Auxiliary Verbs

Auxiliaries here are used both alone and as part of various tenses of ordinary verbs.

Read the following (a) in the negative (b) in the interrogative. These sentences, except for nos. I and 13, could also be used for question tag exercises (see Exercise 13).

Note:

1 may for possibility rarely begins a sentence. Instead we use do you think (that) + present/future or is + subject + likely + infinitive:

Tom may know.

Do you think (that) Tom knows?
Is Tom likely to know?

2 Use needn't as the negative of must.

1 It may cost Ј100.

2 Men should help with the housework.

3 Tom would pay her.

4 They could play the guitar.

5 We're seeing Mary tomorrow.

6 She ought to keep it in the f ridge.

7 You can understand it.

8 The police were watching the house.

9 You can go with him.

10 They've got a house.

11 Your boss will be angry.

12 Tom should pay the fine.

13 They may come tonight.

14 They were cleaning their shoes.

15 He must write in French.

16 You have read the instructions.

17 These pearls are made by oysters.

18 The ice was thick enough to walk on.

19 This will take a long time.

20 They may (permission) take the car.

21 You've made a mistake.

22 Ann would like a skiing holiday.

23  We must do it at once.

24  Tom could come.

25  They were in a hurry.

26  There is enough salt in it.

27  You could see the sea from the house.

28  Ann will be able to drive you.

29  They had written to him.

30  We must cook it in butter.

31  It is freezing.

32  She ought to accept the offer.

33  There'11 be time for tea.

34  I'm right.

35  He may be at home.

36  He used to live here.

2 Auxiliary verbs

Exercise 6 Negative answers in each case: the auxiliary verb + not. not is usually contracted and added to the verb, e.g. may not/mayn't cost. will + not is contracted to won't, can + not is contracted to can't.

Interrogative answers, except for 1, 13 and 19, are in the following form: auxiliary verb + subject + infinitive, e.g. Should they eat less?

1 Is it likely to cost/Do you think it will cost? 13 Are they likely to come/Do you think they will come? 19 Is he likely to be at home/Do you think he'll be at home