What is the difference between helping verbs and main verbs?

In one line

The rule

Helping verbs (auxiliary verbs) are used with main verbs to form different tenses, moods, or voices. Main verbs express the main action or state in a sentence.

Let's understand it simply

Imagine you are playing cricket. The main verb is like the batsman — the person doing the main action, hitting the ball. The helping verb is like a friend who throws the ball to the batsman. The batsman (main verb) cannot play without the ball being thrown (helping verb) in some situations.

For example, in “She is running,” “running” is the main action (main verb), and “is” is the helping verb making the sentence complete.

How it works

1. The main verb shows what is happening (action or state).
2. Sometimes, the main verb needs help to show when or how the action happens.
3. Helping verbs like “is,” “am,” “are,” “was,” “were,” “have,” “has,” “will,” “can” join the main verb.
4. Together, they make the meaning clear (like tense or possibility).

The story behind it

The idea of helping verbs comes from the need to talk about time (tense), possibility, or necessity in English. People noticed that just one verb was not enough to show all these things. So, words like “is,” “have,” and “will” started being used to help the main verb. These are called auxiliary verbs.

Where you see it in real life

• She is cooking → “is” helps “cooking” to show the action is happening now.
• We have finished our homework → “have” helps “finished” to show the action is complete.
• He will play cricket tomorrow → “will” helps “play” to show the action will happen in the future.
• I can swim → “can” helps “swim” to show ability.

Why it matters

• You need helping verbs to make correct sentences in English.
• They help you talk about the past, present, and future.
• Many exam questions ask you to identify or use helping verbs.
• Knowing the difference helps you write and speak better English.

Common mistakes

• Thinking every verb is a main verb — but “is,” “am,” “have,” etc., are helping verbs when used with another verb.
• Forgetting the helping verb in sentences like “She running” (should be “She is running”).
• Using two main verbs together without a helping verb (wrong: “He go play.” Correct: “He will go play.”)

Remember it

Main verbs do the action. Helping verbs help the main verb show time, mood, or voice.