In Modals^x, Auxiliaries^x, Difference between^x

Hi I have read so much about modals and this is still a grey area of grammar to me. Need is a semi-modal, which combines the qualities of auxiliaries and 'normal' verbs. OK. Examples: I needn't have gone to work (was unnecessary, still I did) I did not need to go to work (was...

< To use any other form of write with a defective auxiliary is always wrong, except for reductions like: He will have. Looks extremely simple to me! If English were an arttificial language, I can't imagine how anyone could possibly make this simpler without adding considerably to the...

<They are similar to other Germanic languages in structure and as there are only two infinitives in English (and in Swedish, for that matter), the modals or defective auxiliaries are very easy and simple to learn. They have no inflections for different grammatical persons, which is also...

Hi redliddy I am not so sure what to say about your 'Others' group but the difference between 'Modals' and 'Semi-modals' is very clear. I have always called 'modals' defective auxiliaries, by the way, but I do know that your term is also used. With the modals you never use do in questions and...

One such grammatical distinction causing much confusion is the use of the modal auxiliaries ‘may’ and ‘might’. When used in the present tense, the two modals are almost transposable, as the difference between the two is merely a very small degree of certainty. However, it has become common...

Statement: "Must" is about subjective necessity and "have to" about objective necessity. If so, why can't we use "must" in the past? -Remember that "must" is a full modal verb and "have to" is not. -Remember also that all 9 core modals, are used to express the speaker's (or listener's)...

Can any teacher here explain the difference between the modal verb (can, could, may, might, must..) and the auxiliary (can, could, may, might, must..)? If they are the same thing, why do we have to call them by different names? Many thanks. Lcchang

Hellow Zewu I'm an English learner from Japan. I am afraid I don't know much about English enough to answer such questions as those you are asking. But allow me to put my two cents worth. First of all, let me define some grammatical terms. In English, people usually say 'subjunctive mood'...

Hello, Milky and CalifJim. I haven't read Michael Lewis yet. But this question seems interesting. Will = Given my perception of the immediate situation, it is inevitable that ... Does this mean we should exclude will of ? And what's the difference between and ? I agree with you, Milky...

1. Use of present perfect tense and simple past tense Speakers of American English generally use the present perfect tense (have/has + past participle) far less than speakers of British English. In spoken American English it is very common to use the simple past tense as an alternative in...