In Football^x, Modals^x

Mister Micawber wrote:It just reflects its position as a marginal modal. The negation is as with others of its group:I dare not playI ought not to playI need not playI used not to playYou will note that all of these verbs have various forms of variable respectability. How can "used to" be...

It just reflects its position as a marginal modal. The negation is as with others of its group:I dare not playI ought not to playI need not playI used not to playYou will note that all of these verbs have various forms of variable respectability.

Providing that it is grammatically correct, "used" acts like a modal verb here. Take the verb "need" for example:You needn't make your bed.orYou don't need to make your bed.But I'd say "I didn't use to play football", sounds more natural.

BE from the BNC. Is there pattern? A prototypical occurence? 1 A0D married. In fact, I sent Geoffrey away, if you must know!" she shrilled. "And now somebody has sent 2 A0N fears. "Go on through and see him if you must. She turned back into the bed as a sound came from...

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...

CJ: 1. He was crazy to climb up into that tree. He have fallen and broken his neck. JTT: "in the present", Jim? What is "in the present" and why is it "in the present"? Isn't sentence 1 also "in the present". CJ: This is evidence for my point that the "past forms" of the modals can be...

1a. That's not the man I married, these days he will sit in front of the telly for hours watching football. 1b. At the beginning of our relationship, he would write some romantic letters for me, he would send me flowers every day. 3a. I can swim the distance of 400m in 90 seconds! 3b. As a...

You often stress that the relationship between modals like can/could, will/would, may/might is other than that of tense. Correct me, if I am mistaken or I have missed some of your points, but what is the relationship between the following pairs of modals? 1a. That's not the man I married, these...