By Affirmative sentences, Tenses

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,...

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--...

Anonymous wrote:Hi, everybody I have few questions. -If I have a belt for pants do I say : "I botton my belt" or I buckle my belt?Belts usually have buckles rather than buttons, so you would normally buckle your belt. -Look at these sentences: Do you know how much a ticket concert the...

1. I did some studying. 2. I did the studying I was supposed to do. 3. I did my studying. 4. I did studying. 5. I did homework In is correct. The correct past-tense form of this sentence is: I studied last night. If you wish to emphasize that you studied as opposed to doing something else,...

Hi Manikandan, The Perfect Tense is a very large topic, though I'll try to explain some of the basic rules to you about the Present Perfect. (I did the Past Perfect in a recent post) The Perfect tense consists of HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE and it is used in the following cases: 1. An action that...