 | The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a worldwide view of the subject. (January 2016) |
An auxiliary verb (abbreviated aux) is a verb that adds functional or grammatical meaning to the clause in which it occurs, so as to express tense, aspect, modality, voice, emphasis, etc. Auxiliary verbs usually accompany an infinitive verb or a participle, which respectively provide the main semantic content of the clause.[1] An example is the verb have in the sentence I have finished my lunch. Here, the auxiliary have helps to express the perfect aspect along with the participle, finished. Some sentences contain a chain of two or more auxiliary verbs. Auxiliary verbs are also called helping verbs, helper verbs, or (verbal) auxiliaries. Research has been conducted into split inflection in auxiliary verbs.[2]
- ^ The Oxford English Dictionary, Second Edition, defines an auxiliary verb as "a verb used to form the tenses, [grammatical mood/moods], [grammatical voice/voices], etc. of other verbs." OED Second Edition, 1989. Entry for auxiliary.
- ^ Anderson, Gregory D. S. (2006-06-08), "The Origins of Patterns of Inflection in Auxiliary Verb Constructions", Auxiliary Verb Constructions, Oxford University Press, pp. 302–389, doi:10.1093/acprof:oso/9780199280315.003.0007, ISBN 978-0-19-928031-5