Explanation
Exercises
Helping Verbs (Auxiliaries): functions & common patterns
B1 Upper-Intermediate Agreement · Emphasis · Tags

What are helping verbs?

  • Core be, have, do
  • Modals can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must
  • They build questions, negatives, short answers, tags, emphasis, agreement (so / neither), and avoid repetition.

In speech we usually stress the auxiliary for emphasis: I did call you.

Agreeing with statements: so & neither/nor

MeaningFormExample
Agree with an affirmative So + aux + subject “I love jazz.” → So do I. • “Tom has finished.” → So has Gina.
Agree with a negative Neither/Nor + aux + subject “I’m not going.” → Neither am I. • “I didn’t enjoy it.” → Neither did we.
No auxiliary in the first clause Use do/does/did “She likes tea.” → So does Ben. • “We didn’t go.” → Neither did they.

Informal alternatives: Me too / Me neither (no inversion). After neither/nor we invert (Neither do I), not *Neither I do.

Word choice tips

  • Neither vs. nor Neither and nor are both fine; keep inversion: Neither can I / Nor can I.
  • Too / either After full clauses: I love it, too. • I don’t, either.

Disagreeing (contradicting the polarity)

  • Negative → Positive aux: “I’m not going.” → I am.
  • Positive → Negative aux: “You’ll be early.” → No, I won’t.
  • “I didn’t like it.” → I did. • “He can swim.” → He can’t.

You can add Yes/No for attitude: Yes, I did. / No, I didn’t.

Avoiding repetition (ellipsis)

Repeat only the auxiliary (or use do/does/did if there isn’t one):

  • I don’t like spas, but my wife does.
  • I thought I had lost my keys, but I hadn’t.
  • Tom can play the guitar and Tina can’t.
  • She agrees, but I don’t.

Reply (echo) questions for interest/surprise

Copy the same auxiliary and polarity from the previous sentence; if none, use do/does/did.

  • “Sarah hasn’t passed.” → Hasn’t she?
  • “I can join later.” → Can you?
  • “She left early.” → Did she?
  • “I won’t make it.” → Won’t you?

Emphasis with auxiliaries

Stress the auxiliary to insist or correct. In present/past simple affirmative, add do/does/did for emphasis.

  • I am going to the party.
  • I did call you yesterday.
  • She does speak Spanish—she lived there.

Question tags (checking information)

Main clauseTagExample
Positive verb Negative tag He is from Liverpool, isn’t he? • You have done it, haven’t you?
Negative verb Positive tag You don’t drive, do you? • She wasn’t there, was she?
No auxiliary in clause Use do/does/did Lisa went by train, didn’t she?

Special forms

  • I am…, aren’t I? (fixed form)
  • Let’s go, shall we? (suggestions)
  • Open the window, will you? (requests/imperatives)

Use the same subject as a pronoun in the tag, and the same auxiliary as the main verb.

Short answers

  • Yes/No + subject + aux Yes, I am. • No, she isn’t.
  • Do not answer with the full verb: not *Yes, I like, but Yes, I do.

Order when auxiliaries stack

OrderBuildExample
Modal → have → be → main modal + perfect + progressive/passive She might have been waiting. • It will be finished.

Negatives and questions attach to the first auxiliary: might not have been… / Will it be finished?

Common pitfalls to avoid

  • ❌ Double negative agreement: I don’t like it, neither I don’t. → ✔ I don’t like it—neither do I.
  • ❌ No inversion after so/neither: So I do. → ✔ So do I.
  • ❌ Full verb in tags/answers: You went, do you? / Yes, I like. → ✔ …didn’t you? / Yes, I do.
  • ❌ Wrong polarity in tags: She isn’t here, isn’t she? → ✔ She isn’t here, is she?
Exercises:
1
2
3

Helping Verbs (Auxiliaries): Functions & Uses

1
A: I can’t swim. B: Neither I.
2
A: I’ve finished the report. B: you?
3
A: Let’s take a break, we?
4
I carry that for you?
5
I appreciate your help!
6
The invitations been sent already.
7
She waiting for you all morning.
8
Why you think it’s a good idea?
9
A: Are you coming to the meeting? B: Yes, I .
10
Don’t worry, I call you back as soon as I can.

Helping Verbs (Auxiliaries): Functions & Uses

1
I love cheese, but my husband ______. He hates it.
A.
B.
C.
D.
2
A: Is it OK if we stay tonight? B: Yes, ______.
A.
B.
C.
D.
3
A: I won't say anything. B: Neither ______.
A.
B.
C.
4
_____ you finished the report yet?
A.
B.
C.
D.
5
Where ______ you going?
A.
B.
C.
D.
6
She ______ seen the new policy, has she?
A.
B.
C.
D.
7
How often ______ he exercise?
A.
B.
C.
D.
8
— Have you met our new manager? — Yes, I ______.
A.
B.
C.
D.
9
You ______ be so rude!
A.
B.
C.
D.
10
If you need anything, call me — I ______ help.
A.
B.
C.
D.

Helping Verbs (Auxiliaries): Functions & Uses

1
ALEX: So, you just moved to London, haven’t you?
2
MIA: Yes, I . I’m still getting used to the tube.
3
ALEX: Where you working now?
4
MIA: I working with the data team on the 5th floor.
5
ALEX: you ever worked remotely?
6
MIA: No, I , but I’m keen to learn.
7
ALEX: We be hiring remote engineers next quarter.
8
MIA: That be interesting; I love big projects.
9
ALEX: If you need any help, I show you around the dashboards.
10
MIA: Thanks! And we meeting the team at noon, right?