Search results for 'tag:Modal verbs' matching tag 'Modal verbs'

Re: Quick questions- please help

CalifJim — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 03:09:05 GMT

Eddie88
These are two subodinate clauses.

Yes, that's why they don't form a sentence.

Eddie88
1) Why are they subordinate clause when they have subjects and verbs?

Eddie, Eddie, Eddie!!! We've been through this before.

Almost all clauses have subjects and verbs, whether independent or dependent (=subordinate). There is no reason to be puzzled because a subordinate clause has a subject and a verb. This pattern is as common as mud.

Eddie88
What is not a subordinating conjunction, so it can't be a subordinate cluase because of that...
...And the word what, what part of speech is it?

Review my previous posts on fused relative structures.

what is the fusion of that which

what you say/do = that which you say/do

which you say and which you do are relative clauses.

that is the antecedent of which. that which you say/do and its equivalent what you say/do are both clauses that act as nouns so they are noun clauses.

what can be called a fused relative pronoun. It is unusual because both the antecedent and the relative pronoun that refers to it are contained within the same word what.

Eddie88
So why are they subordinate clauses?

Because they are not independent clauses. They are just noun clauses -- clauses that act like nouns.

Eddie88
I know of interrogative pronouns, but I assume WHY is not one, what is it?

You can call it an interrogative adverb. I think some people do call it an interrogative pronoun, however.

Eddie88
what a complementiser is

Basically, it's a word that stands in front of a clause that turns the clause into a noun.

The complementizers in English are that, whether, if, and for.

I know that you have studied hard.

I can't decide whether to stay or to go.

It doesn't matter if you do it now or later.

It's important for you to plan the project carefully.

Some writers include all the interrogative pronouns and adverbs in the complementizer category as well when they introduce embedded (i.e., indirect) questions.

Eddie88
a modal verb

The modal verbs don't add "s" in the third person singular of the present tense. They are always followed by a bare infinitive (infinitive without to). can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, and must are modal verbs. These nine are the most important ones to know.

Quick questions- please help

Eddie88 — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 12:40:42 GMT

Sentence to be analysed: What you say and what you do.

These are two subodinate clauses.

1) Why are they subordinate clause when they have subjects and verbs?What is not a subordinating conjunction, so it can't be a subordinate cluase because of that...

2) So why are they subordinate clauses?

3) And the word what, what part of speech is it? That is, what kind of word is it in the sentence, specifically?

4) The underlined words above is a question...I know of interrogative pronouns, but I assume WHY is not one, what is it?. What is this sentence made up of?

--

5) Can someone please explain quickly what a complementiser is and a modal verb is. I have a rough idea, but I need your help, still.

Thanks, a lot.

Re: Modal verbs in Hypothetical past conditions.

CalifJim — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 09:00:01 GMT

If she would have agreed I might have married her.

If she had agreed I might have/would have married her.

would is not normally used in the if-clause of a conditional statement unless it is to emphasize some sort of reciprocal action. Other than this slight emphasis on reciprocity (She would do this for me -- I would do that for her), the two are identical. I myself would not use the first one at all. It strikes me as a grammatical oddity.

Modal verbs in Hypothetical past conditions.

Sabyakgp — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 08:49:35 GMT

Hello Friends,

I have a few queries concerning conditional clauses.

Here is a sentence.

If she would have agreed I might have married her.(Hypothetical past)

In this sentence, what does the if- clasue ('If she would have agreed' ) denotes? Does it denote willingness(volition) of the person I wanted to marry?

What is the difference between the first sentence and this sentence?

If she had agreed I might have/would have married her.

Could you please help me?

Best Regards,
Sabya

Re: Modals 'could' and 'can' to denote possibility

Anonymous — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 07:14:53 GMT

Thank you. Why does the Englishpage.com's tutorial on modal verbs say about the use of 'can' this way? This is part of their explanation on the use of the moddal verb 'can'. Dp you still hold on to your position that 'can' can't denote possibility (if I interpreted your reponse correctly).

Can

"Can" is one of the most commonly used modal verbs in English. It can be used to express ability or opportunity, to request or offer permission, and to show possibility or impossibility.

Examples:

I can ride a horse. ability
We can stay with my brother when we are in Paris. opportunity
She cannot stay out after 10 PM. permission
Can you hand me the stapler? request
Any child can grow up to be president. possibility

Using "Can" in Present, Past, and Future

Most modal verbs behave quite irregularly in the past and the future. Study the chart below to learn how "can" behaves in different contexts.

Re: Simple, short phrase question.

CalifJim — Sun, 30 Nov 2008 21:31:38 GMT

Eddie88
Understanding whether a verb is the main verb or not can help tell me if a group of words is a clause or phrase.

Subject (noun phrase):

understanding whether a verb is the main verb or not

[This subject breaks down into a clause:

Subject - implicit: I / my

Verb: understand(ing)

Direct object (noun phrase expressed as a clause, i.e., a "noun clause"): whether a verb is the main verb or not.]

Verbs:

Modal verb: can

Bare infinitve: help

Bare infinitive: tell

Indirect object (pronoun): me

Direct object (noun phrase expressed as a clause, i.e., "noun clause"): if a group of words is a clause or phrase

____

Noun phrase structures like whether a verb is the main verb or not and if a group of words is a clause or phrase are called embedded or indirect questions. The questions that underlie these two are: Is a verb the main verb or not? and Is a group of words a clause or phrase? whether and if can introduce embedded "yes/no" questions.

Re: Definite article needed?

AlpheccaStars — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 04:39:43 GMT

Anonymous
A student uses scissors to cut (the) paper.

You should be consistent with the articles: Here are some natural variations:

The student uses scissors to cut the paper. >> A specific student is cutting some specific paper.

Students use scissors to cut paper. >> In general, people who are students cut paper with scissors.

The student uses scissors to cut paper. >> The emphasis is on the fact that scissors, and not something else, is used for the purpose of cutting paper.

A student may use scissors to cut paper. >> Indefinite article (meaning any student) used with modal verb.

A student may use scissors to cut the paper. >> Indefinite article used with modal verb, but now referencing some specific paper.

can and could

Anonymous — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 04:25:52 GMT

Hi,
I am going to write what I think is a typical sentence that denotes ability for the modal "can".

I can lift this chair.

If I change that into a question, did I keep the ability part intact? Or is that a request? Or could it be a request with ability in part?

Can you lift this chair (for me)?

If I changed 'can' into the modal verb 'could', Would I still have the ability part there functioning as it should but more polite?

Could you lift this chair?

Re: could have done or were able

CalifJim — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 05:14:37 GMT

Anonymous
Why do you think the tutorial on modal verbs at the Englishpage.com gave this as part of the whole showing how the modal 'could' be used?

Because it's part of an explanation of the use of 'could'???

I fail to see the relevance of the question. Or maybe I don't understand the question. To know the reasons those examples were given you would have to ask the people at Englishpage.com.

Anonymous
There seems to be no mention of general ability here.

You mean "here in the explanation found at Englishpage.com" I assume. Well, yes, that's true. There seems to be no mention of that. Is that a problem? Did you think that there should have been a mention of it?

What is your definition of "general ability"? Do you not think that 'could' brings in the idea of general ability in I could speak Chinese when I was a kid? To me that seems to be a general ability, but maybe you see it differently.

____

(That site takes essentially the same viewpoint that I do in this thread.)

Re: could have done or were able

Anonymous — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 03:44:18 GMT

Hi, Why do you think the tutorial on modal verbs at the Englishpage.com gave this as part of the whole showing how the modal 'could' be used? There seems to be no mention of general ability here.

could
past ability

I could run ten miles in my twenties.

I could speak Chinese when I was a kid.

"Could" cannot be used in positive sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.

Yesterday, I could lift the couch by myself. Not Correct

I couldn't run more than a mile in my twenties.

I couldn't speak Swahili.

"Could" can be used in negative sentences in which you describe a momentary or one-time ability.

Yesterday, I couldn't lift the couch by myself. Correct

be able to