Question

Identify the helping verbs in the following sentences. Keep an eye out for those tricky linking verbs that can also be helping verbs which, of course would mean that those sentences do not have a nearby verb being helped. Also beware of action verbs which also appear independently in the sentence.

I haven't asked you to clean your room to be mean, but to help you learn to be neat and tidy.

Answer 1

The helping verb in the sentence is "haven't," assisting the main verb "asked." Helping verbs are used to form different tenses, moods, or voices, and can strengthen the clarity of a sentence when used correctly.

Step-by-step explanation:

The sentence "I haven't asked you to clean your room to be mean, but to help you learn to be neat and tidy." includes the helping verb "haven't," which is the contraction for "have not."

The main verb in this sentence that "haven't" is assisting is "asked." This construction forms a perfect aspect, indicating an action that occurred in the past but is relevant to the present.

Helping verbs are auxiliaries that come before main verbs to modify tense, mood, or voice. The verb "asked" requires the subject, which is the implied "I," performing the action.

As a contextual tip, to strengthen verbs and create a more concise statement, unnecessary words or wordy structures, like "There are" and "It is," should be omitted where possible. Additionally, avoiding filler words can also create a stronger, clearer sentence.