auxiliary

/ɔːɡˈzɪliəri/

adjective

  1. Providing extra help or support.

    B2
    • "The hospital has an auxiliary power generator."B1
    • "The organization relies on auxiliary staff during busy periods."B2
    • "The auxiliary police officers helped during the festival."B2

  2. In grammar, helping another verb to express tense, mood, voice, or emphasis.

    B2

    usually used before noun

    • "In “She is working,” “is” is an auxiliary verb."B1
    • "The auxiliary verb “do” is used to form questions and negative statements in English."B2

noun

  1. An auxiliary verb, such as “be,” “have,” or “do,” or a modal verb such as “can” or “must.”

    B2

    countable

    • "“Have” is an auxiliary in “They have finished.”"B1
    • "In short answers, the auxiliary usually replaces the main verb."B2
    • "The auxiliary verb “have” is used to form the perfect tense."C1

  2. A person or thing that provides additional help or support.

    B2

    countable

    • "She works as an auxiliary at the local clinic."B2
    • "The navy used auxiliary vessels to transport supplies."C1
    • "The car's auxiliary battery is used for starting the engine."B2

Common mistakes

  • Auxiliary verbs are the main action in a sentence.→Auxiliary verbs help the main verb express tense, aspect, voice, or mood.

    An auxiliary usually works together with a main verb, although it can stand alone in a short answer.

Collocations

auxiliary verbauxiliary powerauxiliary staffauxiliary nurseauxiliary equipment

Word family

auxiliariesauxiliate