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Verbs with Helpers

Brought to you by the Purdue University Online Writing Lab

1. Recent Past (Present Perfect)

A conjugation of Have + [VERB+ed] describes an action that began in the past and continues into the present or that occurred in the recent past.

Examples:

• The child has finished the candy.
  
• I have gone to college for one year.
  
• He has worked hard all day.

2. Distant Past (Past Perfect)

Had + [VERB+ed] describes actions that began and ended in the past.

Examples:

• Mike had promised to repair Joe's bike.
  
• I had eaten dinner before he came.

3. Present Continuous Action (Present Progressive)

Is + [VERB+ing] shows action that is in progress now or is going to happen in the future.

Examples:

• I am taking Spanish this semester.
  
• He is getting ready for the party this evening.
  
• Next week they are going to Florida.

4. Past Continuous Action (Past Progressive)

Was + [VERB+ing] shows action that was in progress at a certain time in the past.

Examples:

• Yesterday I was working in the garden.
  
• He was smoking a pack a day before he quit.
  
• The dogs were barking all night.

5. Other helping verbs (Modals)

[HELPER] + [VERB], such as CAN, WILL, SHALL, MAY, COULD, WOULD, SHOULD, MIGHT, MUST
keep the same form. They do not change to agree with the subject.

Examples:

I |
you |
he | can do that assignment easily.
we |

There are also modal phrases (some of which don't change form), such as:

COULD HAVE + Verb

WOULD HAVE + Verb

MUST HAVE + Verb

(Not could "of" or would "of")

Example:

• I could have won the prize if I had entered the contest.
  
• He must have bought the ticket already.

OR

USED TO + Verb

HAVE TO + Verb

HAVE GOT TO + Verb

BE ABLE TO + Verb

OUGHT TO + Verb

BE SUPPOSED TO + Verb

Examples:

• I used to think that all dogs have fleas.
  
• I am supposed to come back next week.

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