English Auxiliary Verbs | Be Have Do | You NEED to Understand This!!

Summary

In this lesson from Mad English TV, the focus is on understanding how to use the verbs 'be,' 'have,' and 'do' to master English verb tenses. The presenter explains the dual functions of these verbs as both helping and main verbs. Using examples, the lesson illustrates how helping verbs clarify meaning in verb tenses and prevent confusion. By breaking down various tenses, such as the present perfect continuous, the lesson demonstrates how essential it is to properly use these verbs for clarity. Viewers are encouraged to practice by creating sentences with each verb.

Takeaways

• 😀 Understanding the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'do' is crucial for mastering English verb tenses.
• 😀 Each of the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'do' has two functions: as a helping verb or a main verb.
• 😀 Verb conjugation involves changing the form of verbs like 'am', 'are', 'is', and 'have' to match the subject.
• 😀 The verb 'be' can act as a helping verb, as in 'are going', or as a main verb, such as in 'she is hungry'.
• 😀 The verb 'have' can be a helping verb (e.g., 'have eaten') or a main verb, meaning possession, experience, or consumption.
• 😀 The verb 'do' can serve as a helping verb (e.g., 'do you like cake?') or as a main verb, meaning to perform an action (e.g., 'I do well on exams').
• 😀 Verb tenses are often misunderstood because of incorrect or missing helping verbs, leading to confusion about time frames.
• 😀 The correct usage of helping verbs is essential for expressing clear meaning in sentences like 'I have been studying English for two years'.
• 😀 Mistakes with verb tenses are common, even for learners worldwide, but understanding the function of these verbs simplifies the process.
• 😀 The lesson emphasizes the importance of mastering the three verbs 'be', 'have', and 'do' as they are fundamental to constructing correct verb tenses.

Q & A

What is the main focus of this lesson?

The lesson focuses on understanding how to use the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'do' correctly in English, which is essential for mastering verb tenses.

How are the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'do' conjugated in English?

The verb 'be' is conjugated as 'I am', 'you are', 'he is', 'we are', 'they are'. The verb 'have' is conjugated as 'I have', 'you have', 'he has', etc. The verb 'do' is conjugated as 'I do', 'you do', 'he does', etc.

What does the instructor emphasize about the verb 'be'?

The instructor highlights that 'be' does not appear in some forms of conjugation like 'have' or 'do', but it is crucial to understand that these are all conjugations of 'be'.

What are the two functions of the verbs 'be', 'have', and 'do'?

These verbs can function as helping verbs (auxiliary verbs) or as main verbs in a sentence.

Can you give an example of 'be' functioning as a helping verb?

Yes, in the sentence 'The kids are going to bed', 'are' is the helping verb, and 'going' is the main verb.

How can 'be' function as a main verb?

As a main verb, 'be' can serve as a linking verb, as in 'She is hungry', where 'is' links the subject 'She' to the predicate 'hungry'.

What are some examples of 'have' as a main verb?

'Have' as a main verb can mean possession ('I have a thousand dollars'), experience ('We had a nice picnic'), or consumption ('We had pizza yesterday').

What is the role of 'do' in the sentence 'I do well on multiple choice exams'?

In this sentence, 'do' is a main verb that means to perform or achieve something, indicating that the person performs well on exams.

Why is it important to use helping verbs correctly in English sentences?

Helping verbs are essential to clarify the time, aspect, and meaning of an action. Without them, sentences might be confusing or unclear, as seen in the incorrect sentence 'I study English for two years'.

What is the significance of the sentence 'I have been studying English for two years' in terms of verb tenses?

This sentence uses two helping verbs ('have' and 'been') along with the main verb ('studying'), forming the present perfect continuous tense, which indicates an action that began in the past and continues into the present.