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"Auxiliar" is an adjective which is often translated as "auxiliary", and "ayudar" is a transitive verb which is often translated as "to help". Learn more about the difference between "auxiliar" and "ayudar" below.
auxiliar(
owk
-
see
-
lyahr
)An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. auxiliary
Se enviaron tropas auxiliares para repeler el ataque.Auxiliary troops were sent to repel the attack.
a. assistant
El profesor titular está enfermo, así que hoy el profesor auxiliar dará la clase.The professor is sick, so today the assistant professor will teach the lesson.
3. (computing)
a. peripheral
La tablet no viene con elementos auxiliares como el ratón o el teclado.The tablet doesn't include peripheral elements such as a mouse or keyboard.
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
5. (to succor)
a. to help
Enviamos refuerzos para auxiliar a nuestros soldados.We sent reinforcements to help our soldiers.
b. to assist
50 médicos voluntarios auxiliarán a las víctimas del huracán.50 volunteer doctors will assist the hurricane victims.
c. to attend
La víctima fue auxiliada por tres hombres que pasaban por el lugar.The victim was attended by three men who were passing by.
d. to aid
Los bomberos auxiliaron a la mujer atrapada en la casa en llamas.The firefighters aided the woman trapped inside the house on fire.
e. to give aid to
El gobierno auxilia a países del tercer mundo.The government gives aid to third-world countries.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
7. (grammar)
a. auxiliary verb
El auxiliar se conjuga según el sujeto.The auxiliary verb is conjugated according to the subject.
ayudar(
ah
-
yoo
-
dahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g., I bought a book.).
1. (to assist)
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g., The man sneezed.).
2. (to assist)
a. to help
Si quieres ayudar, puedes barrer las hojas del jardín.If you want to help, you can sweep the leaves in the garden.
ayudarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g., Te ves cansado.).
a. to help oneself
Si no te ayudas tú mismo, no esperes que otro lo haga.If you don't help yourself, don't expect anyone else to.
a. to use
Ayúdate del pasamanos para bajar las escaleras al andén.Use the handrail to go down the stairs to the platform.
b. to make use of
Se ayudaron de todos los servicios a su disposición.They made use of all the services at their disposal.
A reciprocal verb is a verb that indicates that two or more subjects perform an action on each other (e.g., Ellos se abrazan.).
a. to help each other
Los dos hermanos están muy unidos y se ayudan mucho.The two brothers are very close and they help each other a lot.
