AUXILIARY (HELPING) VERBS

NOTE:

	auxiliary verb	main verb
I	have	lost	my keys.
She	can’t	come	to the party.
The hotel	was	built	ten years ago.
Where	do you	live?

You can use an auxiliary verb when you don’t want to repeat something:

“Have you locked the door? ” “Yes, I have. ” (=I have locked the door)

George wasn’t working, but Janet was. (=Janet was working)

 

Use do/does/did for the present and past simple.

“Do you like onions? ” “Yes, I do. ” (=I like onions)

“Does Simon live in London? ” “He did, but he doesn’t any more.

 

You can use auxiliary verbs to deny what somebody says (=say it is not true):

“You’re sitting in my place.” “No, I’ mnot. ” (=I’m not sitting in your place)

“You didn’t lock the door before you left.” “Yes, I did. ” (=I locked the door)

 

We use have you? /isn’t she? /do they? etc. to show interest in what somebody has said or to show surprise:

“I’ve just seen Simon? ” “Oh, have you? How is he? ”

“It rained every day during our holiday.” “ Did it? What a pity! ”

“Jim and Nora are getting married.” “ Are they? Really? ”

 

After some verbs you can use so when you don’t want to repeat something.

‘Are those people English? ” “ I think so. ’ (=I think they are English)

“Will you be at home this evening? ” “ I expect so. ” (=I expect I’ll be at home)

 

Affirmative form	Negative form
I think so / I expect so	I don’t think so / I don’t expect so
I hope so / I’m afraid so / I guess so	I hope not / I’m afraid not / I guess not
I suppose so	I don’t suppose / I suppose not

 

“Is this woman American? ” “ I think so. / I don’t think so. ”

“Do you think it will rain? ” “ I hope so. / I hope not. ”

9.	Complete each sentence with an auxiliary verb. Sometimes the verb must be negative.

 

Example: I wasn’t tired, but my friends were.

 

1. I like hot water, but Ann ______.

2. “Is Collin here? ” “ He ______ five minutes ago, but I think he’s gone home now.”

3. Liz said she might phone later this evening, but I don’t think she ______.

4. “Are you and Chris coming to the party? ” “I ______, but Chris ______.”

5. I don’t know whether to apply for the job or not. Do you think I ______?

6. “Please, don’t tell anybody what I said.” “Don’t worry, I ______.”

7. “You never listen to me! ” “Yes, I ______! ”

8. “Can you play a musical instrument? ” “No, but I wish I ______.”

9. “Please, help me.” “I’m sorry. I ______ if I ______, but I ______.”

 

10.	You never agree with John. Answer in the way shown.

 

John	You
I’m hungry.	Are you? I’m not.
I’m not tired.
I like football.
I didn’t enjoy the film.
I’ve never been to Australia.
I thought the exam was easy.

 

11.	You are talking to Alex. If you are in the same position as Alex, reply with So … or Neither … as in the first example. Otherwise, ask questions as in the second example.

 

Alex	You
I’m feeling tired.	So am I.
I work hard.	Do you? What do you do?
I watched television last night.
I won’t be at home tomorrow.
I like reading. I read a lot.
I’d like to live somewhere else.
I can’t go out tonight.

12.	In these conversations you are B. read the information in brackets and then answer with I think so, I hope not etc.

1. (You don’t like rain.)

A: Do you think it will rain? B: (hope) I hope not.

2. (You need more money quickly.)

A: Do you think you’ll get a pay rise soon? B: (hope) _____________________

3. (You think Diane will probably get the job that she applied for.)

A: Do you think Diane will get the job? B: (expect) ______________________

4. (You are not sure whether Barbara is married – probably not.)

A: Is Barbara married? B: (think) _____________________________________

5. (You are the receptionist at a hotel. The hotel is full.)

A: Have you got a room for tonight? B: (afraid) _________________________

6. (You are at a party. You have to leave early.)

A: Do you have to leave already? B: (afraid) ____________________________

7. (Ann normally works every day, Monday to Friday. Tomorrow is Wednesday.)

A: Is Ann working tomorrow? B: (suppose) ____________________________

8. (You are going to a party. You can’t stand John.)

A: Do you think John will be at the party? B: (hope) _____________________

9. (You are not sure what time the concert is – probably 7.30.)

A: Is the concert at 7.30? B: (think) ___________________________________