Identify main and helping verbs in sentences.
Worksheet for identifying main verbs and helping verbs in sentences, with examples and exercises.
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Step-by-step solution for: Main verb and Helping verb worksheet
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Show Answer Key & Explanations
Step-by-step solution for: Main verb and Helping verb worksheet
Explanation:
We need to underline the main verb and the helping verb in each sentence.
First, remember:
- A helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) helps the main verb show tense, mood, or voice. Common ones are: *be* (am/is/are/was/were), *do* (do/does/did), *have* (have/has/had), and modals like *will, would, can, could, may, might, should*.
- The main verb is the action or state that the sentence is about — it carries the real meaning. It often comes right after the helping verb.
Let’s go through each sentence one by one:
1. You should finish your homework tonight.
- *should* = helping verb (modal)
- *finish* = main verb
→ Underline: should, finish
2. It might rain tomorrow.
- *might* = helping verb (modal)
- *rain* = main verb
→ Underline: might, rain
3. Have you seen my keys?
- *Have* = helping verb (auxiliary for present perfect)
- *seen* = main verb (past participle)
→ Underline: Have, seen
4. Where will you move to?
- *will* = helping verb (future tense modal)
- *move* = main verb
→ Underline: will, move
5. They are thinking about a change in venue.
- *are* = helping verb (part of present continuous)
- *thinking* = main verb (present participle)
→ Underline: are, thinking
6. We would like to go with you tomorrow.
- *would* = helping verb (modal)
- *like* = main verb
*(Note: “to go” is an infinitive phrase, but the main verb of the clause is “like”)*
→ Underline: would, like
7. He is working at the mall this week.
- *is* = helping verb (present continuous)
- *working* = main verb (present participle)
→ Underline: is, working
8. I do not want you to get sick.
- *do* = helping verb (used for emphasis/negation in present simple)
- *want* = main verb
*(“not” is an adverb, not a verb. “to get” is part of the object clause, but the main verb of the main clause is “want”.)*
→ Underline: do, want
9. Could you help him with that?
- *Could* = helping verb (modal)
- *help* = main verb
→ Underline: Could, help
10. He might listen to you.
- *might* = helping verb
- *listen* = main verb
→ Underline: might, listen
11. We have done our best.
- *have* = helping verb (present perfect)
- *done* = main verb (past participle)
→ Underline: have, done
12. She can borrow this book.
- *can* = helping verb (modal)
- *borrow* = main verb
→ Underline: can, borrow
Double-check: In all cases, we identified the helping verb first (often a modal or form of be/do/have), then the main verb that follows it and carries the core action/state.
Final Answer:
1. should, finish
2. might, rain
3. Have, seen
4. will, move
5. are, thinking
6. would, like
7. is, working
8. do, want
9. Could, help
10. might, listen
11. have, done
12. can, borrow
We need to underline the main verb and the helping verb in each sentence.
First, remember:
- A helping verb (also called an auxiliary verb) helps the main verb show tense, mood, or voice. Common ones are: *be* (am/is/are/was/were), *do* (do/does/did), *have* (have/has/had), and modals like *will, would, can, could, may, might, should*.
- The main verb is the action or state that the sentence is about — it carries the real meaning. It often comes right after the helping verb.
Let’s go through each sentence one by one:
1. You should finish your homework tonight.
- *should* = helping verb (modal)
- *finish* = main verb
→ Underline: should, finish
2. It might rain tomorrow.
- *might* = helping verb (modal)
- *rain* = main verb
→ Underline: might, rain
3. Have you seen my keys?
- *Have* = helping verb (auxiliary for present perfect)
- *seen* = main verb (past participle)
→ Underline: Have, seen
4. Where will you move to?
- *will* = helping verb (future tense modal)
- *move* = main verb
→ Underline: will, move
5. They are thinking about a change in venue.
- *are* = helping verb (part of present continuous)
- *thinking* = main verb (present participle)
→ Underline: are, thinking
6. We would like to go with you tomorrow.
- *would* = helping verb (modal)
- *like* = main verb
*(Note: “to go” is an infinitive phrase, but the main verb of the clause is “like”)*
→ Underline: would, like
7. He is working at the mall this week.
- *is* = helping verb (present continuous)
- *working* = main verb (present participle)
→ Underline: is, working
8. I do not want you to get sick.
- *do* = helping verb (used for emphasis/negation in present simple)
- *want* = main verb
*(“not” is an adverb, not a verb. “to get” is part of the object clause, but the main verb of the main clause is “want”.)*
→ Underline: do, want
9. Could you help him with that?
- *Could* = helping verb (modal)
- *help* = main verb
→ Underline: Could, help
10. He might listen to you.
- *might* = helping verb
- *listen* = main verb
→ Underline: might, listen
11. We have done our best.
- *have* = helping verb (present perfect)
- *done* = main verb (past participle)
→ Underline: have, done
12. She can borrow this book.
- *can* = helping verb (modal)
- *borrow* = main verb
→ Underline: can, borrow
Double-check: In all cases, we identified the helping verb first (often a modal or form of be/do/have), then the main verb that follows it and carries the core action/state.
Final Answer:
1. should, finish
2. might, rain
3. Have, seen
4. will, move
5. are, thinking
6. would, like
7. is, working
8. do, want
9. Could, help
10. might, listen
11. have, done
12. can, borrow
Parent Tip: Review the logic above to help your child master the concept of helping verbs worksheet.