Auxiliary Verbs

A verb that determines the mood, tense, or aspect of another verb in a verb
phrase. Auxiliary verbs always precede main verbs within a verb phrase.
The basic auxiiliary verbs are:
Be, Do, Did, Does, Used to
-To Be
Am I too young? - In this case Am (to be) is the auxiliar verb

She is not old enough

- Do/ Do not

Do you know him? - Do is an auxiliar verb that expresses a question about the
currently time.

I do not want to go home- Do also can be used in a negative form never for the past
tense.
-Does/ does not

Does she know you? - Does means the same that Do, but it is used to express
questions When the pronouns are He/She/It.

-Did/ Did not

Did you go to school yesterday? - Did refers to a past tense.

I did not know him= Didn't. It Can also be used to express negativa form.

-Used to
I used to go to Cuiaba when I was 8 years old. Used to explain about something that you
did or happened often and continuous in your life, but it had stopped do anymore.
What are Modal Verbs?
Modal verbs are special verbs which behave very differently from normal verbs. Here are
some important differences:
1. Modal verbs do not take "-s" in the third person.
- She should be here by 9:00.
2. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.
- He should not be late.
3. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.
- He will can go with us. -Not Correct

It is because will is also an auxiiliary verb and you aren't able to put two auxiliary verbs
together one following another.

Modal Verb

Must

Expressing
Strong Obligation
Logical Conclusion /
Certainty

Example
You must stop when the traffic
lights turn red.
He must be very tired. He's been
working all day long.

Must Not

Prohibition

You must not smoke in the hospital.

I can swim.

Can

Ability
Permission
Possibility

Could

Ability In The Past

Polite Permission
Possibility

Can I use your phone please?

Smoking can cause cancer.
When I was younger I could run
fast.
Excuse me, could I just say
something?
It could rain tomorrow!

May

Permission
Possibility, Probability

Might

Polite Permission
Possibility, Probability

Need Not

Lack Of
Necessity/Absence Of
Obligation

Should/Ought To

Had Better

50 % Obligation
Advice
Logical Conclusion

Advice

May I use your phone please?

It may rain tomorrow!
Might I suggest an idea?
I might go on holiday to Australia
next year.
I need not buy tomatoes. There are
plenty of tomatoes in the fridge.
I should / ought to see a doctor. I
have a terrible headache.
You should / ought to revise your
lessons
He should / ought to be very tired.
He's been working all day long.
You 'd better revise your lessons