The Auxiliary Verb

1 THE Auxiliary verb Recognize an Auxiliary verb when you see one. Every sentence must have a verb . To depict doable activities, writers use action verbs. To describe conditions, writers choose linking verbs. Sometimes an action or condition occurs just once bang! and it's over. N a t e s t u b b e d h i s t o e . He is m i s e r a b l e w i t h p a i n . Other times, the activity or condition continues over a long stretch of time, happens predictably, or occurs in relationship to other events. In these instances, a single-word verb like stubbed or is cannot accurately describe what happened, so writers use multipart verb phrases to communicate what they mean. As many as four words can comprise a verb phrase. A main or base verb indicates the type of action or condition, and Auxiliary or helping verbs convey the other nuances that writers want to express. Read these three examples: S h e r y l e e s m a c k e d h e r l i p s a s r a s p b e r r y j e l l y d r i p p e d f r o m t h e d o n u t o n t o h e r w h i t e s h i r t.

6 The double bacon cheeseburger was being devoured by Frank. His enjoyment was envied by everyone. Notice how wordy and clunky passive voice is! Now you know why English teachers

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