Helping Verbs Worksheets, Definition, Examples - ReadingVine - Free Printable

Let’s go through each sentence one by one. We need to pick the right helping verb from the Word Bank for each blank. Remember: we must use each helping verb twice.

Word Bank:
is, might, will, would, should, have, does, can, could, was

---

1. She ________ feeling better after a nap.
→ “Feeling” is part of a continuous tense. We need “was” or “is”. Since it’s past (after a nap), “was” fits best.
✔ was

2. We ________ read the same book twice now.
→ “Now” suggests present perfect — so we need “have”.
✔ have

3. The cat ________ sleep on the couch.
→ This is about ability or habit. “Can” works well here.
✔ can

4. We ________ have a picnic since the weather is nice.
→ Suggestion or good idea → “should”
✔ should

5. She ________ sing better than most people.
→ Ability again → “can” (we already used “can” once? Wait — let’s track usage later. For now, “can” fits.)
But wait — we’ll check duplicates at the end. Let’s keep going.

Actually, let’s hold off and do all first, then double-check counts.

6. He ________ write a story if he has time.
→ Conditional possibility → “could” or “would”. “Could” = ability/possibility. “Would” = willingness. Both work, but “could” is more natural here.
✔ could

7. He ________ not like eating popcorn.
→ Present simple negative → needs “does” (he does not like...)
✔ does

8. The baby ________ crying.
→ Past continuous → “was” (but we already used “was” in #1). Wait — we’re allowed to use each word twice! So “was” again is okay.
✔ was

9. She ________ study for her test.
→ Advice or obligation → “should” (already used in #4) — that’s fine, we can reuse.
✔ should

10. They ________ go to the movies tomorrow.
→ Future plan → “will”
✔ will

Wait — we haven’t used “might”, “would”, “have” (only once?), “is”, etc.

Let’s list what we’ve used so far:

1. was
2. have
3. can
4. should
5. ? ← we skipped this earlier
6. could
7. does
8. was
9. should
10. will

We missed #5!

#5: She ________ sing better than most people.
→ Could be “can” (ability) — but we already used “can” in #3. That’s okay — we can use it twice.
OR “could” — but we used “could” in #6. Also okay.
But let’s see which words are underused.

Used so far:
- was → 2 times (#1, #8) ✔ done
- have → 1 time (#2)
- can → 1 time (#3)
- should → 2 times (#4, #9) ✔ done
- could → 1 time (#6)
- does → 1 time (#7)
- will → 1 time (#10)

Missing uses:
- is → 0
- might → 0
- would → 0
- have → needs 1 more
- can → needs 1 more
- could → needs 1 more
- does → needs 1 more
- will → needs 1 more

Wait — total words: 10 words × 2 = 20 blanks? No — only 10 sentences. Each word used twice → 10 words × 2 = 20 uses? But there are only 10 blanks. That doesn’t add up.

Wait — re-read directions:

> Use each helping verb twice.

There are 10 helping verbs in the bank. 10 blanks. If we use each twice, that’s 20 uses — impossible.

Ah! Mistake. Let me re-read:

“Use each helping verb twice.” — but there are 10 blanks and 10 words. So probably means: use each word once, but the instruction says “twice”.

Wait — look again:

Word Bank has 10 words:
is, might, will, would, should, have, does, can, could, was → 10 words.

Sentences: 10 blanks.

Instruction: “Use each helping verb twice.”

That would require 20 blanks. Contradiction.

Perhaps it’s a typo? Or maybe “use each helping verb [from the bank] as needed, and you may use some twice”? But it says “each... twice”.

Wait — perhaps I miscounted the word bank.

List:

• is
• might
• will
• would
• should
• have
• does
• can
• could
• was

That’s 10.

Sentences: 10.

So likely, the instruction meant: “Use the words from the bank. You may use some words more than once, but try to use each at least once?” But it explicitly says “twice”.

Alternatively — maybe “twice” refers to something else? No.

Another possibility: perhaps “use each helping verb twice” means that in the entire worksheet, each verb appears twice — but since there are 10 blanks, and 10 verbs, it must be that we use each verb exactly once? But that contradicts “twice”.

Wait — let me count the bullets in the image description:

In the user’s text:

"Word Bank
• is • might • will • would • should
• have • does • can • could • was"

That’s two rows: first row 5, second row 5 → total 10.

Sentences: 10.

So logically, we must use each verb exactly once? But the direction says “twice”.

This is confusing.

Perhaps it’s a mistake in the problem? Or maybe “twice” means something else?

Another thought: maybe “use each helping verb twice” means that for each sentence, you might use two helping verbs? But no, each sentence has only one blank.

Looking back at the original image description — the user wrote:

“Directions: Use the word bank to fill in the correct helping verb for each sentence. Use each helping verb twice.”

But with 10 sentences and 10 words, it’s impossible to use each twice.

Unless... perhaps the word bank has duplicates? No.

Wait — maybe I misread the number of sentences? Let’s count:

1. She ___ feeling...
2. We ___ read...
3. The cat ___ sleep...
4. We ___ have a picnic...
5. She ___ sing...
6. He ___ write...
7. He ___ not like...
8. The baby ___ crying.
9. She ___ study...
10. They ___ go...

Yes, 10.

Perhaps the instruction is wrong, and it should be “use each helping verb once”? That makes sense.

Maybe “twice” is a typo, and it’s “once”.

Because otherwise, it’s mathematically impossible.

Given that, and since this is for a student, I think the intended instruction is to use each word from the bank exactly once.

Otherwise, we’d have to repeat some words and leave others unused, but “each” implies all.

So I’ll assume it’s a mistake, and we should use each helping verb exactly once.

That makes the task solvable.

So let’s assign each word once.

Words: is, might, will, would, should, have, does, can, could, was

Now match to sentences:

1. She ________ feeling better after a nap.
→ past continuous → “was”
✔ was

2. We ________ read the same book twice now.
→ present perfect → “have”
✔ have

3. The cat ________ sleep on the couch.
→ ability/habit → “can”
✔ can

4. We ________ have a picnic since the weather is nice.
→ suggestion → “should”
✔ should

5. She ________ sing better than most people.
→ ability → “could” (since “can” is used, and “could” also means ability in past or polite)
But “can” is already used in #3. So for #5, “could” is good.
✔ could

6. He ________ write a story if he has time.
→ conditional → “would” (if he has time, he would write)
✔ would

7. He ________ not like eating popcorn.
→ present simple negative → “does”
✔ does

8. The baby ________ crying.
→ past continuous → “was” — but “was” already used in #1. Conflict.

Problem.

If we must use each word once, we can’t use “was” twice.

So for #8, what else? “is” — present continuous: “The baby is crying.” That works too.

And “was” was used in #1 for past.

So let’s adjust.

1. She was feeling better after a nap. (past)
8. The baby is crying. (present) — yes, that’s fine.

Then “is” is used in #8.

Now continue.

9. She ________ study for her test.
→ advice → “should” — but “should” used in #4. Conflict.

Oh no.

We have only one “should”.

So for #9, what else? “must” not in bank. “need to” not helping verb.

Options left: might, will

“might” — possibility: “She might study” — possible, but weak.

“will” — future: “She will study” — definite.

But “will” is better for #10.

#10: They ________ go to the movies tomorrow. → definitely “will”

So for #9, perhaps “should” is best, but we used it in #4.

Unless we swap.

Let’s list all sentences with best fit, then assign unique words.

Best fits:

1. was (past continuous)
2. have (present perfect)
3. can (ability)
4. should (suggestion)
5. could (ability, or past ability)
6. would (conditional)
7. does (present simple negative)
8. is (present continuous) — or was, but was taken
9. should — conflict
10. will (future)

Words used: was, have, can, should, could, would, does, is, will — that’s 9.

Missing: might

And #9 needs a word.

So for #9, “might” — “She might study for her test.” — possible, meaning she may or may not.

It’s acceptable.

Then #4: “We should have a picnic” — good.

But we have “might” for #9.

Now, what about #5? “She could sing” — good.

#6: “He would write” — good.

#7: “He does not like” — good.

#8: “The baby is crying” — good.

#10: “They will go” — good.

Now, we have used:

1. was
2. have
3. can
4. should
5. could
6. would
7. does
8. is
9. might
10. will

All 10 words used once.

Perfect.

But the instruction said “twice” — but that must be an error, because it’s impossible.

Perhaps in some versions, there are 20 sentences, but here only 10.

So for this task, we’ll go with using each word once.

Final answers:

1. was
2. have
3. can
4. should
5. could
6. would
7. does
8. is
9. might
10. will

But let’s double-check sentence 5: “She could sing better than most people.” — yes, “could” for ability.

Sentence 9: “She might study for her test.” — a bit weak, but grammatically correct.

Is there a better fit?

What if we put “should” in #9 and find another for #4?

#4: “We might have a picnic since the weather is nice.” — also possible, meaning it’s possible.

Then #9: “She should study” — stronger advice.

That might be better.

So swap #4 and #9.

#4: We might have a picnic...
#9: She should study...

Then:

1. was
2. have
3. can
4. might
5. could
6. would
7. does
8. is
9. should
10. will

Still all words used once.

And “might” for #4 is fine — “We might have a picnic” means it’s possible.

“Should” for #9 is better for advice.

Yes, this is improved.

Also, sentence 5: “She could sing” — still good.

Sentence 6: “He would write” — conditional, good.

So final assignment:

1. was
2. have
3. can
4. might
5. could
6. would
7. does
8. is
9. should
10. will

Now, verify each sentence makes sense:

1. She was feeling better after a nap. ✓
2. We have read the same book twice now. ✓ (present perfect)
3. The cat can sleep on the couch. ✓ (ability)
4. We might have a picnic since the weather is nice. ✓ (possibility)
5. She could sing better than most people. ✓ (ability)
6. He would write a story if he has time. ✓ (conditional)
7. He does not like eating popcorn. ✓ (present simple)
8. The baby is crying. ✓ (present continuous)
9. She should study for her test. ✓ (advice)
10. They will go to the movies tomorrow. ✓ (future)

All good.

And all 10 helping verbs used exactly once.

Even though the instruction said “twice”, it must be a mistake, as it’s impossible with 10 blanks and 10 unique words.

So for the student, we provide the answers as above.

Final Answer:
1. was
2. have
3. can
4. might
5. could
6. would
7. does
8. is
9. should
10. will