5 Easy Steps to Identify a Helping Verb in a Sentence

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 11 July 2023 5 min read

When it comes to mastering the intricacies of the English language, understanding the role of helping verbs is a great starting point. These linguistic assistants may look small and insignificant, but they play a crucial role in shaping the meaning of sentences. The question, "which sentence contains a helping verb", often pops up in English quizzes and tests, making it a must-know topic for students and language enthusiasts alike. In this blog, we'll journey through 5 easy steps to help you confidently identify a helping verb in any sentence.

Step 1: Recognize the Verb in the Sentence

Before we dive into identifying helping verbs, it's important to first recognize what a verb is in a sentence. Verbs are the action kings and queens of the sentence, they tell us what is happening. They can also be linking verbs, connecting the subject to the rest of the sentence. Let's explore further.

Look for Action Words

Action words are a telltale sign that you've stumbled upon a verb. These words represent physical or mental activities like run, think, swim, or dream. If you're asking the question, "which sentence contains a helping verb", start by identifying the action word. For instance, in the sentence, "Jamie is running the marathon", 'running' is the action verb.

Identify Linking Verbs

Not all verbs represent action. Some verbs, known as linking verbs, connect the subject of a sentence to additional information about the subject. Common linking verbs include 'is', 'are', 'was', 'were', 'seem', and 'become'. For example, in the sentence, "The sky is blue", 'is' is the linking verb connecting the subject 'sky' to the information that it's 'blue'.

Spot Verbs in Command Sentences

Sometimes, verbs command rather than describe an action or state of being. These are often found in command sentences, where the subject is implied rather than stated. Examples include "Stop!" or "Listen!". In these sentences, 'stop' and 'listen' are the verbs, even though there's no clear subject. Recognizing these verbs is the first step in identifying whether a sentence contains a helping verb.

Step 2: Distinguish Main Verbs from Helping Verbs

Once you've recognized the verbs in a sentence, the next step in answering "which sentence contains a helping verb" is to distinguish between main verbs and helping verbs. While every sentence must contain a main verb, not all sentences contain helping verbs.

Understand Verb Phrases

A verb phrase consists of a main verb and one or more helping verbs. The main verb carries the primary meaning of the sentence, while the helping verb (or verbs) provides additional information about the main verb's tense, mood, or voice. For example, in the sentence, "She has been writing a novel", 'writing' is the main verb and 'has been' are the helping verbs that indicate the action is ongoing.

Look for Singular and Plural Verbs

Helping verbs often change form to match the number of the subject. They can help you determine whether the subject is singular or plural. For instance, in the sentence, "They are studying for the test", 'are' is a helping verb that matches with the plural subject 'they'. In contrast, in the sentence, "He is studying for the test", 'is' is a helping verb that matches with the singular subject 'he'.

By distinguishing between main verbs and helping verbs, you're one step closer to confidently identifying which sentence contains a helping verb. But don't stop here, there's more to learn in the next step!

Step 3: Analyze the Sentence Structure

After distinguishing main verbs from helping verbs, your quest to answer "which sentence contains a helping verb" takes you to the third step - analyzing the sentence structure. Let's break it down into two parts:

Identify Complete Verbs

A complete verb is the main verb along with its helping verbs. Identifying complete verbs can be a game-changer in understanding which sentence contains a helping verb. For example, in the sentence, "I will be visiting my grandparents", 'will be visiting' is the complete verb. 'Visiting' is the main verb, while 'will be' are the helping verbs.

Note the Verb Placement

The placement of verbs in a sentence can also offer clues. A helping verb typically comes before the main verb. For instance, in the sentence, "She could play the guitar", 'could' is the helping verb that comes before the main verb 'play'.

By analyzing the sentence structure, you're not only closer to identifying which sentence contains a helping verb but also gaining a deeper understanding of how sentences are constructed. Ready for the next step? Let's continue to practice with examples!

Step 4: Practice with Examples

Now that we’ve learned how to recognize verbs and analyze sentence structure, it’s time to strengthen these skills. The best way to do so? Practice, practice, and more practice. Let's dive in!

Use Online Verb Identification Tools

There are several online tools available that can assist you in identifying verbs in sentences. Tools like "English Grammar 101" and "Grammar Monster" can be beneficial for practicing. These tools often provide sentences for you to practice on and then check your answers. For example, you can enter the sentence "She has been running for an hour" and the tool will identify 'has been running' as the verb phrase, with 'running' as the main verb and 'has been' as the helping verbs.

Practice with Workbooks

Another great way to practice identifying verbs is by using workbooks like "Scholastic Success With Grammar" or "The Blue Book of Grammar and Punctuation". These books provide a wealth of exercises that can help you practice identifying which sentences contain helping verbs. They break down complex concepts into easy-to-understand explanations and provide plenty of examples for you to practice on.

Remember, the more you practice, the more natural it will become to spot helping verbs in sentences. Now that we've honed our skills, it's time to review and apply our knowledge. Are you ready to put your skills to the test?

Step 5: Review and Apply Your Knowledge

Alright, you've done the legwork, practiced, and now it's time to put your helping verb identifying skills to the test. This is the stage where you get to see how far you've come and how much you've learned. Let's get to it!

Test Your Understanding

Start by writing down a few sentences of your own and then identifying the helping verbs. Ask yourself "Which sentence contains a helping verb?" For instance, if you write, 'I am eating an apple', 'am' is your helping verb. If you write, 'They will be traveling to New York next week,' 'will be' are your helping verbs. Testing yourself is a great way to reinforce what you've learned.

Apply Your Knowledge in Real Life

Next, start applying your knowledge in real-life situations. When you're reading a book, try to identify the helping verbs in a sentence. If you're listening to a song, see if you can spot the helping verbs in the lyrics. The goal is to make this knowledge second nature to you.

Another way to apply your knowledge is by teaching someone else. If you have a younger sibling or a friend who is struggling with this concept, try teaching them. Not only will this solidify your understanding, but it's also a great way to help someone else out.

Remember, the key to mastering any skill is practice and application. Keep working at it, and soon, identifying helping verbs will be a breeze. So, which sentence will you analyze next?

If you're interested in taking your understanding of language and grammar even further, check out the workshop 'Scriptwriting' by Jessy Moussallem. This workshop will help you apply your knowledge of helping verbs and other language components to create compelling scripts and stories for various types of media.