Help in Auxiliary and lexical verbs

[Kalima122]

Hello,

Ok I don't know how to start this but I have just recently started paying attention to English grammar and I am not a native speaker, which is making the whole thing even harder for me. Anyhow I have started with Auxiliary and lexical verbs and I am really struggling with distinguishing between the two in some context. I know one is used to help a sentence and the other is main verbs. I think I do get it, but when it comes to doing exercise questions I feel totally blank.

An example;

Are they still here ? I thought are here should be auxiliary because it doesn't make any meaning by itself and has only a grammatical meaning, but it is not!

So if anyone could help with a good and not much complicated reference that I could use, I would really appreciate it.

 

[5jj]

BE, HAVE and DO can operate both as lexical and as auxiliary verbs:

He was happy.
He was working.
He was beaten.
He was being good.

I have three sisters.
I have read that book.
I have had some problems.

I do my homework every day.
I don't like you.
Did you do your homework yesterday?

The modals, can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would, function only as auxiliaries.

NEED can function as a lexical and as an auxiliary verb:

I need a new computer.
I need to see the doctor.
I needn't go in tomorrow,