By Affirmative sentences, Auxiliaries

If we follow Swann, we can use need as a modal verb in an affirmative sentence when a 'non-affirmative' word (such as only, hardly, seldom etc.) gives the sentence a negative kind of meaning. Look at Swann's last example: the sentence becomes incorrect when only is removed.That said,...

1. "Which day comes before Monday?" would be fine. 2. You do not need to use 'do' because 'which day' replaces the subject of the sentence:Interrogative sentence: Which day comes before Monday?Affirmative sentence (and answer): Sunday comes before Monday. (Sunday is the subject of the...

"The semiauxiliary does not normally appear in affirmative sentences-- only negative (They needn't be) and interrogative (Need they be?)." good to know, thanks.

I needn't have gone to work (was unnecessary, still I did)I did not need to go to work (was unnecessary, not inferable if I did) -- These are different because you have set them in different tenses. The appropriate comparison is between I needn't go to work and I did not need to go to work--...

Note the definition: Operators are the modals (can, could, will, would, etc.) and forms of be -- and also forms of do or have used as auxiliaries. The negative adverb not can only be carried by an operator, i.e., can only be used when accompanied by an operator. To negate a sentence...

The pattern for questions is as follows: (Interrogative Word) - Auxiliary - Subject - (rest of the verb) - (Complements) If there's an auxiliary in your affirmative sentence, then use it. Otherwise, use do, does, did. "They can sleep in the morning" > IW: HOW - Auxiliary:CAN - Subject: THEY...

Hello meg2589 and all, I almost exclusively teach Spanish students, with the exception of some American students who are learning Spanish but this is a different story. I can tell you the most common mistakes and difficulties that we, Spanish people, find when studying English. The first problem...

"Who am I?" is correct if you are asking a direct question. In indirect speech you might say something like "I wonder who I am." Miriam ------------------------------ ~comes back to edit~ I forgot you asked "why". The verb "to be" doesn't use any auxiliaries in the present simple, so in order...