An auxiliary verb is a helping verb. Auxiliary verbs are placed before main verbs to form the tenses, voices and moods. Test your knowledge of auxiliary verbs with this quiz.

Fill in the blanks with appropriate verb forms.

1.    The teacher asked the boys if they ——————– the sums.

a)    Solved
b)    Had solved
c)    Solve
d)    Have solved

The tense of a verb in the subordinate clause changes in accordance with the tense of the verb in the main clause.

The basic rules are as follows:

We have seen that the same word may introduce clauses of different kinds. The following examples illustrate this point.

The same word may introduce clauses of different kinds. It is therefore wrong to judge a clause from the word which introduces it. The exact nature of each clause should be figured out from the kind of function it serves in the sentence.

Bring about (cause to happen)

His addiction to drinking brought about his ruin. (= His addition to drinking was the cause of his ruin.)
The new government has brought about many changes in the education system in the country.

Break away (run away, get loose or escape)

The boy tried to break away but his mother snatched his shirt.
The horse has broken away from its stable.
The cyclist broke away from the pack.