Auxiliary verb facts for kids
An Auxiliary verb is a special kind of verb that works with another verb. Think of it like a helper verb! The word "auxiliary" means "extra" or "different." These helper verbs are used to do things like ask a question, show when something happened (its tense), or change the voice of a sentence.
Auxiliary verbs are always used with a main verb that carries the sentence's main meaning.
How Auxiliary Verbs Help Other Verbs
Here are some examples of how auxiliary verbs are used in English, Spanish, German, and French. The auxiliary verb is in bold:
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- a. Do you want tea? – Here, do is an auxiliary verb. It helps turn the main verb want into a question.
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- b. He has given his all. – In this sentence, has is an auxiliary verb. It helps show that the action of "giving" happened in the past and is completed.
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- c. He cogido tu lápiz. – (This is Spanish) The word he is an auxiliary verb that works with the main verb coger (to grab/take). It helps form the "perfect present" tense, meaning the action just happened.
- (I) have grabbed your pencil = 'I have taken your pencil.'
- c. He cogido tu lápiz. – (This is Spanish) The word he is an auxiliary verb that works with the main verb coger (to grab/take). It helps form the "perfect present" tense, meaning the action just happened.
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- d. Das wurde mehrmals gesagt. – (This is German) The word wurde (became) is an auxiliary verb. It helps make the sentence passive, meaning the subject is receiving the action, not doing it.
- That became many times said = 'That was said many times.'
- d. Das wurde mehrmals gesagt. – (This is German) The word wurde (became) is an auxiliary verb. It helps make the sentence passive, meaning the subject is receiving the action, not doing it.
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- e. Sie ist nach Hause gegangen. – (This is German) The word ist (is) is an auxiliary verb. It's used with verbs that show movement to form the perfect tense, showing a completed action.
- She is to home gone = 'She went home/She has gone home.'
- e. Sie ist nach Hause gegangen. – (This is German) The word ist (is) is an auxiliary verb. It's used with verbs that show movement to form the perfect tense, showing a completed action.
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- f. J'ai vu le soleil. – (This is French) The word ai (have) is an auxiliary verb. It helps form the perfect tense, showing a completed action in the past.
- I have seen the sun = 'I have seen the sun/I saw the sun.'
- f. J'ai vu le soleil. – (This is French) The word ai (have) is an auxiliary verb. It helps form the perfect tense, showing a completed action in the past.
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- g. Nous sommes hébergés par un ami. – (This is French) The word sommes (are) is an auxiliary verb. It helps make the sentence passive, similar to the German example.
- We are hosted by a friend.
- g. Nous sommes hébergés par un ami. – (This is French) The word sommes (are) is an auxiliary verb. It helps make the sentence passive, similar to the German example.
See also
In Spanish: Verbo auxiliar para niños
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Auxiliary verb Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.