Tense Auxiliaries

As the majority of the finite form of the verb are analytical they are formed by means of auxiliary verbs (auxiliaries). These are: to do, to be, to have, shall, will.

In the spoken language some forms of the auxiliaries and the negation not are contracted which is shown in writing by means of the apostrophe (‘)

Note:

In the spoken language is [ɪ z] is usually weakened and is pronounced [z] after vowels and voiced consonants (except voiced sibilants and affricates), [s] after voiceless consonants (except voiceless sibilants and affricates), [ǝ z] after sibilants and affricates (both voiced and voiceless). This weakening of the form is not usually shown in writing:

The boy is gone (ð ǝ 'boɪ z'gon].

The plan is good [ð ǝ 'plæ nz'gud].

The cup is broken [ð ǝ 'kʌ ps'broukæ n].

The bus is coming up [ð ǝ 'bʌ sǝ z'kʌ mɪ ŋ 'ʌ p].

* The contraction of are combined with certain personal pronouns is pronounced differently is British and American English, viz.:

** In dialect and " uneducated" British and American English the form ain’t is very common. It is used as a contracted form of am not, are not, is not, have not and has not. Ain’t is not used in standard (“correct”) English..

I ain’t going to buy it.

Don’t talk to me like that, you ain’t my mother.

It ain’t raining, let’s go out.

I ain’t got any money.

He ain’t seen me yet.

** ‘m not is replaced by aren’t in the negative-interrogative (Aren’t I clever enough? I’m clever enough, aren’t I?)

Note:

As a future tense auxiliary shall (should) is used with the 1st person (singular and plural) only.

Note 1:

As a future tense auxiliary will (would) in its full form is commonly used with the 2nd and the 3rd persons. Nowadays however there is strong tendency to use it with the 1st persons as well, especially in American English.

Note 2:

The contractions ‘ ll and ‘ d stand for will and would, not for shall and should, though they are widely used with the 1st persons as well.