third, subordinate class, verbs gather around other verbs, acting as accomplices. These auxiliary or “helping” verbs—may, might, could, should, would, have, can, must, will, as well as am, are, is, was, were—are mere sidekicks, symbiotically attaching themselves to a main verb in a combo called a “verb phrase.” Helping verbs exist mainly to conjugate tenses (she was swordfighting, she had been swordfighting) and to indicate volition (will swordfight), possibility (can swordfight), or obligation (must swordfight). They also step in to help express a negative (she does not swordfight), to
...more
