, have | eaten |
---
For each sentence, you would:
- Circle the helping verb(s)
- Underline the main verb
Example for #11:
> Ella should have *eaten* her Brussels sprouts.
---
Let me know if you'd like a printable version with answers filled in!
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🔹 Understanding the Task
We are to:
- Circle the helping verb(s) in each sentence.
- Underline the main verb (the action verb that comes after the helping verb).
> Remember:
> - A helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) helps the main verb express tense, mood, or voice.
> - The main verb is the actual action word.
Examples of helping verbs:
will, would, can, could, may, might, should, are, is, am, have, has, had, was
---
Now, let’s go through each sentence one by one.
---
✔ 1. Your little brother is growing fast!
- Helping verb: *is* → circle it
- Main verb: *growing* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Your little brother _is_ growing fast!
---
✔ 2. She will play a classical song on the piano.
- Helping verb: *will* → circle it
- Main verb: *play* → underline it
✔ Answer:
She _will_ play a classical song on the piano.
---
✔ 3. Taylor would enjoy watching Annie the musical.
- Helping verb: *would* → circle it
- Main verb: *enjoy* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Taylor _would_ enjoy watching Annie the musical.
---
✔ 4. My mother might drive me to Yogurtland.
- Helping verb: *might* → circle it
- Main verb: *drive* → underline it
✔ Answer:
My mother _might_ drive me to Yogurtland.
---
✔ 5. Isaac should listen to his teacher in class.
- Helping verb: *should* → circle it
- Main verb: *listen* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Isaac _should_ listen to his teacher in class.
---
✔ 6. She could smell the flowers from the hallway.
- Helping verb: *could* → circle it
- Main verb: *smell* → underline it
✔ Answer:
She _could_ smell the flowers from the hallway.
---
✔ 7. Brandon was holding a flashlight.
- Helping verb: *was* → circle it
- Main verb: *holding* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Brandon _was_ holding a flashlight.
---
✔ 8. Kaitlyn was reading a book this afternoon.
- Helping verb: *was* → circle it
- Main verb: *reading* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Kaitlyn _was_ reading a book this afternoon.
---
✔ 9. The game will cost a lot of money.
- Helping verb: *will* → circle it
- Main verb: *cost* → underline it
✔ Answer:
The game _will_ cost a lot of money.
---
✔ 10. They may dance in a recital this evening.
- Helping verb: *may* → circle it
- Main verb: *dance* → underline it
✔ Answer:
They _may_ dance in a recital this evening.
---
✔ 11. Ella should have eaten her Brussels sprouts.
- This sentence has two helping verbs: *should* and *have*
- Both are helping verbs (modal + perfect form)
- Main verb: *eaten* → underline it
✔ Answer:
Ella _should_ _have_ eaten her Brussels sprouts.
> Note: In this case, "should have" is a modal phrase, and "eaten" is the past participle of the main verb "eat".
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📌 Final Answers Summary:
| Sentence | Helping Verb(s) | Main Verb |
|--------|------------------|-----------|
| 1 | is | growing |
| 2 | will | play |
| 3 | would | enjoy |
| 4 | might | drive |
| 5 | should | listen |
| 6 | could | smell |
| 7 | was | holding |
| 8 | was | reading |
| 9 | will | cost |
| 10 | may | dance |
| 11 | should, have | eaten |
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✔ How to Write It on the Worksheet:
For each sentence, you would:
- Circle the helping verb(s)
- Underline the main verb
Example for #11:
> Ella should have *eaten* her Brussels sprouts.
---
Let me know if you'd like a printable version with answers filled in!
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of helping verb worksheet.