Lesson

Beginners

8. WHAT ARE AUXILIARY VERBS?

A verb is called an auxiliary verb or helping verb when it helps another

verb form one of its tenses (see What is Meant by Tense?, p. 58).

When it is used alone, it functions as a main verb.)

Mary is a girl.

I

aul has a headache.

He has been gone two weeks.

is

has

has

been

gone

main verb

main verb

auxiliary verb

auxiliary verb

main verb

IJSH

are many auxiliary verbs, for example, to have, to be, and to do,

as a series of auxiliary words such as will, would, may, must,

tmnLd which are used to change the meaning of the main verb.

msxiliary verb is used primarily to indicate the tense of the main

            past, future).

a7 ~ reading a book.

a, be

present

past

future

            verb to do is used to help formulate questions and to

~ ‘rgative (see What are Declarative and Interrog-

a?, p. 50 and What are Affirmative and Negative

t~p.47).

real Spanish?

real Spanish.

Interrogative sentence

negative sentence

that can be used as auxiliary verbs: haber (to

            —        (to be). The other auxiliaries such as do,

.rlddo not exist as separate words. In Spanish

either by a different structure or by the

tY~ will find more on this topic under the dif-

A verb tense composed of an auxiliary verb plus a main verb is called

a compound tense, as opposed to a simple tense which is a tense com-

posed of only the main verb.

Julia estudia.

simple tense

present of estudiar

Julia studies.

Julia ha estudiado.

            I           I

            auxililary         main

            verb     verb

compound tense

present perfect tense of estudiar

Julia has studied.

Let us look at some examples of the compound tenses you will

encounter in your study of Spanish.

PERFECT TENSES—The auxiliary verb haber (to have) followed by the

past participle of the main verb is used to form the many perfect

tenses (see p. 67 in What is a Participle? and What are the Perfect

Tenses?, p. 82).

present perfect tense —* present tense of haber + past participle of

main verb

El hombre ha comido demasiado.

            auxiliary          main verb

            haber   corner

The man has eaten too much.

•           past perfect tense —* imperfect tense of haber + past particple &

main verb

Los estudiantes ya habian Ilegado.

I I

                                    auxiliary          main verb

                                    baber   Ilegar

The students had already arrived.

You will learn other perfect tenses as your study of Spanish prui.

gresses.

PROGRESSIVE TENSES—The auxiliary verb estar (to be) followed 1w

present participle of the main verb is used to form the pro

tenses (see p. 66 in What is a Participle? and What are the Pruipr

sive Tenses?, p. 70).

•           present progressive tense —* present tense of estar + present par-

ticiple of main verb

Estoy leyendo un libro ahora.

            I           I

            auxiliary          main verb

            estar    leer

lam reading a book now.

•           imperfect progressive tense —i imperfect tense of estar + present

participle of main verb 

Estibamos escuchando la radio.

            I           I

            auxiliary          main verb

            estar    escuchar

We were listening to the radio.

You will learn other progressive tenses as you continue your Spanish

studies.

PASSIVE VOICE—The auxiliary verb ser (to be) is used to form the true

passive voice (see What is Meant by Active and Passive Voice?,

p. 97).

El puente fue construido por los romanos.

auxiliary main verb

            ser       construir

The bridge was cons tructed by the Romans.