Helping Verbs Worksheets for All Classes and Grades

Do you know that a small word like is or have can change the whole meaning of a sentence? Many children think only big action words matter but wait a second. What about those tiny helpers that stand beside them? These are called helping verbs. Without them, our sentences can fall apart. That is why helping verbs worksheets are so useful.

Helping verbs are words that support the main verb in a sentence. They do not show action by themselves but they help the action verb. Words like is, am, are, was, were, have, has, had, do, does, did, will, shall, can, may, might, must are all helping verbs. For example, in the sentence “She is running” the word is is the helping verb. It tells us when the action happens. Check Number 5 Worksheet here.

Teachers often tell students to memorize the list. But instead of learning by heart, why not practice with worksheets? Here are some common helping verbs:

• be verbs: is, am, are, was, were
• have verbs: have, has, had
• do verbs: do, does, did
• modals: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

Can you imagine writing English without these words? It would feel broken and incomplete.

Types of Helping Verbs

There are two main types. The first type is primary helping verbs like be, have, do. These change the tense and make negatives or questions. The second type is modal helping verbs like can, may, must, should. These show possibility, ability, permission, or necessity.

So the next time you hear a child say “I go to school” you can ask, is it today, yesterday, or tomorrow? With a helping verb it becomes “I am going to school” or “I will go to school.” See how the helper changes the whole meaning?

Helping Verbs Worksheets for Practice

Worksheets are a powerful tool to master grammar. A worksheet can ask the student to fill in blanks. For example:

• She ___ reading a book.
• They ___ finished their homework.

Another type of worksheet asks students to underline the helping verb in each sentence. Or they can match verbs with their helpers. Some worksheets even include short quizzes.

Teachers can choose worksheets for grade 1, grade 2, grade 3, or higher levels. Younger students work with simple verbs like is and are. Older students can practice modals like might or should.

Free Printable Helping Verbs Worksheets

Parents and teachers can easily find free worksheets online in PDF format. These are ready to download and print. Having worksheets with answer keys makes it easy to check work. Homeschool families also use them for daily grammar lessons.

Common Mistakes Students Make

Children often confuse the main verb with the helping verb. For example, in “She is playing” they may think is is the action. Another mistake is forgetting the helping verb in negatives or questions. They may write “You not going” instead of “You are not going.”

This is why repeated practice with worksheets is very important. The more they practice the fewer mistakes they will make.

Tips for Teachers and Parents

Teaching helping verbs can be fun. Use songs or simple games. Ask dramatic questions in class like “Can you live without helping verbs?” and let the kids shout “No!” Worksheets become more effective when mixed with activities like role play or storytelling.

Helping verbs are the little heroes of English sentences. They may look small but they carry big responsibility. Without them, our speech and writing would sound broken. Helping verbs worksheets give children the right practice to understand and use these words correctly. So are you ready to pick up a worksheet and start learning? The more you practice the stronger your grammar will become.