In Modals^x, Auxiliaries^x, Gerunds^x

Jackson: See the catenative verb entry in wiki.. These verbs can be followed by other verbs - infinitive, gerund, and bare infinitive. http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:English_catenative_verbs

Laughing is when you are making noise - ha ha ha ha Grinning is a big smile (no noise) Parsing: I could not stop laughing. I = subject could = modal (auxiliary) verb not = adverb stop (infinitive main verb, with modal "could") laughing / grinning - gerund, present participle of verb...

1) Where are you? I've been waiting for 2 hours 2) I needn't have brought that milk I = subject need have bought = verb; present perfect tense, modal form (need is the auxiliary), buy is the main verb, bought is the past participle. not - adverb that - demonstrative pronoun refering...

The list isn't meant to be exhaustive or carefully arranged. Any additions, corrections or further examples would be welcomed. 1 main verbs; lexical verbs (all verbs which are not auxiliaries or modals) 2 action verbs; event verbs; dynamic verbs (a verb which can be used...

Cool Breeze wrote: 1) Leaving taps on and using too much water is very bad for the environment. (Easy, 2 gerunds right?) Right. 2) Everyone should be recycling rubbish. Should is a modal auxiliary or a defective auxiliary as these verbs are also called. It is always followed by an infinitive....

1) Leaving taps on and using too much water is very bad for the environment. (Easy, 2 gerunds right?) Right. 2) Everyone should be recycling rubbish. Should is a modal auxiliary or a defective auxiliary as these verbs are also called. It is always followed by an infinitive. Be recycling is a...

Inchoateknowledge wrote: What does (simple) future tense mean in this sentence? The grammarian (it is a grammarian, isn't it?) you're quoting would probably tell you that there is no future tense. Many linguists claim English has only two tenses: Past and Non-past (sometimes called present)....

Hello Troy 1. I was passing by, and noticed your post. 2. I shall try to comply with Nona's request, though I too am no grammarian. 3. I shall also try to add a little to Roadrunner's and Paco's replies. 4. Luckily everyone else has gone out for the evening, 5. leaving me alone to...

Hello Eladio I would distinguish between only 3 forms. Your extra forms relate to different tenses, rather than changes in the structure. There are some tenses you've omitted, too: 'I'm getting used to', for instance. Here's how I'd divide them: 1. Your first form: Adjectival use,...

Just change it into "I must go" - then it's easier to analyze: "go" here is the full verb that is in its infinitive and follows the modal auxiliary must - without to! I have to go: "have to" is the substitute form for "must", "go" again is the full verb in its infinitive. "Have to" here...