6060 main and helping verbs

Verbs that are made up of more than one word are verb phrases. In verb phrases, the main
verb names the action. The helping verb helps tell the time of the action. Some common helping
verbs are: has, have, had, am, is, are, was, were, be, been, do, does, did, can, could, will,
would, and should.

•

The main verb is always the last word in a verb phrase. (Animals are losing
habitats.)

•

There might be more than one helping verb in a verb phrase. (We should have
saved more wetlands.)

•

Helping verbs such as ‘is’, and ‘are’ show that action is happening in the present.
(Forests are cut down for wood.) ‘Was’ and ‘were’ show that the action has
happened in the past. (Once millions of acres of forest were standing in this area.)
‘Will’ show that the action is happening in the future. (Trees will disappear if we
don’t conserve them.)

Write the verb phrase in each sentence. Underline
the helping verb.
1. For years, people have given names to their pets.
2. Our rabbit is named Groucho.
3. Pets can perform wonderful tricks.
4. Groucho has entertained us for years.
5. He could become a standup comic.
6. Sometimes he will walk on his hind legs.

7. You could see his fluffy tail.
8. No one can resist his floppy ears.
9. Groucho is sitting on the carpet.
10. His ears are sticking up
11. He will be eating carrots soon.
12. We should have taken his picture yesterday.
13. He was looking cute all dressed up.

Write a helping verb from the box that can
complete each sentence.

should
does
are
can
is
had
am
will
be
have been

1. __________ your community have
a recycling centre.
2. People in our town ______ recycle paper,
glass, metal, and plastic if they want.
3. Recyclables _________ collected every
Thursday by special trucks.
4. I _______ carry out the blue recycling bin
after breakfast.

5. According to the guidelines, we _________
put the newspapers in paper bags.
6. The glass jars ______ washed already.
7. I wished that I __________ knowledge of
recycling years ago.
8.
I _______ pleased that recycling in done in
my town.
9. I wonder if there will _____ another centre in
the near future.
10. Look, the truck ______ coming now!


Write each verb phrase. Underline the helping verb or verbs twice
and the main verb once.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.

Write at least three main verbs for
each picture. An example is shown.

I am watching a show about animals.
Ginny has observed them at the zoo.
Those monkeys are grooming one another
The koala is sleeping in a tree.
Two colourful birds have been building a nest.
A giraffe has stretched its neck to the top of the branches.
Usually it would grab the highest leaves.
The elephants are playing in the water.
Their trunks can act like hoses.
The mother elephant has sprayed water on her babies.
No visitor should feed the animals at the zoo.
Zookeepers will give them the right food.

The bunny is
1. hopping

Circle the letter next to the words that correctly identify the
underlined words and words in the sentence.

A chick is
7. _________

a

2. ________
3. ________

b
Mary should

4. ________
5. ________
6. ________

8. _________
3. We can help wild animals in
many ways.

1. This will cause an imbalance in
the ecosystem.

i.
j.
k.
l.

a.
b.
c.
d.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

11. _________
12. _________

2. Some animals have lost their

food supply.

m.
n.
o.
p.

e.
f.
g.
h.

5. Every animal is playing a role in
the ecosystem.
q.
r.
s.
t.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

Sue was
d
10. _________

helping verb
main verb

verb phrase
not a verb

4. We should recognize the
importance of every animal.
helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

c 9. _________

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

A candle will
13. _________
14. _________

e

15. _________
Pedro had
f
16. _________
17. _________

I am so

cute!

18. _________
A pirate has
19. _________
20. _________

6. Some species could be
eliminated.
u.
v.
w.
x.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

g

21. _________
Samantha did
22. _________
23. _________
24. _________

h

Write the verb phrase in each sentence. Underline
the helping verb.
1. For years, people have given names to their
pets.
2. Our rabbit is named Groucho.
3. Pets can perform wonderful tricks.
4. Groucho has entertained us for years.
5. He could become a standup comic.
6. Sometimes he will walk on his hind legs.
7. You could see his fluffy tail.
8. No one can resist his floppy ears.
9. Groucho is sitting on the carpet.
10. His ears are sticking up
11. He will be eating carrots soon.
12. We should have taken his picture yesterday.
13. He was looking cute all dressed up.
Verbal phrase is highlighted.

Write each verb phrase. Underline the helping verb or verbs twice
and the main verb once.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.

11.
12.

I am watching a show about animals.
Ginny has observed them at the zoo.
Those monkeys are grooming one another
The koala is sleeping in a tree.
Two colourful birds have been building a nest.
A giraffe has stretched its neck to the top of the branches.
Usually it would grab the highest leaves.
The elephants are playing in the water.
Their trunks can act like hoses.
The mother elephant has sprayed water on her babies.
No visitor should feed the animals at the zoo.
Zookeepers will give them the right food.

Main verb is highlighted

ANSWERS WILL VARY

Write a helping verb from the box that can
complete each sentence.
1. __________ your community have a
recycling centre.
(Does)
2. People in our town ______ recycle paper,
glass, metal, and plastic if they want.
3. Recyclables _________ collected every
Thursday by special trucks. (are)
4. I _______ carry out the blue recycling bin

after breakfast. (will)
5.

According to the guidelines, we _________
put the newspapers in paper bags. (should)

6.

The glass jars ______ washed already.
(have been)

7.

I wished that I __________ knowledge of
recycling years ago. (had)

8.

I _______ pleased that recycling in done in
my town. (am)

9.

I wonder if there will _____ another centre in
the near future. (be)

10. Look, the truck ______ coming now! (is)
1.

We can help wild animals in many

ways.

a.
b.
c.
d.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

2.

We should recognize the importance
of every animal.

e.
f.
g.
h.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

3.

Every animal is playing a role in the

ecosystem.

i.
j.
k.
l.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

4.

Some species could be eliminated.

m.
n.
o.
p.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

5.

This will cause an imbalance in
the ecosystem.

n.
o.
p.
q.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb

6.

Some animals have lost their
food supply.

r.
s.
t.
u.

helping verb
main verb
verb phrase
not a verb