Auxiliary Verbs

An auxiliary is a ‘helping verb’, used to make the form of another verb. The following is the list of auxiliaries.

Example: Be, May, Might, Ought, Have, Shall, Should, Used, Do, Will, Would, Need, Can, Could, Must, Dare

Exercises of Auxiliary Verbs:
Exercise 1: Choose the correct form of the verbs:

1. Why did you walk all the way from the station you could phone/could have phoned for a lift.
2. I loved staying with my grandparents when I was a child. They let me read all the books in the house and told me I could/was able to go to bed at late as I wanted.
3. This carpet was priced at Rs. 500, but I could/was able to get a discount because of this little mark in the corner.
4. I couldn’t have found/ haven’t been able to find my diary for days. It’s terribly inconvenient.
5. As soon as she opened the door I could/was able to see from her face that something terrible has happened.

Exercise 2: Answer the following questions with suitable suggestions, using may or might and the words in brackets.

Terry: Why is John wearing sunglasses? It’s not sunny.
You: (have some problem with his eyes)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Jill: Why didn’t Jane come to the party last night?
You: (have a row with her boyfriend)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………

Sue: Why is Alan in such a bad mood today?
You: (sleep badly last night)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Roy: Why is Shelley looking under the desk?
You: (drop something)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….

Jill: Where can I have put my bag?
You: (be under the bed)
……………………………………………………………………………………………………….