##  [Auxiliary verbs](/hypergrammar-2/auxiliary-verbs)

##  Avertissement

Ce contenu est offert en anglais seulement.

The most common auxiliary verbs are *be*, *do* and *have*; these [verbs](what-is-a-verb) may also be used on their own. *Will* and *shall* express future time.

In each of the following examples, a verb commonly used as an auxiliary verb appears as a [simple predicate](subject-and-predicate#simplepredicate):

- She *is* the chief engineer.
- The tea cups *are* in the china cabinet.
- Garth *does* this kind of thing frequently.
- I *do* the laundry every second week.
- I can’t complete my progress report because the project manager still *has* my notes.
- They *have* several kinds of gelato in the display case.

Other common auxiliaries are *can*, *could*, *may*, *might*, *must*, *ought*, *should*, *will* and *would*. Verbs like these are called <a id="modalauxiliary">modal auxiliaries</a> and express necessity, obligation or possibility.

The highlighted word in each of the following [sentences](subject-and-predicate) is a modal auxiliary:

- Bridget was pleased to learn that she *could* take several days off.
- The 11-year-old girl told her neighbours that she *would* walk their dog for an appropriate fee.
- Henry told Eliza that she *ought* to have the hole in the canoe fixed.
- The principal told the students that the school board *might* introduce a dress code.
- According to my hairdresser, we *must* leave this goo in our hair for twenty minutes.

One or more words may separate an auxiliary from the verb that goes with it, as in the following sentences:

- They *have* not *delivered* the documents on time.
- The treasure chest *was* never *discovered*.
- The health department *has* recently *decided* that all children should be immunized against meningitis.
- *Will* you *walk* the dog tonight?
- The lead ballet dancer *was* rapidly and gracefully *pirouetting* about the stage.

##  Avis de droit d’auteur pour l’outil HyperGrammar 2

© Département d’anglais, Faculté des arts, Université d’Ottawa
Un outil mis en ligne par le Bureau de la traduction, Services publics et Approvisionnement Canada

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## Liens connexes

- [HyperGrammar 2](/fr/hypergrammar-2/index-fra) (page d’accueil)
- [Outils d’aide à la rédaction](/fr/outils-tools/index-fra)
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