In Modals^x, Auxiliaries^x, Negations^x

Hi CB, What is defective/modal auxiliary verb? Sorry for asking you too many questions. I hope you will give a touch to all the above questions. Thanks, Jackson

To my home has nothing to do with verbs. To is a preposition here. An answer to your last question is given in a previous post: " The auxiliary forms of need are used primarily in present-tense questions, negations, and conditional clauses." In other words, auxiliary need is...

Jackson6612 wrote: Need sometimes behaves like a modal, for example 'She need know', 'She needn't know', or, in more formal English, 'She need not know'. Examples: 1: You needn't worry 2: Buying budget-priced furniture needn't mean compromising on quality or style... 3: Loneliness...

Note the definition: Operators are the modals ( can, could, will, would , etc.) and forms of be -- and also forms of do or have used as auxiliaries. The negative adverb not can only be carried by an operator, i.e., can only be used when accompanied by an operator. To negate a sentence...

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...

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...

How can I decide which the operator is in a sentence? The modal verbs ( can, could, will, would, shall, should, may, might, must ), be , and do and have in some circumstances are the operators . Their negated contracted forms are also operators ( can't , doesn't , etc.) They are nearly...

I don't think there is any really satisfactory explanation except to say that the verb "dare" is quite unusual. Sometimes it is used as a full verb, while at other times it is used somewhat like a modal or auxiliary verb. The full form is acceptable in all circumstances; the...

Just to be sure: Need as a modal auxiliary is only possible in its negation, am I right? Or are there any examples for "need" used as an auxiliary in non-negated sentences? Thanks

Too big a question for mortal grammarians, Brinda. BE = exist; copulative verb: You are hungry. COPULATIVE + ADJECTIVE I am Mister Micawber. COPULATIVE + NOUN He is coming. AUXILIARY OF CONTINUOUS ASPECT DO = perform; auxiliary: I do the bookkeeping. TRANSITIVE VERB She doesn't...