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What is the definition of auxiliary verb?

An auxiliary verb is a verb that helps another verb (the main verb) to form a complete verb phrase. They provide grammatical information about tense, mood, voice, and aspect.

Here's a breakdown:

* Tense: Auxiliary verbs help indicate the time of the action (past, present, future).

* *Example:* "I have walked to the store" (present perfect tense)

* Mood: Auxiliary verbs help express the speaker's attitude or intention.

* *Example:* "She should go to the doctor" (indicative mood, expressing suggestion)

* Voice: Auxiliary verbs can indicate whether the subject of the verb is performing the action (active voice) or being acted upon (passive voice).

* *Example:* "The ball was thrown by the boy" (passive voice)

* Aspect: Auxiliary verbs help describe the duration or completion of an action.

* *Example:* "He has been working all day" (present perfect continuous, indicating ongoing action)

Common Auxiliary Verbs:

* be: am, is, are, was, were, being, been

* have: has, have, had, having

* do: do, does, did

* will: will, would

* can: can, could

* may: may, might

* shall: shall, should

* must: must

Examples:

* "I am eating dinner." (Main verb: eating; auxiliary verb: am)

* "They have finished their homework." (Main verb: finished; auxiliary verb: have)

* "She will go to the party." (Main verb: go; auxiliary verb: will)

* "We should study for the test." (Main verb: study; auxiliary verb: should)

Note: Some verbs can act as both auxiliary verbs and main verbs depending on the context. For example, "be" can be an auxiliary verb in "I am eating" but a main verb in "I am happy."

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