Search results for 'tag:Affirmative sentences tag:Tenses' matching tags 'Affirmative sentences' and 'Tenses'

Re: You need only see her. (Is this correct?)

Tanit — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:05:30 GMT

Viceidol

Hi, I know that auxiliary verb "need" cannot be used in affirmative statements, but how about this one? Is this correct?
You need only see her.

Hi,

Let me quote Swann (Practical English Usage, 3^rd ed., Â§ 366.2):

Need can also have the same present-tense forms as modal auxiliary verbs ... In this case, need is normally followed by an infinitive without to.
        She needn't reserve a seat - there'll be plenty of room.
These forms are used mainly in negative sentences (needn't), but they are also possible in questions, after if and in other 'non-affirmative' structures.
        You needn't fill in a form.
        Need I fill in a form?
        I wonder if I need fill in a form.
        This is the only form you need fill in. (BUT NOT ~~You need fill in a form~~.)

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, please notice this usage is mainly British.

Re: semi-modals

Mister Micawber — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 02:51:26 GMT

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-- which have the same meaning.

You needn't be 18 to be allowed to enter this club.
You do not need to be 18 to be allowed...
Difference? IMO, no.-- I agree

(X) Major changes need be implemented.
Major changes need to be implemented. -- The semiauxiliary does not normally appear in affirmative sentences-- only negative (They needn't be) and interrogative (Need they be?).

I cannot offhand think of cases where the meanings are different; perhaps another member can.

Re: botton or buckle my belt? and the s in verbs

Yankee — Sat, 13 Oct 2007 16:23:29 GMT

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 concert ticket cost?
In the sentence above, the verb cost is simple past tense. The sentence asks whether you know how much someone paid for the ticket.

Do You Know How Much It Costs?
This sentence asks what the price is.

Why in the 1st sentence the verb "cost "didn't take the s and in the 2nd sentence it did? What are ALL the cases in which a verb takes the s?, What are all the cases in which a verb doesn't take the s? There is an s at the end of simple present tense verbs in the third person singular in affirmative sentences. If the sentence is negative or interrogative, you use does+the base form of the verb in the simple present tense (third person singular).

Thanks a lot for your time and consideration, take care.

Re: Did + ing

taiwandave — Mon, 28 Jun 2004 21:47:28 GMT

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 [1], "studying" is being modified by the determiner "some" to indicate a quantity greater than zero. It's being used as a gerund (noun).

Similarly, in [2] and [3] "studying" is being treated as a noun.

But "studying" isn't a true noun. When it is the object of the verb "do", it needs determiners such as "some", "the" and "my" to identify it as a noun. Otherwise, its function becomes that of a verb. In [4], it is being used -- incorrectly -- as a verb.

"Homework", on the other hand, is a true noun, and therefore [5] 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, you can use the intensive form, which is the addition of "do" in an affirmative sentence:

I did study last night.

Re: Perfect tense (Guest:Manikandan)

Woodward — Thu, 31 Jul 2003 14:13:19 GMT

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 happened at an unspecified time. (we don't say when the action happened)
- I HAVE BEEN to Italy.
(I don't say exactly when I went. Perhaps it was last month or 5 years ago.)
If we specify the time, we use the present tense
- I WENT to Italy LAST WEEK.

2. An action that has recently happened:
- The baby HAS just GONE to sleep.
(Note that we have JUST in there which means recently, a short time ago)

3. An action that started in the past and continues up to the present. It is often used with "for" or "since" in these cases.
- SHE HAS LIVED in Malta all her life.
- THEY HAVE KNOWN each other SINCE 2001.
- HE HAS BEEN the President FOR 2 years now.

4. An action that happened repeatedly before now:
- I have won many competitions.
- He HAS FAILED his exam three times (because he didn't study or know about this Forum)

This is only the Perfect Tense in affirmative sentences.....I haven't even started with questions and the other tenses....that is for another time.

I hope this helped a little.