A verb that comes before the main verb in a sentence is called a helping verb.

Examples:

• The children are playing in the park.

• A man is watching over them.

• Their parents are sitting on the benches.

• Jake was reading a book.

• The boys were talking too loudly.

The words is, are, was, and were are followed by the verbs playing, watching, sitting, reading, and talking.

When the be verbs is, are, and am are followed by other verbs, they are called helping verbs.

A helping verb is used with the -ing form of the main verb to denote an ongoing action.