redkiddy  +  314132 Thu, 11 Jan 07 10:06 PM Hi from Türkiye, Modals             : Can, Could, May, Might, Should, Ought to, Must, Would, Will, Shall Semi-modals    : Dare, Need, Have to, Used to Others              : Had Better, be Supposed to, be Used to, be Accustomed to etc.   Why we call semi-modals and others instead of saying all of them modal??????(It was taken from a grammar book) redkiddy Joined on Mon, May 17 2004 TURKLAND Full Member 199 the biggest football team of all times "FENERBAHCE" Grammar, Modals

	Cool Breeze  +  314136 Thu, 11 Jan 07 10:26 PM Hi redliddy I am not so sure what to say about your 'Others' group but the difference between 'Modals' and 'Semi-modals' is very clear. I have always called 'modals' defective auxiliaries, by the way, but I do know that your term is also used. With the modals you never use do in questions and negations: I can't swim. (Not: I don't can swim.) Should I go there? (Not: Do I should go here?) With the semi-modals you have a choice, at least many grammarians think so: Dare he do it? Or: Does he dare to do it? I need not go there. Or: I don't need to go there. He used to like it. Or: He didn't use to like it. (Quite a few people consider even He didn't used to like it correct.) However, most usage experts (if there are any ) would want you to say I don't have to do it, and would think I haven't to do it wrong. But even have can be made negative without do when it is the auxiliary of the perfect tense: I haven't seen him. So that may be the reason some people call it a semi-modal. And you can say: I haven't a cat. Or: I don't have a cat. Cheers CB Cool Breeze Joined on Fri, Apr 7 2006 Senior Member 3,970 "I hope you'll all live to be 150 years old - and the last voice you hear is mine!" Frank Sinatra on stage in Oslo, Norway, 28 September 1991 Difference Between, Tenses, Negatives, Auxiliaries, Modals

	Inchoateknowledge  +  314144 Thu, 11 Jan 07 10:36 PM Others              : Had Better, be Supposed to, be Used to, be Accustomed to etc. others = modal idioms "Why we call semi-modals and others instead of saying all of them modal" because they are intermediate between auxiliaries and main verbs. I daren't jump -- You mustn't jump I do not dare  jump -- You do not must jump Inchoateknowledge Joined on Wed, May 3 2006 Senior Member 2,549 Beep! Beep! :) Verbs, Auxiliaries, Modals, Idioms