Search the lexicon

Found:

auxiliary verb

SYNTAX: verb which 'helps' the main verb in expressing certain moods, aspects, tenses or voices; all the verbs beside the main verb in a simplex sentence are auxiliary verbs. EXAMPLE: was is the passive auxiliary in (i), has is the perfect auxiliary in (ii), and should, have and been are the modal, perfect and passive auxiliaries respectively in (iii).

(i)   Greg was defeated
(ii)  Miguel has defeated Greg
(iii) Erik should have been present