Are you ready to sharpen your grammar edge? Take our free helping verbs quiz or jump into this linking verbs quiz to challenge your grasp of linking verbs, complements, and helper verbs. Whether you've tried a linking helping verbs worksheet or a more detailed helping verbs and linking verbs worksheet, this helping verbs test is perfect for students, teachers, and language lovers alike. This quick helping verb test lets you pinpoint strengths, spot tricky "am," "has," and "been" moments, and boost your score in minutes. Ready for a fun challenge? Click to start and see how you rank!
Identify the linking verb in the sentence: "She ___ happy with the results."
wrote
ran
is
looked
"Is" is a form of "to be" which functions as a linking verb connecting the subject to the adjective complement "happy." Linking verbs do not express action but link the subject to a state of being or condition. Here, "is" links "She" to her state of being happy. See linking verbs explained.
In the sentence "They have eaten dinner," which word is the helping verb?
eaten
dinner
They
have
"Have" functions as an auxiliary (helping) verb forming the present perfect tense with the past participle "eaten." Helping verbs assist the main verb to indicate tense or mood. In "have eaten," "have" helps express a completed action. See present perfect tense.
Identify the linking verb in "The soup tastes delicious."
tastes
soup
delicious
is
"Tastes" here is a linking verb that connects the subject "soup" to the adjective complement "delicious," which describes its state. Linking verbs describe a subject's condition rather than action. Other common linking verbs include "seem," "feel," and "be." Learn more at grammarbook.com - linking verbs.
In "John is a teacher," what grammatical role does "teacher" serve?
modifier
subject complement
object
adverb
"Teacher" serves as a subject complement following the linking verb "is," renaming or describing the subject "John." Subject complements complete the meaning of linking verbs by providing additional information about the subject. Without a subject complement, the sentence would be incomplete. More detail at Purdue OWL - linking verbs and complements.
Which is the helping verb in the past perfect tense: "She ___ finished her homework before dinner."
has
have
had
was
The past perfect tense is formed using "had" followed by a past participle, here "finished." "Had" is the auxiliary verb indicating that the homework was completed before another past action. Using the correct helping verb is vital for accurate tense. See EnglishClub - past perfect tense.
In the passive voice sentence "The cake will be baked by Mary," which words form the helping verb phrase?
will
baked
will be
be
"Will be" forms the passive auxiliary indicating a future passive construction. The main verb is "baked," while "will be" helps indicate tense and voice. Passive voice uses a form of "be" plus the past participle. More at EnglishGrammar.org - future perfect passive.
Choose the correct helping verb to complete the sentence: "He ___ been working all day."
was
has
have
had
"Has been working" is present perfect progressive, using "has" for third-person singular. "Have" with "been" would require a plural subject. Correct helping verb ensures agreement. More at EF English - present perfect continuous.
In "They are going to the park," which is the main verb?
they
are
going
park
"Going" is the present participle main verb in the progressive aspect, while "are" is the auxiliary verb. The auxiliary "are" helps indicate the progressive tense. Recognizing main vs helping is key. See Perfect English Grammar - present continuous.
Identify the linking verb in "The novel seems interesting."
novel
interesting
seems
to be
"Seems" is a linking verb connecting "the novel" to the adjective complement "interesting." Linking verbs include "appear," "become," and "remain." They join the subject to its complement. More at Grammarly linking verbs.
What is the complement in "The weather became cold"?
became
cold
the
weather
"Cold" is an adjective that serves as a subject complement, describing the subject "weather" after the linking verb "became." Complements follow linking verbs to complete their sense. Identify complements to understand sentence structure. Details at EnglishClub - linking verbs.
In the sentence "She will have been notified by then," which words are the helping verbs?
will
been
have
will have been
The phrase "will have been" combines three auxiliaries to form the future perfect passive voice. Each part contributes to tense, aspect, and voice. Identifying full auxiliary chains is essential in complex sentences. More at EnglishGrammar.org - future perfect passive.
What is the tense and aspect of "They had been working for hours"?
past simple
present perfect progressive
past perfect progressive
past continuous
"Had been working" is past perfect progressive (perfect continuous), indicating an action that was ongoing before another past moment. It consists of "had" + "been" + present participle. Recognizing aspects clarifies timeline. See Perfect English Grammar - past perfect continuous.
Identify the auxiliary verb that indicates passive voice in "The project was completed on time."
on
completed
time
was
"Was" is the auxiliary verb that, combined with "completed" (past participle), forms the passive voice. Passive constructions shift focus to the receiver of the action. Spotting the auxiliary reveals voice. More at Grammarly - active vs passive voice.
In "He might be mistaken," which word is the linking verb?
he
mistaken
be
might
"Be" functions as the linking verb joining the subject "He" to the adjective "mistaken." "Might" is a modal auxiliary expressing possibility. Differentiating modal and linking verbs is important. See EnglishClub - modal verbs.
What grammatical role does "mistaken" serve in "He might be mistaken"?
adverb
adjective complement
direct object
subject
"Mistaken" is an adjective complement describing the subject after the linking verb "be." It completes the meaning of the verb phrase. Recognizing complements helps parse sentences accurately. More at Grammarly - subject complements.
In the sentence "They painted the fence blue," what is "blue"?
subject complement
direct object
object complement
adverb
"Blue" serves as an object complement, further describing the direct object "the fence" after the action verb "painted." Object complements modify objects, not subjects. See Grade Inflation Grammar - object complements.
Which term functions as a semi-modal in "She used to play the piano"?
used
play
to
used to
"Used to" is a semi-modal verb phrase expressing habitual past action. Unlike full modals, semi-modals pair with "to" or participles. Recognizing semi-modals is crucial for nuance. More at EnglishPage - used to.
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AI Study Notes
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Study Outcomes
Identify helping verbs -
Learn to recognize auxiliary verbs like "has," "could," and "will" in various sentence structures.
Differentiate linking verbs and helping verbs -
Understand the distinct roles of verbs like "is" versus "do" and how they function in sentences.
Analyze verb complements -
Examine how complements complete the meaning of linking verbs by providing additional details about subjects.
Apply verb classification rules -
Practice categorizing verbs in a helping verbs quiz format and reinforcing your grammar knowledge.
Interpret sentence examples -
Break down real-world sentences to identify verb types and understand their grammatical functions.
Assess grammar proficiency -
Use instant feedback from the helping verbs test to evaluate and improve your sentence analysis skills.
Cheat Sheet
Distinguishing Helping vs. Linking Verbs -
Helping verbs (auxiliaries) work with main verbs to express tense or mood, while linking verbs (copulas) connect the subject to a subject complement. For example, "She is running" uses "is" as a helping verb, whereas "She is an athlete" uses "is" as a linking verb. According to Purdue OWL, spotting the difference is key in any helping verbs quiz.
Core Helping Verb Families -
English has three primary auxiliary sets: forms of "be" (am, is, are), "have" (has, have, had) and "do" (does, did), plus modals (can, will, should). Example: "They have finished their work" pairs "have" with a past participle. The University of Texas Writing Center notes that recognizing these sets simplifies any helping verbs and linking verbs worksheet.
Building Complex Verb Phrases -
Verb phrases can stack auxiliaries to show aspect, voice, or mood - e.g., "She will have been practicing." In this sentence, "will" (modal), "have" (perfect), and "been" (progressive) create a triple-auxiliary chain. Grammarly research highlights that mastering multi-auxiliary patterns boosts your helping verb test performance.
Spotting Subject Complements with Linking Verbs -
Linking verbs tie a subject to a noun or adjective complement rather than showing action. For instance, in "The cake smells sweet," "smells" links "cake" to "sweet." Cambridge Dictionary explains that recognizing predicate adjectives and nouns is crucial for acing a linking helping verbs worksheet.
Mnemonic Tricks and Practice Tips -
Use the "LAVA" mnemonic (Look, Appear, Become, Seem) to recall common linking verbs, and pair it with brief drills in your helping verbs quiz. Regularly time yourself on short exercises from trusted sources like university writing centers to build speed and accuracy. Consistent practice with interactive quizzes solidifies your understanding and boosts confidence.
