Question

What is the role of 'auxiliary verbs' in English syntax?

• A. To express the main action of the sentence.
• B. To modify nouns.
• C. To provide additional grammatical information, such as tense or modality.
• D. To connect clauses.

Answer 1

Answer:

C. To provide additional grammatical information, such as tense or modality.

Auxiliary verbs, also known as helping verbs, assist the main verb in a sentence by adding grammatical information like tense (e.g., 'is' in 'He is walking'), modality (e.g., 'can' in 'She can sing'), or voice (e.g., 'was' in 'The letter was sent'). Common auxiliary verbs include 'be,' 'have,' and 'do.'