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. 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.

Auxiliary verb	Mantrakshar	Meaning contribution	Example
be1		copula (= linking verb)	She is the boss.
be2		progressive aspect	He is sleeping.
be3		passive voice	They were seen.
can1		deontic modality	I can swim.
can2		epistemic modality	Such things can help.
could1		deontic modality	I could swim.
could2		epistemic modality	That could help.
dare		deontic modality	I dare not attempt it.
do1		do-support/emphasis	You did not understand.
do2		question	Do you like it?
have		perfect aspect	They have understood.
may(1)		deontic modality	May I stay?
may(2)		epistemic modality	That may take place.
might		epistemic modality	We might give it a try.
must1		deontic modality	You must not mock me.
must2		epistemic modality	It must have rained.
need		deontic modality	You need not water the grass.
ought		deontic modality	You ought to play well.
shall		deontic modality	You shall not pass.
should1		deontic modality	You should listen.
should2		epistemic modality	That should help.
will1		epistemic modality	We will eat pie.
will2		future tense	The sun will rise tomorrow at 6:03.
will3		habitual aspect	He will make that mistake every time.
would1		epistemic modality	Nothing would accomplish that.
would2		future-in-the-past tense	After 1990, we would do that again.
would3		habitual aspect	Back then we would always go there.

	Action	May	Shall	Will	Can	Must
Time
past				-
present				-
future

Stative

• If I were you
• If you were me
• If we were them
• I will be you
• I am she
• I am alexander
• I am ashoka
• I am death
• I will be her
• She will be me