In Numbers^x, Modals^x

I have the same problem, to the point that I believe the entire internal/external conceptualization and terminology are not only hopelessly inadequate, but actually perversely antagonistic to understanding. I look at must as epistemic (logical necessity), have to as deontic (interpersonal...

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They are the main verbs but are not finite verbs: that is, they do not change with person, number, tense, etc:I shall fly; she will flyI might fly, she might fly.Confusingly, neither do the modals change; but otherwise, the formation is no different than with more normal verbs:I let fly, she lets...

HSS wrote: By the same token, wouldn't "I'm going to be a doctor," or, "I will be a doctor" sound peculiar since becoming a medical doctor is extremely difficult? Or, since those sentences would be rephrased as, "I'm determined to try my hardest to be a doctor," are they okay? "I'm going to...

CalifJim wrote:If a student points to some construction and asks me if it's the subjunctive or not, I can't reply, 'No, it's a monkey!'Now there you are wrong! You are the teacher and can say any dang thing you want! In fact a smart retort like that might go a long way toward making your...

Thanks for your reply, MrP. 1. I would call it an exclamatory conditional. The main clause is left unspoken, but we can usually infer it, e.g. "if only she would contact me, I would be very happy". Ok, it’s a conditional with an unexpressed result but still a ‘conditional’ right? In this case,...

1. You must be pretty dumb if you get a bad mark. This is fine. It’s the first conditional: modal auxiliary verb + if + present simple 2. You must be pretty dumb if you got a bad mark. This would work as the second conditional if you replaced ‘must’ with ‘would’. In such a case, the...

deleted by an obligatory deletion transform. Will this work on the clutter in my living room? Don't we all wish!!! LOL Part of the problem, as Paco has aptly observed, is the problem of finding the missing (deleted) subject of a dependent clause, the infinitive clause "to be ... cleverer...

PASTEL wrote: MrP! How are you? I'm glad to see you again. Wow, how long did it take you to squeeze those examples? If I read it more than twice, I'm going to faint to the ground. I assure you, I will. I have a new question. Ready?! Tim ____ early before he reaches 65. He mentioned...

Hi TD, thanks for your reply! 　 Yeah, seems he was a original (if sometimes quite ideosyncratic) thinker! (ha-ha!) Have you read this article below? I've heard a lot of it. Actually I have to read it (thus I'm not sure if this paper really concerns your question). You can find it easily in every...