What Are Auxiliary Verbs?
Auxiliary verbs are also known as ‘helping’ verbs. They are used to express tense (perfect and continuous tenses) which shows different points in time and frequency of events. In addition to being used to express tense, they are also needed when expressing voice (active and passive voice) and mood.
“Have” has no actual meaning as an auxiliary verb. Its purpose is to ‘help’ the sentence make sense.
'Have' as a Main Verb vs. Auxiliary Verb
“Have” can be used as both a main verb and an auxiliary verb.
When used as a main verb it is used to show possession (something that belongs to you/ owning something).
NOTE
It can also be used when referring to relationships. Eg, I have two sisters.
When used as an auxiliary verb, ‘have’ is used with the past participle of the main verb.
'Have' in Different Tenses
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Present Perfect Tense
The present perfect tense is used to describe actions or events that started in the past and continue into the present; and actions that have been recently completed but still have relevance.
Structure for the Present Perfect Tense
Subject + have/has + past participle of main verb + (rest of the sentence)
Examples:
I have eaten breakfast.
She has visited Rome.
They have finished their work.
Negative sentences + Questions
Negative structure:
Subject + have/has + not + past participle
Example:
I haven’t eaten breakfast.
She has not visited Rome
Remember that ‘have not’ contracted is ‘haven’t’ and ‘has not’ becomes ‘hasn’t’
Questions:
Have/has + subject + past participle + (rest of the sentence)?
Example:
Have you eaten breakfast?
Has she visited Rome?
Past Perfect Tense
The past perfect tense is used to describe an action that was completed before another action. It is used to show that one event happened before another in the past.
NOTE
The full sentence structure may differ because the aim of this tense is to sequence events and tell a story.
It can be used in conditional sentences, using words like ‘if’ and ‘so’.
You can also use words like ‘before’, ‘already’, and ‘just’ that shows timeline.
Structure for the Past Perfect Tense
Subject + had + past participle of main verb
Examples:
I had gone home before she arrived.
He had forgotten his keys, so he couldn’t get into the house.
By the time we arrived at the station, the train had already left.
The movie had started by the time we got to the theatre.
By the time she called, I had already made other plans.
Negative sentences and Questions
Negative:
Subject + had not + past participle
Remember that ‘had not’ contracted is ‘hadn’t’.
He hadn’t studied for the exam, so he didn’t do well.
We hadn’t seen that movie before.
Questions:
Had + subject + past participle + (rest of sentence)?
Examples:
Had you ever visited Rome before the trip?
Had she got home before you arrived?
Future Perfect Tense
The future perfect tense is used to describe an action that will be completed before a certain point in the future.
This tense can be used for making predictions and assumptions; and also focuses on time expressions.
It is used to express expectations about the future.
Structure for the Future Perfect Tense
Subject + will have + past participle of main verb
Examples:
By this time next year, I will have graduated from university.
She will have learned to drive by the time she turns 18.
We will have travelled to five different countries by the end of our trip.
By the time you arrive, I will have cleaned the entire house.
The movie will have started by the time we get to the theatre.
They will have moved into their new house by the end of the month.
Negative sentences and Questions
Negative:
Subject + will not have + past participle
Remember that ‘will not’ contracted becomes ‘won’t’.
Examples:
She won’t have finished work by then.
We won’t have saved enough money for the trip by next summer.
He won’t have recovered from his illness by the weekend.
Questions:
Will + subject + have + past participle + (rest of sentence)?
Examples:
Will you have finished your assignment by tomorrow?
Will they have left by the time we get there?
Here are some practice exercises to put your skills to the test!
Instructions:
Complete the following sentences by filling in the blanks with the correct form of the auxiliary verb 'have.' Choose the appropriate tense (present perfect, past perfect, or future perfect) based on the context.
1. I ________ (finish) my homework before dinner yesterday.
a) have finished
b) had finished
c) will have finished
2. By the time you arrive, we ________ (start) the meeting.
a) have started
b) will have started
c) had started
3. She ________ (live) in New York for five years before moving to London.
a) had lived
b) has lived
c) will have lived
4. They ________ (not complete) the project by the end of this week.
a) have not completed
b) had not completed
c) will not have completed
5. We ________ (never see) such a beautiful sunset until last summer.
a) have never seen
b) had never seen
c) will have never seen
6. By next month, I ________ (learn) all the grammar rules in this course.
a) have learned
b) had learned
c) will have learned
7. She ________ (already eat) by the time I called her last night.
a) has already eaten
b) had already eaten
c) will have already eaten
Answer Key:
b) had finished
b) will have started
a) had lived
c) will not have completed
b) had never seen
c) will have learned
b) had already eaten