{"appState":{"pageLoadApiCallsStatus":true},"articleState":{"article":{"headers":{"creationTime":"2017-08-16T15:40:15+00:00","modifiedTime":"2017-08-16T15:40:15+00:00","timestamp":"2022-09-14T18:19:38+00:00"},"data":{"breadcrumbs":[{"name":"Academics & The Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33662"},"slug":"academics-the-arts","categoryId":33662},{"name":"Language & Language Arts","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33687"},"slug":"language-language-arts","categoryId":33687},{"name":"Grammar & Vocabulary","_links":{"self":"https://dummies-api.dummies.com/v2/categories/33688"},"slug":"grammar-vocabulary","categoryId":33688}],"title":"Creating a Time Frame with Helping Verbs","strippedTitle":"creating a time frame with helping verbs","slug":"creating-time-frame-helping-verbs","canonicalUrl":"","seo":{"metaDescription":"You've probably noticed that some verbs are single words and others are made up of several words. 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Creating a Time Frame with Helping Verbs

By: Geraldine Woods and

Updated: 08-16-2017

From The Book: English Grammar For Dummies

English Grammar For Dummies

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You've probably noticed that some verbs are single words and others are made up of several words. The extra words are called helping verbs. They don't carry out the trash or dust the living room, but they do help the main verb express meaning, usually changing the time, or tense, of the action.

Helping verbs often signal when the action or state of being is occurring. Here are some sentences with helping verbs that create a time line:

Alice will sing five arias from that opera tomorrow evening.

Sing is the main verb, and will is a helping verb. Will places the action at some point in the future.

Gwen had moved the vase, but the baseball hit it anyway.

Moved is the main verb, and had is a helping verb. Hit is a main verb without any helping verbs. Had places the action of moving sometime in the past.

Bob and Ellen are admiring Lola's new tattoo.

Admiring is the main verb, and are is a helping verb. Are places the action in the present.

About This Article

This article is from the book:

English Grammar For Dummies ,

About the book author:

Geraldine Woods has more than 35 years of teaching experience. She is the author of more than 50 books, including English Grammar Workbook For Dummies and Research Papers For Dummies.

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Grammar & Vocabulary ,

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