Introduction to Auxiliaries

Introduction to Auxiliary Verbs

ଅକ୍ସିଲିଆରି ଭର୍ବଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟାକୁ ସାହାଯ୍ୟ କରନ୍ତି ଏବଂ ଏହାର କାଳ ବା ଅନ୍ୟ ଅର୍ଥ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରନ୍ତି। ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା ପୂର୍ବରୁ ଆସନ୍ତି।

An auxiliary verb (ସହାୟକ କ୍ରିୟା), also known as a helping verb, is a verb that comes before the main verb (ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା) in a sentence. Its primary role is to help the main verb express its tense (କାଳ), aspect, mood, voice, or other modalities of expression such as ability, permission, compulsion, obligation, or desirability. An auxiliary verb never stands alone as the only verb in a multi-word verb phrase; it always accompanies a main verb. [[1]], [[4]]

For example, in the sentence "Shekhar and Kabir have known each other," 'have' is the auxiliary verb, and 'known' is the main verb. Similarly, in "We are going on a picnic," 'are' is the auxiliary, and 'going' is the main verb. [[1]]

Kinds of Auxiliary Verbs

ଅକ୍ସିଲିଆରି ଭର୍ବ ମୁଖ୍ୟତଃ ଦୁଇ ପ୍ରକାରର: ପ୍ରାଇମେରୀ (ମୁଖ୍ୟ) ଏବଂ ମୋଡାଲ (ଭାବ ପ୍ରକାଶକ)।

Auxiliary verbs are broadly categorized into two main types: Primary Auxiliaries and Modal Auxiliaries. [[1]], [[3]], [[4]]

1. Primary Auxiliaries

ପ୍ରାଇମେରୀ ଅକ୍ସିଲିଆରିଗୁଡ଼ିକ ହେଉଛି 'be', 'have', ଏବଂ 'do'। ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା ଭାବରେ ମଧ୍ୟ ବ୍ୟବହୃତ ହୋଇପାରନ୍ତି।

The primary auxiliary verbs are be, have, and do. [[2]], [[3]], [[4]] A unique characteristic of these verbs is that they can also function as main verbs when they are the only verb in a sentence. [[3]], [[4]]

When be, have, and do act as auxiliaries, they perform specific functions:

• Be verbs (am, is, are, was, were):

  • Used to form progressive tenses, followed by the -ing form of the main verb. Example: "Sabita is getting into the bus." [[2]], [[7]]
  • Used to form the passive voice, followed by the -en (past participle) form of the main verb. Example: "The essay is written." [[2]], [[5]]

• Have verbs (has, have, had):

  • Used to form perfect tenses, followed by the -en (past participle) form of the main verb, indicating completion of an action. Example: "He has written the essay." [[2]], [[5]]

• Do verbs (do, does, did):

  • Primarily used to form negative sentences and interrogative (question) sentences. Example: "You do not do your homework regularly." "Do you know Ajay?" [[1]], [[2]], [[4]]

2. Modal Auxiliaries

ମୋଡାଲ ଅକ୍ସିଲିଆରିଗୁଡ଼ିକ ସାମର୍ଥ୍ୟ, ଅନୁମତି, ବାଧ୍ୟତା, ଇଚ୍ଛା ଇତ୍ୟାଦି ଭାବ ପ୍ରକାଶ କରନ୍ତି। ଏଗୁଡ଼ିକ ମୁଖ୍ୟ କ୍ରିୟା ଭାବରେ କାର୍ଯ୍ୟ କରନ୍ତି ନାହିଁ।

Modal auxiliaries (will, would, shall, should, may, might, can, could, must, ought to, need, dare, used to) express meanings such as necessity, obligation, advice, permission, certainty, or possibility. [[1]], [[2]], [[3]], [[4]] Unlike primary auxiliaries, modals generally do not act as main verbs. They have single forms for all subjects and do not change with the number or person of the subject. They are always followed by the bare infinitive (base form) of the main verb. [[6]]

Worked Example

Identify the auxiliary verbs and main verbs in the following sentences:

1. He is studying in our school.
2. His friend has never ridden a bicycle.
3. You do not do your homework regularly.
4. You may join us.

Solution:

1. is (Auxiliary), studying (Main Verb)
2. has (Auxiliary), ridden (Main Verb)
3. do (Auxiliary), do (Main Verb)
4. may (Auxiliary), join (Main Verb)

Notice that in sentence 3, 'do' appears twice; the first 'do' is an auxiliary for negation, and the second 'do' is the main verb meaning 'perform'. [[4]]