What is a helping word?

The term "helping word" isn't a standard grammatical term. It's often used casually, and the specific meaning can vary depending on the context. However, it generally refers to a word that assists or supports another word in a sentence, usually by modifying its meaning or function.

Here are some possible interpretations of "helping word":

* Auxiliary verbs: These are verbs that help another verb express its tense, mood, or voice. Examples include "be", "have", "do", "will", "can", "should", etc.

* Example: "I *have* been studying." ("Have" helps "been studying" to express the present perfect tense.)

* Prepositions: These words show the relationship between a noun or pronoun and another word in the sentence. Examples include "on", "in", "at", "to", "from", "with", etc.

* Example: "The book is *on* the table." ("On" shows the relationship between "book" and "table".)

* Conjunctions: These words join words, phrases, or clauses together. Examples include "and", "but", "or", "so", "because", etc.

* Example: "I went to the store *and* bought some milk." ("And" joins the two clauses.)

* Adverbs: These words modify verbs, adjectives, or other adverbs, often providing information about time, place, manner, or degree.

* Example: "The cat ran *quickly*." ("Quickly" modifies the verb "ran".)

* Pronouns: These words replace nouns, making sentences more concise.

* Example: "John went to the store, *he* bought some milk." ("He" replaces "John".)

In essence, a "helping word" is a word that plays a crucial role in building a grammatically correct and meaningful sentence, even though it may not be the "main" word in the sentence.

It's important to remember that the term "helping word" is not a formal grammatical term. If you're unsure of the meaning in a specific context, it's best to ask for clarification or refer to a grammar resource.