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

Re: So do we

CalifJim — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 08:21:52 GMT

Jimmyyl
So do we

No. You have to repeat the "operator" in the original statement (forms of auxiliary be, auxiliary have, and modals.)

We are getting along well.

So are we.

I can reach the ceiling.

So can I.

Mary has seen that movie.

So has Susan.

_____

Use a form of do only when there is no operator in the original statement.

You like to ski.

So do I. So does Gary.

Mike needs $20.

So do you. So does Peter.

_____

Re: Names of different tenses

Cool Breeze — Sat, 13 Sep 2008 17:58:41 GMT

Raen
He would have had completed the task if he had asked for help before he left work -- would have had completed used for had asked (past perfect) that happens before left (simple past)

Is it false then? "would have + (past perfect)" doesn't exist?

These terms may not be the same everywhere but the basic grammar of the language is the same all over the Anglo-Saxon world! Would have had completed is always wrong. Would is a defective/modal auxiliary and only an infinitive is possible after these auxiliaries. In this case the perfect infinitive must be used. There are two theoretical alternatives using your verbs. Either would have completed or would have had. All other combinations are wrong. The perfect infinitive consists of have + past participle. It is impossible to have another past participle right after a perfect infinitive. That is impossible in all Germanic languages, I believe.

Re: Calls

Anonymous — Sun, 18 May 2008 18:13:28 GMT

This is Rotter again.

Cool Breeze, I am delighted when you pointed out my mistakes. I want you and all the others to point out each and every mistake I make here.

However, I can't understand the mistake I made here.

May is an auxiliary verb.

1. Cool Breeze may have been to Sweden. [ Here 'may' is an modal verb.]

2. Cool Breeze is rich/poor.

3. Cool Breeze may be rich/poor. [ Here too 'may' is an modal verb.]

Maybe is an adverb.

I wrote 'It maybe Mr Ban has called on Burmese leaders to grant more access ...

[ The above maybe is not an adverb. Is that the mistake?]

Cool Breeze kanske har varit i Sverige.

Cool Breeze Ã¤r rik/fattig.

Kanske Cool Breeze Ã¤r rik/fattig.

Re: conditional

Anonymous — Mon, 12 May 2008 01:59:29 GMT

Thank you, Mr. M. Then, what are these ones I wrote? They have if-clauses and what look to be resultant clauses, and also, they seem to be good, sensible sentences.

All first conditional??

If I hear from you before I leave, I would call you when I get home.

If I get a raise this month, I would buy a new car.

If I play soccer every two days, I might beat this illness.

If I work hard, I might/would get a raise before the end of this month.

I think those are sentences I can use any day. What are they then? Should I not use any of them and as you seem to have recommended, change the modal auxiliary verbs in the main clause to 'will'?

Re: use of modals for past sense

Rotter — Sun, 11 May 2008 11:56:50 GMT

I have learned it is incorrect to write the auxiliary verb 'must' in the past.

I must go to the gym now. [ In 2 hours I am leaving for the gym.]

I must go the gym tomorrow.

Yesterday I had to go to the gym. --> This is correct.

Yesterday I must go to the gym. --> This is incorrect.

Is it fine to say the following?

I must have washed the car yesterday.

Re: ? have something done

Mister Micawber — Sun, 06 Apr 2008 09:49:01 GMT

.
None of the answers makes sense in this context except C. The other modal auxiliaries carry inappropriate meanings. Start your study HERE, FOR INSTANCE.

Re: bare-infinitive vs. to-infinitive

Anonymous — Mon, 31 Mar 2008 14:04:52 GMT

In Old English there was a real infinitive (bare) -- e.g. "fremman" (to do) -- and the "inflected infinitive" -- "to fremmenne" (in order to do). The bare infinitive was used with auxiliaries/modals much as it still is, while the inflected infinitive was used to express purpose and a wide variety of constructions similar to today's. The bare infinitive precedes the inflected variety, the forerunner of today's "to- infinitive". "Help" with another verb has a slightly modal sense which may explain why it can be used without "to".

Re: You need only see her. (Is this correct?)

Tanit — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 10:05:30 GMT

Viceidol

Hi, I know that auxiliary verb "need" cannot be used in affirmative statements, but how about this one? Is this correct?
You need only see her.

Hi,

Let me quote Swann (Practical English Usage, 3^rd ed., Â§ 366.2):

Need can also have the same present-tense forms as modal auxiliary verbs ... In this case, need is normally followed by an infinitive without to.
        She needn't reserve a seat - there'll be plenty of room.
These forms are used mainly in negative sentences (needn't), but they are also possible in questions, after if and in other 'non-affirmative' structures.
        You needn't fill in a form.
        Need I fill in a form?
        I wonder if I need fill in a form.
        This is the only form you need fill in. (BUT NOT ~~You need fill in a form~~.)

If we follow Swann, we can use need as a modal verb in an affirmative sentence when a 'non-affirmative' word (such as only, hardly, seldom etc.) gives the sentence a negative kind of meaning. Look at Swann's last example: the sentence becomes incorrect when only is removed.

That said, please notice this usage is mainly British.

Verbs

ganesh77 — Sun, 16 Mar 2008 09:38:41 GMT

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 in continuous tenses) i.e. eat, run, talk

3 state of being verbs; existence verbs; state verbs; stative verbs; static verbs (a verb which describes a state and is not usually used in a continuous tense) i.e. be, own, know

4 regular verbs (a verb that has four forms and follows the normal rules)

5 irregular verbs; strong verbs (a verb not following the normal rules for inflection)

6 auxiliary and modal verbs (which make up verbal phrases) â 23 in total

7 linking verbs; copulative verbs; copulas (a verb which links the subject and complement of a clause) i.e. It is warm today.

8 transitive verbs (a verb used to talk about an action or event that involves more than one person or thing, and so is followed by an object) i.e. Sheâs wasting her money.

9 intransitive verbs (a verb used to talk about an action or event that only involved the subject and so has no object) i.e. She arrived.

10 multiword verbs

a type 1 â intransitive [phrasal verbs; adverb particle

b type 2 â transitive (inseparable) [prepositional verbs; preposition particles]

c type 3 â transitive (separable) [phrasal verbs; adverb particle]

d type 4 â transitive (with two inseparable particles) [phrasal-prepositional verbs; first particle is an adverb, second particle is a preposition]

11 compound verbs

12 delexical verbs (a verb which has very little meaning in itself but is used with an object to describe an action) i.e. She gave a small cry.

13 ditransitive verbs (a verb which can have both a direct and indirect object) i.e. She gave me a kiss.

14 ergative verbs (a verb which can be used transitively to focus on the performer of the action, or intransitively to focus on the thing affected by the action) i.e. He boiled the water. The water boiled.

15 reporting verbs; performance verbs; performative verbs (a verb used with a quote or a reported clause to describe what people say or think) i.e. suggest, say, wonder

16 reciprocal verbs (a verb which describes an action involving two people doing the same thing to each other) i.e. They met in the street.

17 reflexive verbs (a verb which is typically used with a reflexive pronoun) i.e. Donât cut yourself with that knife.

18 defective verbs (a verb without all the inflected forms of a regular verb) i.e. modals

19 finite and non-finite

a infinitives

b gerunds; verbal nouns

c participles

20 catenative verbs (a verb that takes other verb forms as objects; found at the head of a series of linked constructions) i.e. We agreed to try to decide to stop eating snacks.

21 causative verbs (a verb that designates the action necessary to cause another action to happen) i.e. The devil made me do it.

Re: 'than' in a comparative sentence

CalifJim — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 00:29:10 GMT

You can use the full form, the 'pro' form, or just the pronoun. In the last case, note that isolated subject pronouns after than are often expressed as object pronouns in informal situations. The 'pro' form is the echo of the operator (modal or auxiliary) -- do if the first clause has no other operator.

Joe can play chess better than [I can play chess / I can / I / me].

Ed will reach the train station sooner than [we will reach the train station / we will reach it / we will / we / us].

Karen saw the sign more clearly than [he saw the sign / he saw it / he did / he / him].