Students' Awareness of Auxiliary Verbs
Students' Awareness of Auxiliary Verbs
English grammar
Chapter 1: Introduction
1.1. Background
In recent times, quite a number of educationists have noted the need to
improve the spoken and written English of students not only in secondary schools,
but also in higher education institution in Lao. The present researcher has
observed that many students tend not to use auxiliary verbs correctly both in
written and spoken English. This might be due to lack of awareness of the rules
guiding their correct usage among other reasons. In our country where English
performs important function as the international language, the need for
proficiency is not only desirable but absolutely necessary. The language is used
not only as a medium of instruction from the upper primary school to the
university level, but it is also taught as a subject at every level of education. It is
not surprising therefore, that English enjoys a prestigious position in Lao’s
educational system. Against this background, it is pertinent that students at the
higher level should attain high proficiency in English, as it will enable them to use
the language correctly and efficiently to impart knowledge in English and other
subjects.
defined as “averb used to indicate the tense, voice, mood, etc. , of another verb
where this is not indicated by inflection, such as English will in he will go, was in
he was eating and he was eaten, do in I do like you, etc. ” In other words, an
auxiliary verb modifies the main verb. It is commonly known as a “helping verb.”
While auxiliary verbs alone do not carry much meaning, their use in a sentence
can change the context or meaning of a message.
Imparting knowledge on auxiliaries to the learners has always been a
complicated task for Lao student. Likewise, Lao learners encounter difficulty in
learning and using the auxiliaries appropriately in their written tasks. English
language learners are required to know the perspective and descriptive rules of the
English language in order to be competent and proficient to perform language
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tasks effectively. Language functions and forms need to be clarified for one to be
proficient, and students need different kinds of grammatical knowledge at
different stages in their language development. Learners need to be familiar with
How we use each verbs in each situation. That will improve my English
knowledge.
One of the problems with the use of English in Lao today is that students
speak all kinds of what might be regarded as poor quality and uneducated
English. While this appears to be an inevitable consequence of different speakers’
competences in the language, we are of the opinion that the correct use of the
language is not only desirable but is also possible.
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Main verb: the verb that contains the meaning, compared with any auxiliary
Modal verb: a verb used with another verb to express an idea such as possibility
activity.
which shows the definitions, usages and type of each auxiliary verbs. In chapter 3
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is methodology which describes how to collect and analyzed data. Chapter 4 is
result and finding which show the result from research by giving questionnaire to
participants. And in chapter 5 explains conclusion of the study and gives
suggestion to other students or general people who want to continuous study this
topic.
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alongside or patterning with the primary verb form. Note, though, that some
words that can function as auxiliary verbs: do ( does, did) , be ( is, am, are, was,
were, be, being, been) and have ( have, has, had, having) . An auxiliary verb is a
verb used to add functional or grammatical meaning to the clause in which it
appears – for example, to express tense, aspect, voice, emphasis, etc.
denoted by the main verb in the verb phrase. Traditionally, auxiliary verbs are
divided into two subclasses; primary auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliary verbs. The
division is based partly on meaning and partly on grammatical properties of the
two types.
verb.
years.
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periphrasis).
Negating a verb phrase that only consists of a main verb requires the
insertion of a 'dummy' auxiliary, namely do, to conform to the rule for forming
negative clauses in English. Compare the following positive-negative pairs
either Yes or No) in English also requires the presence of an auxiliary verb in the
verb phrase. Such questions are formed by inverting the order of the grammatical
subject of the clause and the first auxiliary verb of the verb phrase.
clause, namely the so called wh-question. The term reflects the fact that this type
of interrogative is introduced by a word like what, who, where, why, and how, or
by a phrase containing an interrogative word, e. g. in which way, to whom, for
what [Link] interrogatives of this types occur as main clauses (i.e. are not
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part of another clause) the subject inverts with the first auxiliary, in a way similar
to Yes/No questions.
very rare in formal writing. It is mentioned here since non-native writers are not
always familiar with its function and tend to use do where it is not called for. The
following
Examples illustrate the use of do to make a contrast with a negative
utterance or thought in the context.
2. Be
The primary auxiliary be takes part in the formation of progressive verb
phrases, as well as the formation of passive verb phrases.
The progressive form consist of the auxiliary be followed by the present
participle ( the ing-form) . In the simplest case, a verb phrase in the progressive
participle (the second ed-form). In the simplest case, a passive verb phrase consist
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Example: He is to stay here till I come back.
We start sentences with be then use adjective to make imperative and wish
sentences
Example: Be quite! My children are sleeping.
We put be before expression be about to + v1to express the action that will
3. Have
The primary auxiliary have is used for the formation of the perfect. The
applying to main verbs, are never used as main verbs, only as auxiliaries.
Modals can help the main verb express these conditions: possibility (can,
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Characteristics of modal auxiliaries are (Firsten and Killian, 1994:265):
- They never take the –ed ending for the past (*we shoulded).
- They never use forms of “do” or “be” to make negatives ( * you don’t can/
* he isn’t mighting) ; instead, they use the word “not” after them for the
Example: That bad looks so heavy, I will help you with it.
2. Would
Would is the past form of will, it also has the same and different function
with will. We use would to express requesting in polite way with mind or please.
We use would with like, rather and better to express preferences or choices.
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We use would you mind if… to requesting permission in polite and fairly
formal way. It’s always followed by the past tense of second verb.
3. Shall
We used shall to help another verb to make future tense the same as will
and we can use shall only with the first person I and we. We used shall to offer or
suggestion someone.
Example: Shall I open the door? Meaning that do you want me to open the
door?
4. Should
Should is the past form of shall. But we rarely use should for situation in the
past because we often use would that is the past form of will. We use should
Example: She said, “My boyfriend shall do this for me”(Direct speech)
She said that her boyfriend should do this for her. ( Indirect
speech)
Example: Your car is very old. You should buy a new one.
We also use shouldwith perfect form for untruth action in the past.
Example: We were worried about you, you should have called us. ( But
Example: You should obey your parents. = You ought to obey your
parents.
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5. Can
Can is an anomalous verb, the verbs that come after have to be infinitive
with out to. We use can to show that something is possible or someone has ability
We use could to make polite request. The meaning of could in this function
We use could with the perfect form to express predication in the past.
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7. May
May is an anomalous verb, it helps other verb to indicate that something is
possibility.
8. Might
Might is the past form of may use to help other verb to express possibility in
the past.
speech)
9. Must
Must is an anomalous verb, that don’t have infinitive and past participle
form and not add –s although subject is third person singular. We use must to
express Imperative or necessity to do something and to indicate duty and
obligation.
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Example: We must go to bed early tonight.
Must has the same meaning with have to. We use must and have to to
10. Ought to
Ought to have the same meaning with should, but the meaning of ought to
stronger than should. They express advisability.
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11. Used to
Used to expressing a habit, activities that existed in the past but which no
longer exist.
12. Need
Need is an anomalous verb that can be main verb and helping verb. If need
is used as main verb. We normally use do help need in negative and question
sentences.
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13. Dare
Dare is an anomalous verb that can be main verb and helping verb. Dare
used in main verb is express brave to do something, it is followed by infinitive
with to and put –s when go with third person singular.
Here are some example of modal verbs and their similar expressions:
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I need to wash my dirty clothes.
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Chapter 3: Methodology
This chapter explains how to do the research from target “Students’
awareness in using Auxiliary verbs in English grammar” I need to do research to
make it more correctly. All this data that I collected could help me to prove the
information.
3.1. Participants
This study took place at Lao-Top College, which located in Phonp1apao
village, Sysuttanark district, Vientiane capital. The sample of this study consisted
College. These people can give me more information about their awareness on
Auxiliary verbs.
the participants.
Package for the Social Sciences) and Microsoft Excel office in order to calculate
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Chapter 4: Result
This chapter reports the results of the study. The purpose of the study of
students’ awareness in using Auxiliary verbs in English grammar was to find out
the knowledge of participants in using English grammar and the important of
Auxiliary verbs on participants’ opinion.
The data collected was analyzed through the calculating program SPSS and
MS Excel order to complete the questionnaires and the researcher divided the
questionnaires into 3 parts:
Male 54 54
Female 46 46
Total 100 100
Table 2: Gender.
was 46%.
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15-20 38 38
21-25 52 52
26-30 10 10
Total 100 100
Table 3: Age.
The table is about age of participants. Most people were around 15-20 years
old at 38% , followed by students who were 21-25 years old at 52% , and 26-30 at
10%.
General English 78 78
Business Administration 22 22
Total 100 100
Table 4: Major.
Administration.
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4.1.4 Year of study
Year of
study Frequency (n) Percentage (%)
1 28 28
2 29 29
3 43 43
This table shows the amount of participants in each year of their study in
percentage from 100 of questionnaires. The most are students in year 3 at 43% ,
For this table shows the percentage of participants who made correct answer
in “How many types of auxiliary verbs” which correct answer was “2” by 64%
which was 1 year students 15 people, 2 year were 23 people and 3 year were 25
people. 36% of participants were wrong which answer were “1” by 7% and “3”
were 29%.
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4.2.2 Which type of auxiliary verb that can be both main verb and helping
verb?
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This table shows the ratio of correct answer in “How many kinds of Modal
auxiliary verb are there?” which correct answer were “13” by 41% and 59% of
participants were wrong which answer were “11” by 12% and “12” were 47%.
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4.2.6 Which verb that has similar expression with Be going to?
This table list explains the ratio of participants who made correct answer in
“Which verb that has similar expression with Be going to?” which correct answer
were “Will” by 54% and 46% of participants were wrong which answer were
4.2.7 Which verb that has similar expression with Be able to?
This table shows the scale of correct answer in “Which verb that has similar
expression with Be able to??” which correct answer were “Can” by 38% and 62%
of participants were wrong which answer were “Will” by 46% , “Need” by 14%
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4.3. Exercises.
4.3.1 Read these sentences and check bold verb is main verb (M) or
This table shows percentage and amount of correct answers that participants
made in the exercise that let them check bold verbs then choose that those verbs
were main verb or auxiliary verb. For the result were: percent of participants who
made all correct 5 articles were 21% , 4 articles were 8% , 3 articles were 56% , 2
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This table explains ratio and number of correct answers that participants
made in the exercise that let them choose the correct answer by using auxiliary
verb. For the result were: percent of participants who made all correct 5 sentences
were 36% , 4 sentences were 40% , 3 sentences were 36% and 2 sentences were
4%.
This table chart shows quantity of correct answers that participants made in
the exercise that let them choose similar expression of each modal verb in each
sentence. For the result were: percent of participants who made all correct 2
sentences were 31%, 1 sentence was 17% and not correct any sentence was 52%.
important
important
important
Important of auxiliary
More
Least
Most
Less
verbs in participants’
opinion
Improve writing 11 51 31 7 0
Improve grammar 9 45 39 7 0
Improve speaking 14 29 52 5 0
Help to understand clearly 13 19 55 13 0
Help to study easier 21 20 46 9 4
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This table shows participants’ opinion about important of auxiliary verbs for
improve their English writing. 51% of them said that it was more important, 31%
said important, 11% said most important and 7% said less important.
For improve their grammar. 45% of them said that it was more important,
39% said important, 9% said most important and 7% said less important.
For improve their speaking. 52% of them said that it was important, 39%
said more important, 14% said most important and 5% said less important.
55% of them said that it was important, 19% said more important, 13% said most
And important of auxiliary verbs help to study English easier. 46% of them
said that it was important, 20% said more important, 21% said most important,
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5.1. Conclusion
The research about “Students’ awareness in using Auxiliary verbs in
English grammar” targeted to study and find out awareness of students with
English grammar. It is significant for those who want to plan to develop their
English grammar knowledge and improve students to know how to use each
auxiliary verbs in each situation in the nearly future.
The tool that was used in this research is the questionnaires and interviews,
which are distributed to 100 students in Lao-Top College. That include: students’
Business Administration and General English Department and chosen randomly
between 15-30 years old. Then all data was calculated in SPSS & Microsoft
participants are 38% for the age 15-20 years old, 52% for the age 21-25 years old,
10% for the age 26-30 years old. Which 78% of them are studying in General
participants were year 3 students at 43%, year 2 students were 29% and year 1
5.1.2 Finding
How many types of auxiliary verbs?
This article is showing participants’ awareness for Auxiliary verbs in
English grammar by choosing correct answer in each questions. For the first
question as “How many types of auxiliary verbs?” there were 62% of participants
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that made correct, in “Which type of auxiliary verb that can be both main verb
and helping verb?” there were only 39% that made correct.
could make it correct, and in last question there were only 38% that made correct
in “Which verb that has similar expression with Be able to?”
In this section showed that only less than half of participants that known
about how to used auxiliary verbs in English grammar.
In conclusion, the information and percent from above to get participants
answer questionnaire. So that, it is summarized that were awareness in using
Auxiliary verbs in English grammar of Lao-Top College students for first year to
5.2. Discussion
In this research, most student in year I-III can understand the meaning of
Auxiliary verb and they know to use auxiliary verb in the sentence. There are
some students can tell the usage of both primary and modal auxiliaries and they
understand the similar expression of modal verbs and other verbs.
5.3. Recommendation
This thesis intended to survey the students’ awareness in using Auxiliary
verbs in English grammar. After making research there were some comments
grammar this will have you to prepare before going to teach in classroom.
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observe more than 100 persons to get and various and reliable. Furthermore, there
variety of research instruments that should be used for next study such both
quantitative and qualitative methods: observation and interview.
5.5. Summary
The research about “Students’ awareness in using Auxiliary verbs in
English grammar” targeted to study and find out awareness of students with
English grammar. Most participants in this survey are male 54% and female
46%. Which 78% of them are studying in General English department and 22%
participants don’t have much knowledge about auxiliary verbs. This thesis will be
knowledge and database for the students of next generation who want to write
final report by this topic, this thesis will have you for information and steps of
writing. For new teacher who teaching English grammar this will have you to
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