Final answer:
The appropriate helping verb for the sentence 'Many shows _ produced live in TV early days' is 'were,' which is used for the past tense. If the present tense were needed, 'are' would be the correct choice. The selection of the right auxiliary verb is essential in determining the tense and meaning of a sentence.
Step-by-step explanation:
To complete the sentence provided by the student, an appropriate helping verb should be chosen based on the tense required by the context. If the sentence is to be in the past tense, which makes sense considering the context of 'early days,' the correct helping verb would be 'were.' Therefore, the completed sentence is 'Many shows were produced live in TV early days.'
If the context requires the present tense, though less likely given the historic reference, the correct helping verb would be 'are.' The sentence would then read 'Many shows are produced live in TV early days.'
When discussing verb forms and tenses, auxiliary verbs play a critical role. Examples of auxiliary or helping verbs include 'be' (am, is, are, was, were), 'have' (have, has, had), and modals (can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would). Understanding the use of these auxiliaries is vital for conveying the correct tense and meaning in writing.