| auxiliary verb |
| Definition: A verb that modifies the voice, tense, or mood of another verb |
| Example:
I have written a letter
(In the above, the auxiliary verb have modifies the tense of the verb written.) |
| Etymology: The phrase derives from the Latin auxiliaris, helpful + verbum, verb or word. |
| Quotation:
"Our auxiliary verbs give us a power which the ancients, with all their varieties of mood, and inflections of tense, never could attain."
(Source: OED: 1834 Southey, Doctor 1) |