The 23 Helping Verbs: Your Complete List (And When You Actually Need Them)

Here’s the thing about helping verbs: there are only 23 of them. That’s it. Once you memorize this list, you’ll be able to spot helping verbs anywhere—and more importantly, you’ll know when a verb needs help. No more writing sentences like “She going to the store” (missing is) or “They written the report” (missing have). Let’s break down the 23 helping verbs and make them stick.

The Complete List of 23 Helping Verbs

These 23 words are the only words that function as helping verbs in English. Memorize them, and you’ll never be confused again. Here they are, organized by column to make them easier to remember:

be  •  being  •  been

have  •  has  •  had

am  •  is  •  are

may  •  can  •  might

was  •  were

could  •  would  •  should

do  •  does  •  did

must  •  shall  •  will

Pro tip: Learn them by column. It’s way easier than trying to memorize a random list. Say them out loud a few times, and they’ll stick.

Forms of “To Be” Are Multitaskers

Notice how many of these helping verbs are forms of to be? That’s because to be is a shape-shifter—it can function as a main verb or a helping verb.

As a main verb:

She is tired. (is is the only verb—it’s the main verb)

As a helping verb:

She is studying. (is is helping the main verb studying)

Same word, different job. Context is everything.

When Do You Actually Need a Helping Verb?

Certain verb forms cannot stand alone—they need a helping verb to work. Here are the big ones:

1. Verbs ending in -ing

If your main verb ends in -ing, it needs a helper:

❌ She running every morning.

✅ She is running every morning.

2. Past participles (written, gone, eaten, etc.)

Past participles also need backup:

❌ I eaten lunch already.

✅ I have eaten lunch already.

3. Future tense and conditional statements

To talk about the future or hypothetical situations, you need helping verbs like will, would, can, could, should, might:

• I will call you later.
• She could help if she had time.
• They should study harder.

Common Mistakes: Forgetting the Helper

One of the most common grammar mistakes? Dropping the helping verb when you actually need it. Here are some real-world examples of what not to do:

❌ The team playing well this season.

✅ The team is playing well this season.

❌ We gone to that restaurant before.

✅ We have gone to that restaurant before.

If your sentence feels incomplete, there’s a good chance you’re missing a helping verb.

Quick Practice: Spot the Missing Helping Verb

Which sentences need a helping verb? Fix them if they’re incorrect:

1. My laptop broken.
2. She waiting for the bus.
3. They finished the assignment.
4. I will graduating next year.

Answers: 1. My laptop is broken. | 2. She is waiting for the bus. | 3. Correct (finished works alone) | 4. I will graduate next year. (graduate, not graduating)

The Bottom Line

There are only 23 helping verbs in English, and once you know them, you’ll spot incomplete sentences instantly. Certain verb forms—especially those ending in -ing or past participles—need a helping verb to function. Memorize the list, recognize when help is needed, and your sentences will always be complete.

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