auxiliary verb

 

noun

Grammar
  • a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs. The primary auxiliary verbs in English are be, do, and have; the modal auxiliaries are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would.

Grammar

A group of verbs that combine with the main verb to form the verb phrase:

Primarybeisamarewaswerebeen
havehashad
Modalshallwillshouldwould
cancould
maymight
must
ought (to)
See also modal auxiliary verbs, primary auxiliary verbs.