Search results for 'tag:Idioms tag:Auxiliaries' matching tags 'Idioms' and 'Auxiliaries'

Re: Conditional:Auxiliary Commentary Words?

Mister Micawber — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:44:18 GMT

.
Thank you. So if the word is specifically referenced to by context, we should use the definite article to indicate specifcity of it like you did with the noun 'power'. Is that right?-- Yes

You wrote this as an introducing part (if that is phrased right) to the examples:
I think they are unaffected, but I think also that the 'would's are incorrect:

I have hard time finding out how to pluralize words like"'would" or 'how are you?"You seemed to have attach an 's' after putting the word "would" in the quotation marks. Is it how it should be done? --Yes. I used single quote marks; double marks are more formally correct.

How about this? I think they are unaffected, but I think also that the "would's" are incorrect-- No

How about these?

I think that the '"do's and don'ts" are inappropriate to the situation.-- Yes. Do's and don'ts is an idiom. (Notice that for clarity we do not use a second apostrophe in "don't's")
I think that the "good morning's" are inappropriate.-- No
I think his "how are you's" are inappropriate. -- No. His "how are you"s are inappropriate. I don't think we need the "?".

Re: To be

Mister Micawber — Fri, 01 Feb 2008 02:28:17 GMT

Have to is a semi-auxiliary (a modal idiom) and be is a bare infinitive object/verb complement.

I have to go.
Do you really have to?

Re: modals

Inchoateknowledge — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 22:36:50 GMT

Others : Had Better, be Supposed to, be Used to, be Accustomed to etc.

others = modal idioms

"Why we call semi-modals and others instead of saying all of them modal"

because they are intermediate between auxiliaries and main verbs.

I daren't jump -- You mustn't jump

I do not dare jump -- ~~You do not must jump~~

Re: that

Garnett — Fri, 17 Nov 2006 16:29:00 GMT

Marius Hancu wrote:
The idiom
is
dream come true

I think this stems from an elision of "A dream (that is/has) come true".

"To come" used to take "to be" as an auxiliary verb and still does when people are being dramatic:

"Now I become death, the destroyer of worlds." ~ J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Re: Change English As You Wish

Cool Breeze — Wed, 13 Sep 2006 13:20:32 GMT

Thank you to all those who have posted their suggestions to my little imagination game. Some have taken it very seriously thinking they would have to relearn English after the 'changes'. This was meant to be just a game, not for those wo take everything seriously, and of course in this game everybody automatically speaks and writes the new English fluently without having to learn anything.

In the colonial days several European languages got exported as taking peoples' lands from them was considered a virtue and something to be proud of. This resulted in some languages being more dominant than others. Spanish and French were the most important languages till the end of the 19th century when the USA rose to be No. 1 in world politics and commerce. The foundation for English as the lingua franca had been laid.

The world should be thankful. There is no such thing as an easy language; every language is difficult if the learner aims at perfection. However, there are grammatically and structurally far more complicated languages than English, and we should consider ourselves lucky it's only the spelling that drives us nuts about English, not inflections.

Here are the changes I would make to English:

A. Spelling: Grammar Geek, Alienvoord and Englishuser would all make changes to the spelling, and indeed so would I. I think Englishuser puts it nicely: "I'd certainly change the spelling of words with an 'irregular' spelling, that is, words whose pronunciation can't be determined basing on how they're spelt." I would also accept more than one spelling for a word in many cases.

There isn't enough space and I don't have enough time and patience to cover all the tens of thousands of words this entails, but here are some examples of new spellings:

OLD                                 NEW
fight                                  fite
perceive                           perceive, percieve
tough                                 tuf
though                              tho
knight                                 nite
caste                                 cast
pace                                 pace, pase
write                                 rite

B. Grammar: English grammar is so uncomplicated due to 500 years of simplifying foreign influence (200 years of Vikings and 300 years of Normans) that English grammar really couldn't be made much simpler even if it were an artificial language. However, as a foreigner I'll continue the foreign influence and enforce the following changes.

1. I will get rid of the third person singular s and has. Henceforth we will say: He speak English. He have a car. He have asked it twice. The s is a totally needless relic and Swedish, another Germanic language, needs no verb endings for any person even though it is more complicated than English in other respects.

2. There will be no irregular verbs from now on with the exception of to be and the defective or modal auxiliaries, which will remain unchanged. Examples of new English:

OLD                                 NEW
He saw us.                        He seed us.
He has written a letter.    He have rited a letter.
Who wrote it?                   Who/Hu rited it?
I haven't hit him.               I haven't hitted him.
I ran too fast.                    I runned too fast.

3. I'll return English to its pre-Shakespearean state with regard to questions and negations. Henceforth, English will be like the other Germanic languages and questions will be asked without the totally unnecessary do auxiliary:

OLD                                  NEW
Do you speak English? Speak you English?
I didn't see him.                  I seed not him.
Did you do it?                   Doed you it?

4. All past participles can be used attributively before nouns: a rited report, a catched fish, two asked questions, a surrendered country.

5. There will be no irregular plurals for nouns:

OLD                                     NEW
two men                               two mans
many children                      many childs
these phenomena              these phenomenons
two geese                           two gooses

6. Any uncountable noun can be used as a countable if the need arises:

OLD                                    NEW
two pieces of advice         two advices
two news items                  two newses

7. I'll leave the articles, pronouns, numerals, adjectives and adverbs as they are. There are countless idioms where the articles are used contrary to reason and logic, but non-natives' incorrect usage seldom gives rise to misunderstandings. Besides, who am I to deprive English of all its fascination?
Those who don't like sentences like He runned too fast have my permission to say He runned too fastly if they prefer that.

8. Since there are so few inflections, the word order will just have to remain as it it with a few exceptions. For the sake of clarity, some minor changes will take effect: You Only Live Twice has to be renamed (and rerecorded) You Live Only Twice. (Fortunately Nancy Sinatra is still alive, she can rerecord it next week!)

9. Some changes in clause equivalents would make English more exact, but I am reluctant to make them. I'll let English remain somewhat inexact. It is plain impossible to make it exact in every respect without more inflections, and more inflections would make learning English a more laborious task for non-natives.

Consider these examples:

Having said that, he left the room. (After he had said that, he left the room.)
"Having said that, he did win Wimbledon two years ago." (A tennis commentator has said something slightly negative about a player, then decides to mention a positive thing about him. The sentence does not usually mean: After he had said that, he won Wimbledon two years ago. But of course it could mean that, too.)

English abounds in ambiguity and native speakers disagree on what common verbs such as the defective auxiliaries mean in some contexts. I'll let all that be as it is, I know when to give up.

Vocabulary: I'll add some short words that can be used to indicate surprise, disbelief etc. in spoken English in sentences like: He goed there? You like not it! Haven't you seed it? I won't write the words here, though, I just think English could and should have more finesse and be more expressive and colorful.

I won't delete a single word from the vocabulary, on the contrary, I'll add a way of forming a word denoting a person from a town or a village. English already has many such words but on the whole they are rather impractical: a Liverpudlian, a Memphian. Some are easier: a Londoner, a New Yorker. But what do you call a person who lives in Timbuktu?

From now on, the ending will always be er: a Liverpooler, a Memphiser, an Uppsalaer, a Hong Konger, a Tokyoer, a Timbuktuer. This will add hundreds of thousands of words to English. I'll also let you call a Swede a Swedener and a Thai a Thailander if you wish.

I have simplified the grammar a little and that should help non-native learners in particular. I have left the basic structure of the language untouched except for the disappearance of do in questions and negations. But even this is actually a minor thing since it just returns English to the early 16th century.

I have increased the vocabulary a great deal. Every three-year-old Finn knows what to call a person from Timbuktu once he is told there is such a place. English-speaking kids should be able to do the same.

Cheers
CB

Re: Which definition is a correct one?

Mister Micawber — Thu, 30 Mar 2006 13:05:12 GMT

Most grammars (at least the ones I have) list had better as a modal idiom, and offer no etymology. Fowler's Modern English Usage says:

"The word had in this phrase is not the mere auxiliary of mood or tense, but a true verb meaning find: You had better do it = You would find to-do-it better."

Re: be bothered

Anonymous — Thu, 01 Sep 2005 06:08:07 GMT

To be bothered is an idiom (A speech form that is peculiar to itself within the usage of a given language. --- American Heritage Dictionary) and a negative polarity item. (See http://www.everything2.com/index.pl?node_id=1534964 .)

Grammatically, the sentence is in the passive voice, which means it has a form of the verb be plus the past participle of the principal verb, bothered. Can is an auxiliary verb, which modifies the meaning of be bothered.

Similar sentences with nonidiomatic verbs:

-I can not be persuaded.
-You can't be cured.
-They couldn't be transported.

Re: Under A Cloud

Dj Bueno — Sat, 06 Aug 2005 12:48:06 GMT

Mister Micawber wrote:

Under a cloud also means under suspicion.

'Many well-known baseball stars have been under a cloud since the widespread use of steroids in the sport was revealed.'
'Since my wife saw me talking to that cute lady down the street, my every trip to the convenience store has been underaken under a cloud.'

You will also meet the more complete phrase, under a/the cloud of suspicion, DJ.

Mr.Mic.thank u very much for your comprehensible examples..I've got it! But which usage is much better? I mean if s.o feels miserable or doleful should I use "under a cloud" or if s.o. has suspicion about sth. then is it time to use "under a cloud"? I'm a little bit confused.I mean generally how do people use that idiom? Or maybe it is not often used?? Also do we have to put an auxiliary verb before "under a cloud".E.g. I have been under a cloud due to the ...bla bla bla I mean can't we say it without using an auxiliary verb? Is it always necessary? And lastly you said that convenience store has been underaken... What's the meaning of "underaken", did you mean "undertaken"??

Take care..

Bueno..

Re: Medical Titles and Their Abbreviations

StyxNStonzzz — Fri, 03 Jun 2005 21:01:29 GMT

Hey, you forgot about all the other things "do" could stand for, like:

do.
abbreviation for ditto.

.do
abbreviation: Dominican Republic (in Internet addresses).

n. Music
The first tone of the diatonic scale in solfeggio.

n. Slang pl. dos
A hairdo.

v. did, (dd) done, (dn) doÂ·ing, does (dz)
v. tr.

To perform or execute: do one's assigned task; do a series of business deals.
To fulfill the requirements of: did my duty at all times.
To carry out; commit: a crime that had been done on purpose.

To produce, especially by creative effort: do a play on Broadway.
To play the part or role of in a creative production: did Elizabeth I in the film.
To mimic: âdoing the Southern voice, improvising it inventively as he goes alongâ (William H. Pritchard).

To bring about; effect: Crying won't do any good now.
To render; give: do equal justice to the opposing sides; do honor to one's family.
To put forth; exert: Do the best you can.

To attend to in such a way as to take care of or put in order: did the bedrooms before the guests arrived.
To prepare for further use especially by washing: did the dishes.

To set or style (the hair).
To apply cosmetics to: did her face.
To have as an occupation or profession: Have you decided what you will do after college?
To work out by studying: do a homework assignment.
Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: He can play the piano, and I can do that, too.
Informal.
To travel (a specified distance): do a mile in four minutes.
To make a tour of; visit: â [He] did 15 countries of Western Europe in only a few daysâ (R.W. Apple, Jr.).

To be sufficient in meeting the needs of; serve: This room will do us very nicely.
Informal. To serve (a prison term): did time in jail; did five years for tax fraud.
Slang. To cheat; swindle: do a relative out of an inheritance.
Slang. To take (drugs) illegally: âIf you do drugs you are going to be in continual troubleâ (Jimmy Breslin).
Slang. To kill; murder.
Vulgar Slang. To have sex with; bring to orgasm.

v. intr.
To behave or conduct oneself; act: Do as I say and you won't get into trouble.

To get along; fare: students who do well at school.
To carry on; manage: I could do without your interference.
To make good use of something because of need: I could do with a hot bath.

To serve a specified purpose: This coat will do for another season.
To be proper or fitting: Such behavior just won't do.
To take place; happen: What's doing in London this time of year?
Used as a substitute for an antecedent verb: worked as hard as everyone else did.
Used after another verb for emphasis: Run quickly, do!

v. aux.
Used with the infinitive without to in questions, negative statements, and inverted phrases: Do you understand? I did not sleep well. Little did we know what was in store for us.
Used as a means of emphasis: I do want to be sure.

n. pl. dos or do's
A statement of what should be done: a list of the dos and don'ts of management.
Informal. An entertainment; a party: attended a big do at the embassy.
A commotion.
Chiefly British Slang. A swindle; a cheat.
Archaic. Duty; deed.
Slang. Fecal matter; excrement.

Phrasal Verbs:
do by
To behave with respect to; deal with: The children have done well by their aged parents.
do for
To care or provide for; take care of.
do in Slang
To tire completely; exhaust: The marathon did me in.
To kill.
To ruin utterly: Huge losses on the stock market did many investors in.
do up
To adorn or dress lavishly: The children were all done up in matching outfits.
To wrap and tie (a package).
To fasten: do up the buttons on a dress.
do without
To manage despite the absence of: We had to do without a telephone on the island.

Idioms:
can/could do without
To prefer not to experience or deal with: I could do without their complaints.
do a disappearing act Informal
To vanish.
do away with
To make an end of; eliminate.
To destroy; kill.
do it Vulgar Slang
To engage in sexual intercourse.
do (one) proud
To act or perform in a way that gives cause for pride.
do (one's) bit
To make an individual contribution toward an overall effort.
do (one's) business
Slang To defecate. Used especially of a pet.
do (one's) own thing Slang
To do what one does best or finds most enjoyable: âI get paid to try cases and to do my thing on trialâ (Bruce Cutler).

D.O.
abbr.

Doctor of Osteopathy

Main Entry: do
Function: verb
Inflected Forms: did; done; doÂ·ing; does
transitive verb 1 : PERFORM, EXECUTE
2 : COMMIT verbal auxiliary âused with the infinitive without to to form present and past tenses in legal and parliamentary language âdo business : to be engaged in business activities (as soliciting sales); specifically : to engage in activities sufficient to subject a foreign company to the personal jurisdiction of a state âsee also DOING BUSINESS STATUTE

Main Entry: DO
Function: abbreviation
1 doctor of osteopathy
2 doctor of optometry

Main Entry: dissolved oxygen
Part of Speech: noun
Definition: the amount of oxygen dissolved in a body of water as an indication of the degree of health of the water and its ability to support a balanced aquatic ecosystem; also, the amount of free (not chemically combined) oxygen dissolved in water, wastewater, or other liquid, usually expressed in milligrams per liter, parts per million, or percent of saturation; abbr. DO

do

n 1: an uproarious party [syn: bash, brawl] 2: the syllable naming the first (tonic) note of any major scale in solmization [syn: doh, ut] 3: doctor's degree in osteopathy [syn: Doctor of Osteopathy, DO] v 1: engage in; "make love, not war"; "make an effort"; "do research"; "do nothing"; "make revolution" [syn: make] 2: carry out or perform an action; "John did the painting, the weeding, and he cleaned out the gutters"; "the skater executed a triple pirouette"; "she did a little dance" [syn: perform, execute] 3: get (something) done; "I did my job" [syn: perform] 4: proceed or get along; "How is she doing in her new job?"; "How are you making out in graduate school?"; "He's come a long way" [syn: fare, make out, come, get along] 5: give rise to; cause to happen or occur, not always intentionally; "cause a commotion"; "make a stir"; "cause an accident" [syn: cause, make] 6: carry out or practice; as of jobs and professions; "practice law" [syn: practice, practise, exercise] 7: be sufficient; be adequate, either in quality or quantity; "A few words would answer"; "This car suits my purpose well"; "Will $100 do?"; "A 'B' grade doesn't suffice to get me into medical school"; "Nothing else will serve" [syn: suffice, answer, serve] 8: create or design, often in a certain way; "Do my room in blue"; "I did this piece in wood to express my love for the forest" [syn: make] [ant: unmake] 9: behave in a certain manner; show a certain behavior; conduct or comport oneself; "You should act like an adult"; "Don't behave like a fool"; "What makes her do this way?"; "The dog acts ferocious, but he is really afraid of people" [syn: act, behave] 10: spend time in prison or in a labor camp; "He did six years for embezzlement" [syn: serve] 11: carry on or manage; "We could do with a little more help around here" [syn: manage] 12: arrange attractively; "dress my hair for the wedding" [syn: dress, arrange, set, coif, coiffe, coiffure] 13: travel or traverse (a distance); "This car does 150 miles per hour"; "We did 6 miles on our hike every day"

do

1. repeat loop.

2. The country code for Dominican Republic.

(1999-06-10)

Sheesh!

Re: Question on using the word 'better'

taiwandave — Tue, 22 Jun 2004 10:29:50 GMT

I checked in a new book, "The Cambridge Grammar of the English Language", which is intended as a rival to Quirk. Following is an excerpt concerning "had better". I don't understand most of it, but presumably Pemmican & Miriam will. I was surprised to see that dropping the "had", as in, "You better go now," is considered by these authors to be acceptable usage!

HAD BETTER/BEST

These are idioms containing the auxiliary âhadâ:

I had better tell them.
I hadn't better tell them.
Had I better tell them?

"Had" has the reduced form 'd, but the reduction can go one stage further, with "had" dropping altogether, and only the âbetterâ remaining: "You better go now." The "had" does not have a past time meaning: in [the above examples] we are concerned with what is the best course of action now, not at some time in the past. This weakens the relationship of the "had" to non-idiomatic "have", and it is questionable whether it should be regarded synchronically as a form of âhaveâ or as a distinct lexeme.

If we take âhadâ as a form of âhaveâ, it will have property [M], preterite with modal remoteness rather than past time meaning. If we take it as a distinct lexeme, we will say that it has been properly reanalyzed as a present tense form (like âmustâ and âoughtâ), and it will have property [J], no agreement. In either case, it has only primary forms, , and takes only a bare infinitival complement, . On these grounds it undoubtedly should be included among the non-central members of the modal auxiliary class.