Auxiliary Verbs
Auxiliary Verbs
1
to avoid repeating the main verb / verb phrase, e.g.
NOT I like cats, but my husband doesn't like cats.
2
with so and neither to say that someone or something is the same.
Use so + auxiliary + subject to respond to a statement with a positive verb, and neither (or nor) + auxiliary + subject to respond to a statement with a negative verb.
We use a positive auxiliary verb after neither (or not), e.g. Neither did I.
NOT Neither didn't I.
3
with so and neither to say that someone or something is different.
4
to make 'reply questions'. These often show interest or surprise.
5
to show emphasis in a positive sentence, often when you want to contradict what somebody says.
With the present / past simple we add do / does / did before the main verb.
With other auxiliares, e.g. be, have, will, the auxiliary verb is stressed and not contracted.
6
to make question tags, we use a positive auxiliare with a negative verb, and a negative auxiliare with a positive verb.
uestin tags are often used simply to ask another person to agree with you, e.g.
It's a nice day, isn't it?
In this case, the question tag is said with falling intonation, i.e. the voices goes down.
Question tags can also be used to check something you think is true, e.g.
She's a painter, isn't she?
In this case, the question tag is said with rising intonation, as in a normal yes / no question.
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