auxiliary verb

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɔːɡˈzɪljəɹi ˈvɜː(ɹ)b/
  • Audio (Southern England):(file)

Noun

Examples
  • I am going to Italy on holiday.
  • I had never eaten octopus before.
  • Who would have believed it?

auxiliary verb (plural auxiliary verbs)

  1. (grammar) A verb that accompanies the main verb in a clause in order to make distinctions in tense, mood, voice or aspect.
    Synonyms: auxiliary, helper verb, helping verb

Quotations

  • For quotations using this term, see Citations:auxiliary verb.

Antonyms

Hyponyms

  • (sometimes) temporal auxiliary verb, temporal auxiliary
  • (sometimes) modal auxiliary verb, modal auxiliary

Translations

See also

examples of English auxiliary verbs