Search results for 'tag:American English tag:helping verbs' matching tags 'American English' and 'helping verbs'

Re: "has to" as a helping verb?

milky — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 10:26:28 GMT

CalifJim wrote:
it seems that a few American English speakers do not distinguish between those uses

Actually, the subjective/objective distinction is of extremely little importance to American speakers. Typically "must" is used as an epistemic modal almost exclusively in ordinary conversation, and "have to" as a deontic modal. That is, "must" is used to show logical necessity; "have to" is used to show situational requirements (objective, possibly?) or social obligation (subjective, possibly?). The two are interchanged at times but these interchanges are the variants, not the usual usage.

CJ

How confusing. The conflation of two modals. Why don't you just get rid of one of them?

Re: "has to" as a helping verb?

CalifJim — Sat, 11 Feb 2006 03:02:42 GMT

it seems that a few American English speakers do not distinguish between those uses

Actually, the subjective/objective distinction is of extremely little importance to American speakers. Typically "must" is used as an epistemic modal almost exclusively in ordinary conversation, and "have to" as a deontic modal. That is, "must" is used to show logical necessity; "have to" is used to show situational requirements (objective, possibly?) or social obligation (subjective, possibly?). The two are interchanged at times but these interchanges are the variants, not the usual usage.

CJ

Re: "has to" as a helping verb?

milky — Fri, 10 Feb 2006 16:23:48 GMT

Milky wrote:

Anonymous wrote:
In the sentence, "She has to eat salad every day," would "has to" be a helping verb for the action verb "eat?" Initially "to eat" looks like an infinitive, but isn't "has to" another way of saying "must," which would make it a helping verb? Thanks!

"Have/has/had (to)" is not a member of the main group of modal auxiliary verbs, but is known by many as a "semi-modal auxiliary". Another name for "auxiliary verb" is "helping verb". So, you are right, "have (to)" is a helping verb.

"Must" is normally used for subjective obligation or necessity, e.g. when a person feels he/she is obliged to do something or something is necessary, and "have to" (in one use) is used for expressing objective obligation or necessity. that is, when the obligation or necessity is placed upon us by another person. However, it seems that a few American English speakers do not distinguish between those uses.

Sorry, All. I've been sleeping badly the past few nights and have been typing tired nonsense. See my corrections above.

Lesson to be learned: check one's posts before posting.

Re: "has to" as a helping verb?

milky — Thu, 09 Feb 2006 09:30:39 GMT

Anonymous wrote:
In the sentence, "She has to eat salad every day," would "has to" be a helping verb for the action verb "eat?" Initially "to eat" looks like an infinitive, but isn't "has to" another way of saying "must," which would make it a helping verb? Thanks!

"Have/has/had (to)" is not a member of the main group of modal auxiliary verbs, but is known by many as a "semi-modal auxiliary". Another name for "auxiliary verb" is "helping verb". So, you are right, "have (to)" is a helping verb.

"Have to" is normally used for subjective obligation or necessity, e.g. when a person feels he/she is obliged to do something or something is necessary, and "must" (in one use) is used for expressing objective obligation or necessity. that is, when the obligation or necessity is placed upon us by another person. However, it seems that a few American English speakers do not distinguish between those uses.