助动词与情态动词动词表示动作形态,但英语里有些动词并不表示动作形态,而是协助主动词表示时态(tenses)或语态(voices)。这些动词如“do,is,have”等,叫助动词(auxiliaryverbs)。另外有些动词如“can,will,may,must”等,则可协助动词表示语气或情态,叫情态动词(modalverbs)。助动词和情态动词都是特殊动词,非常有用。没有了它们,疑问句不能成立,否定句也难形成。没有了“have,has,had”完成时态(perfecttenses)无法存在;没有了“be,is,are,am,been,was,were,being”,何来被动语态(thepassivevoice)?请看下列例子,就知道梗概了:●-Whatdoyoudoeveryday?-Iteacheveryday.●-CantheyspeakEnglish?-Yes,theycan.●-Willhedoit?-No,hewont.●-Johnlivedherebefore.-Johndidnotliveherebefore.●-Bettyhascompletedherworkontime.-Sheisreallygood.●-AfterIhadeatenmybreakfast,Iwenttooffice.-HowaboutNancy?Didshedothesame?●-Jasoniswritinganewbook.-AnewbookisbeingwrittenbySam,too.●-Thecatcaughtarat.-Aratwascaughtbyacat.此外,助动词和情态动词还有下列用途:㈠构成疑问句附加语,如:●MrChenhasnotbecomeabusinessman,hashe?●Jasonslecturesareclearandeasy-to-understand,arentthey?㈡构成简短答语,如:●-Whocananswerthisquestion?-Samcan.●-Willyouhelpuswiththegardening?Yes,Iwill./No,Iwont.●-Ihaveseenthatfilmbefore.-SohaveI.●-Williamisntahypocrite.-Neitherishiswife.㈢构成省略句,如:●Icantunderstandhim.Canyou?●Thebossdoesntoftencometothefactoryandwhenhedoes,itisgenerallyonSunday.除了“do,be,have”之外,作为第三人称现在时态(thirdpersonpresenttense)时,助动词和情态动词语尾不起变化,也就是不必有“-s”这形式。例如:writeEnglish.HecanwriteEnglish,too.(注意“be”代表其他几个助动词:is,am,are,was,were,being,seen)总而言之,助动词和情态动词,随处可见,出现率高,不难使用,也不会有什么错误。