Auxiliary Verbs | Unit 51 | PrepMyEnglish

Unit 51 · Grammar Lesson

Unité 51 · Leçon de Grammaire

Auxiliary Verbs
have / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Complete Guide Verbes Auxiliaires
have / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Guide Complet

Master auxiliary verbs to avoid repetition, express agreement with so / neither, show surprise with echo questions, and use short answers like I think so / I hope not

Maîtrisez les verbes auxiliaires pour éviter les répétitions, exprimer l’accord avec so / neither, montrer la surprise et utiliser des réponses courtes comme I think so / I hope not

B1 – B2 4 Rules · 4 Exercises · 200-Q Quiz · PDF 4 Règles · 4 Exercices · Quiz 200 Q · PDF 🇬🇧 EN / 🇫🇷 FR

Auxiliary verbs (have, do, can, will, is, was, etc.) are helping verbs that work alongside main verbs. We use them constantly to avoid repeating main verbs, to agree or disagree, to show surprise, and to give short answers. This unit covers all four key uses clearly with bilingual examples.

Les verbes auxiliaires (have, do, can, will, is, was, etc.) sont des verbes d’aide qui accompagnent les verbes principaux. On les utilise constamment pour éviter de répéter les verbes, pour exprimer accord ou désaccord, montrer la surprise et donner des réponses courtes. Cette unité couvre les quatre usages principaux avec des exemples bilingues.

Auxiliary Verbs — Avoiding Repetition

Verbes Auxiliaires — Éviter la répétition

Every English sentence has an auxiliary verb and a main verb. We can use the auxiliary alone to avoid repeating the main verb:

Chaque phrase anglaise a un verbe auxiliaire et un verbe principal. On peut utiliser l’auxiliaire seul pour éviter de répéter le verbe principal :

Subject	Auxiliary	Main verb		Subject	Auxiliary	Main verb
I	have	lost		The hotel	was	built
She	can’t	come		Why	do you	want

Use the auxiliary alone (don’t repeat the main verb)
‘Have you locked the door?’ ‘Yes, I have.’ (= I have locked the door)
Gary wasn’t working, but Laura was. (= Laura was working)
Jessica could lend me the money, but she won’t. (= she won’t lend me the money)

Use do / does / did for the present and past simple:

Utilisez do / does / did au présent simple et au passé simple :

‘Do you like onions?’ ‘Yes, I do.’ (= I like onions)
‘Does Simon live in London?’ ‘He did, but he doesn’t any more.’

You can also use auxiliaries to deny what someone says:

On peut aussi utiliser les auxiliaires pour contredire ce que quelqu’un dit :

‘You’re sitting in my place.’ ‘No, I’m not.’

→ denying the claim using the auxiliary

→ contredire l’affirmation avec l’auxiliaire

‘You didn’t lock the door before you left.’ ‘Yes, I did.’

→ affirming with the past auxiliary

→ affirmer avec l’auxiliaire passé

Echo Questions — Showing Interest or Surprise

Questions Écho — Montrer l’intérêt ou la surprise

We use have you? / isn’t she? / are they? etc. (= short question using the auxiliary) to show that we are interested in what someone said, or to show surprise.

On utilise have you? / isn’t she? / are they? etc. pour montrer qu’on est intéressé par ce que quelqu’un a dit, ou pour exprimer la surprise.

‘I’ve just seen Steven.’ ‘Oh, have you? How is he?’

→ positive statement → positive echo question

→ affirmation positive → question écho positive

‘Lisa isn’t very well today.’ ‘Isn’t she? What’s wrong with her?’

→ negative statement → negative echo question

→ affirmation négative → question écho négative

‘It rained every day during our holiday.’ ‘Did it? What a shame!’

→ past simple statement → did + subject

→ affirmation au passé → did + sujet

‘James and Tanya are getting married.’ ‘Are they? Really?’

→ present continuous → are + subject

→ présent continu → are + sujet

📌

Echo question = same auxiliary as in the original sentence. Question écho = même auxiliaire que dans la phrase d’origine. If the statement is positive, the echo question is also positive. If negative, the echo question is also negative. This is different from tag questions, where the tag is always the opposite. Si l’affirmation est positive, la question écho est aussi positive. Si elle est négative, la question écho est aussi négative. C’est différent des question tags, où le tag est toujours l’opposé.

So … / Neither … — Agreeing with Others

So … / Neither … — Exprimer l’accord

Use So + auxiliary + subject to agree with a positive statement. Use Neither + auxiliary + subject to agree with a negative statement.

Utilisez So + auxiliaire + sujet pour marquer l’accord avec une affirmation positive. Utilisez Neither + auxiliaire + sujet pour marquer l’accord avec une affirmation négative.

So … (positive agreement)

So … (accord positif)

= me too / I do too

= moi aussi

‘I’m tired.’ ‘So am I.’

I passed the exam and so did Paul.

‘She can swim.’ ‘So can I.’

‘We enjoyed it.’ ‘So did we.’

Neither … (negative agreement)

Neither … (accord négatif)

= me neither / I don’t either

= moi non plus

‘I never read newspapers.’ ‘Neither do I.’

Sarah can’t drive and neither can Mark.

‘I didn’t enjoy it.’ ‘Neither did I.’

‘She won’t be there.’ ‘Neither will he.’

💡

Word order: verb before subject. Ordre des mots : verbe avant le sujet. I passed the exam and so did Paul. ✓ NOT so Paul did. ✗ Instead of neither, you can use nor, or not … either: ‘I don’t know.’ → Neither do I. / Nor do I. / I don’t either. I passed the exam and so did Paul. ✓ PAS so Paul did. ✗ À la place de neither, on peut utiliser nor ou not … either.

I think so / I hope so / I’m afraid so etc.

Use I think so / I hope so etc. when you don’t want to repeat a whole clause. So replaces the repeated content.

Utilisez I think so / I hope so etc. quand on ne veut pas répéter toute une proposition. So remplace le contenu répété.

‘Are those people Korean?’ ‘I think so.’ (= I think they are Korean)
‘Is Kate working tomorrow?’ ‘I suppose so.’ (= I suppose she is working tomorrow)
‘Will you be at home this evening?’ ‘I expect so.’ (= I expect I’ll be at home…)

The negative forms vary — learn each one:

Les formes négatives varient — apprenez-les :

Positive	Negative
I think so	I don’t think so
I expect so	I don’t expect so
I hope so	I hope not
I’m afraid so	I’m afraid not
I suppose so	I suppose not
I guess so	I guess not

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Watch out:Attention : We say I hope not (NOT I don’t hope so). The negative of hope so and I’m afraid so is formed with not after the verb, not with don’t. On dit I hope not (PAS I don’t hope so). Le négatif de hope so et I’m afraid so se forme avec not après le verbe, pas avec don’t.

EX 1

Exercise 1 — Complete with an auxiliary verb (sometimes negative)

Exercice 1 — Complétez avec un auxiliaire (parfois négatif)

Use: do / was / could / might / will / would etc. Sometimes negative.

Utilisez : do / was / could / might / will / would etc. Parfois négatif.

I wasn’t tired, but my friends .I wasn’t tired, but my friends .

I like hot weather, but Ann .I like hot weather, but Ann .

‘Is Andy here?’ ‘He five minutes ago, but I think he’s gone home now.’‘Is Andy here?’ ‘He five minutes ago, but I think he’s gone home now.’

I haven’t travelled much, but Gary .I haven’t travelled much, but Gary .

Lisa said she might come and see us tomorrow, but I don’t think she .Lisa said she might come and see us, but I don’t think she .

I don’t know whether to apply for the job or not. Do you think I ?I don’t know whether to apply for the job or not. Do you think I ?

‘Please don’t tell anybody what happened.’ ‘Don’t worry. I .’‘Please don’t tell anybody what happened.’ ‘Don’t worry. I .’

‘You never listen to me.’ ‘Yes, I !’‘You never listen to me.’ ‘Yes, I !’

I usually work on Saturdays, but last Saturday I .I usually work on Saturdays, but last Saturday I .

10.

‘Do you think it’s going to rain?’ ‘It . Take an umbrella in case.’‘Do you think it’s going to rain?’ ‘It . Take an umbrella in case.’

Answers:Réponses : 1. were · 2. doesn’t · 3. was · 4. has · 5. will · 6. should · 7. won’t · 8. do · 9. didn’t · 10. might / could

EX 2

Exercise 2 — Disagree with each statement (echo + denial)

Exercice 2 — Contredisez chaque affirmation

Write the echo question AND your denial. Example: ‘I’m hungry.’ → Are you? I’m not.

Écrivez la question écho ET votre contradiction. Exemple : ‘I’m hungry.’ → Are you? I’m not.

I’m hungry. → I’m hungry. →

I don’t like driving. → I don’t like driving. →

I like football. → I like football. →

I didn’t enjoy the film. → I didn’t enjoy the film. →

I’m not tired. → I’m not tired. →

I thought the exam was easy. → I thought the exam was easy. →

Answers:Réponses : 1. Are you? I’m not. · 2. Don’t you? I do. · 3. Do you? I don’t. · 4. Didn’t you? I did. · 5. Aren’t you? I am. · 6. Did you? I didn’t.

EX 3

Exercise 3 — Agree using So … or Neither …

Exercice 3 — Exprimez l’accord avec So … ou Neither …

If the same is true for you, agree using So … or Neither …

Si c’est aussi vrai pour vous, marquez l’accord avec So … ou Neither …

I’m not tired. (same for you) → I’m not tired. (idem pour vous) →

I watched TV last night. (same for you) → I watched TV last night. (idem) →

I won’t be at home tomorrow. (same for you) → I won’t be at home tomorrow. (idem) →

I like reading. (same for you) → I like reading. (idem) →

I’d like to live somewhere else. (same for you) → I’d like to live somewhere else. (idem) →

I can’t go out tonight. (same for you) → I can’t go out tonight. (idem) →

I’m looking forward to the weekend. (same for you) → I’m looking forward to the weekend. (idem) →

Answers:Réponses : 1. Neither am I. · 2. So did I. · 3. Neither will I. · 4. So do I. · 5. So would I. · 6. Neither can I. · 7. So am I.

🎯

Exercise 4 — Use I think so / I hope not etc.

Exercice 4 — Utilisez I think so / I hope not etc.

Write the correct short answer using the verb in brackets.

Écrivez la bonne réponse courte avec le verbe entre parenthèses.

(You don’t like rain.) — ‘Is it going to rain?’ → (hope)(Vous n’aimez pas la pluie.) — ‘Is it going to rain?’ → (hope)

(You need more money.) — ‘Do you think you’ll get a pay rise?’ → (hope)(Vous avez besoin d’argent.) — ‘Do you think you’ll get a pay rise?’ → (hope)

(You can’t stand John.) — ‘Will John be at the party?’ → (hope)(Vous ne supportez pas John.) — ‘Will John be at the party?’ → (hope)

(Not sure — Amy probably isn’t married.) — ‘Is Amy married?’ → (think)(Pas sûr — Amy n’est probablement pas mariée.) — ‘Is Amy married?’ → (think)

(Jane lived in Italy for years.) — ‘Does Jane speak Italian?’ → (suppose)(Jane a vécu en Italie pendant des années.) — ‘Does Jane speak Italian?’ → (suppose)

(You have to leave Sam’s party early.) — ‘Do you have to leave already?’ → (afraid)(Vous devez quitter la fête tôt.) — ‘Do you have to leave already?’ → (afraid)

(Not sure but probably 7.30.) — ‘What time is the film? 7.30?’ → (think)(Pas sûr, probablement 19h30.) — ‘What time is the film? 7.30?’ → (think)

(You are the hotel receptionist. The hotel is full.) — ‘Do you have a room for tonight?’ → (afraid)(Vous êtes réceptionniste. Hôtel complet.) — ‘Do you have a room for tonight?’ → (afraid)

Answers:Réponses : 1. I hope not · 2. I hope so · 3. I hope not · 4. I don’t think so · 5. I suppose so · 6. I’m afraid so · 7. I think so · 8. I’m afraid not

Frequently Asked Questions — Auxiliary Verbs

Questions fréquentes — Verbes Auxiliaires

When do I use “do/does/did” vs another auxiliary?Quand utilise-t-on “do/does/did” plutôt qu’un autre auxiliaire ?

Do/does/did are the auxiliaries for the present simple and past simple. For all other tenses and modals, use the appropriate auxiliary: have/has/had (perfect tenses), will/would/can/could/should/might/must (modals), am/is/are/was/were (continuous and passive).

Do/does/did sont les auxiliaires du présent simple et du passé simple. Pour tous les autres temps et les modaux, utilisez l’auxiliaire approprié.

What is the difference between an echo question and a tag question?Quelle est la différence entre une question écho et un question tag ?

An echo question mirrors the polarity of the statement: positive statement → positive echo (‘I’ve seen Steven.’ ‘Have you?’). A tag question is the opposite polarity: positive statement → negative tag (‘You’ve seen Steven, haven’t you?’). Echo questions show surprise or interest; tag questions seek confirmation.

Une question écho reprend la polarité de l’affirmation. Un question tag a une polarité opposée.

Can I say “Nor do I” instead of “Neither do I”?Peut-on dire “Nor do I” à la place de “Neither do I” ?

Yes! Neither do I, Nor do I, and I don’t either all mean the same thing — they express negative agreement. Neither and nor are slightly more formal; I don’t either is more common in casual speech.

Oui ! Neither do I, Nor do I et I don’t either ont tous le même sens — ils expriment un accord négatif.

Why can’t I say “I don’t hope so”?Pourquoi ne peut-on pas dire “I don’t hope so” ?

With hope and I’m afraid, the negative is formed differently. We say I hope not (not I don’t hope so) and I’m afraid not. With think and expect, however: I don’t think so is standard. Learning the table in Rule D is the best approach.

Avec hope et I’m afraid, le négatif se forme différemment : I hope not et I’m afraid not.

What is the word order after “so” and “neither”?Quel est l’ordre des mots après “so” et “neither” ?

The auxiliary comes before the subject: I passed the exam and so did Paul. NOT so Paul did. This inversion is exactly the same as in questions.

L’auxiliaire vient avant le sujet : so did Paul, pas so Paul did.

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Number of questionsNombre de questions

DifficultyDifficulté

Show explanationsExplications

All topics Avoiding Repetition Echo Questions So / Neither Think so / Hope so Mixed

Auxiliary Verbs Quiz

Quiz — Verbes Auxiliaires

20 questions

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out ofsur 20 questionsquestions

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Correct

Correctes

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Wrong

Incorrectes

—

Skipped

Non répondues

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Auxiliary Verbs
have / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Complete Guide Verbes Auxiliaires
have / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Guide Complet

Auxiliary Verbs — Avoiding Repetition

Verbes Auxiliaires — Éviter la répétition

Echo Questions — Showing Interest or Surprise

Questions Écho — Montrer l’intérêt ou la surprise

So … / Neither … — Agreeing with Others

So … / Neither … — Exprimer l’accord

So … (positive agreement)

So … (accord positif)

Neither … (negative agreement)

Neither … (accord négatif)

I think so / I hope so / I’m afraid so etc.

I think so / I hope so / I’m afraid so etc.

Auxiliary Verbs — Exercises with AnswersVerbes Auxiliaires — Exercices avec Corrigé

Exercise 1 — Complete with an auxiliary verb (sometimes negative)

Exercice 1 — Complétez avec un auxiliaire (parfois négatif)

Exercise 2 — Disagree with each statement (echo + denial)

Exercice 2 — Contredisez chaque affirmation

Exercise 3 — Agree using So … or Neither …

Exercice 3 — Exprimez l’accord avec So … ou Neither …

Exercise 4 — Use I think so / I hope not etc.

Exercice 4 — Utilisez I think so / I hope not etc.

Frequently Asked Questions — Auxiliary Verbs

Questions fréquentes — Verbes Auxiliaires

Auxiliary Verbs — Quiz

Verbes Auxiliaires — Quiz

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Auxiliary Verbs Quiz

Quiz — Verbes Auxiliaires

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Evènements

Auxiliary Verbshave / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Complete Guide Verbes Auxiliaireshave / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Guide Complet

Auxiliary Verbs — Avoiding Repetition

Verbes Auxiliaires — Éviter la répétition

Echo Questions — Showing Interest or Surprise

Questions Écho — Montrer l’intérêt ou la surprise

So … / Neither … — Agreeing with Others

So … / Neither … — Exprimer l’accord

So … (positive agreement)

So … (accord positif)

Neither … (negative agreement)

Neither … (accord négatif)

I think so / I hope so / I’m afraid so etc.

I think so / I hope so / I’m afraid so etc.

Auxiliary Verbs — Exercises with AnswersVerbes Auxiliaires — Exercices avec Corrigé

Exercise 1 — Complete with an auxiliary verb (sometimes negative)

Exercice 1 — Complétez avec un auxiliaire (parfois négatif)

Exercise 2 — Disagree with each statement (echo + denial)

Exercice 2 — Contredisez chaque affirmation

Exercise 3 — Agree using So … or Neither …

Exercice 3 — Exprimez l’accord avec So … ou Neither …

Exercise 4 — Use I think so / I hope not etc.

Exercice 4 — Utilisez I think so / I hope not etc.

Frequently Asked Questions — Auxiliary Verbs

Questions fréquentes — Verbes Auxiliaires

Auxiliary Verbs — Quiz

Verbes Auxiliaires — Quiz

⚙️ Quiz SettingsParamètres du Quiz

Auxiliary Verbs Quiz

Quiz — Verbes Auxiliaires

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Auxiliary Verbs
have / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Complete Guide Verbes Auxiliaires
have / do / can etc. & I think so / I hope so — Guide Complet