By Negatives, Affirmative sentences

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

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,...

How to change it into negative sentence?

Affirmative: They will/would have arrived home by now. Negative: They won't/wouldn't have arrived home by now. Affirmative: He will/would have reached New York. Negative: He won't/wouldn't have reached New York. I was trying to change the affirmative sentences into negative...

What's the meaning of "ought to be doing"?

Hi, everyone. I'm studying modals recently. I have a doubt about "ought to be doing". My grammar book says "ought to be doing" means "someone is not doing what he/she is supposed to do" in an affirmative sentence or "someone is doing what he/she isn't...

Re: Either, neither, too, so do I, neither do I etc.

Einmalige Narizsse wrote:Hi! Hi there...I've got question... --> I've got a question...I've heard (in the USA):A: I'm hungryB: I'm either <-- No. You really heard this? Hmm...Is it correct? No. Or I have to say "So am I". <-- This is ok. Also: "Me too" or "I'm angry too".What about...

Re: Tag question

Belly wrote:What do we use a tag question for?You like peanuts, don't you? You aren't dating Jane, are you? After an affirmative sentence, the tag is in the negative; after a negative, it is in the affirmative. The tag question is for asking confirmation of what the speaker thinks to be...

Re: semi-modals

"The semiauxiliary does not normally appear in affirmative sentences-- only negative (They needn't be) and interrogative (Need they be?)." good to know, thanks.

Re: semi-modals

I needn't have gone to work (was unnecessary, still I did)I did not need to go to work (was unnecessary, not inferable if I did) -- These are different because you have set them in different tenses. The appropriate comparison is between I needn't go to work and I did not need to go to work--...

Re: botton or buckle my belt? and the s in verbs

Anonymous wrote:Hi, everybody I have few questions. -If I have a belt for pants do I say : "I botton my belt" or I buckle my belt?Belts usually have buckles rather than buttons, so you would normally buckle your belt. -Look at these sentences: Do you know how much a ticket concert the...

Re: I not want/People don't want

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...

Adverbs of frequency

Hi,this has been asked more than once I guess, but I decided to put it neatly this way:Consider: usually, often, rarely, sometimes.Where is it possible to place them in a sentence? I wrote my choices in blue.I do it. <--- this is an affirmative sentence.At the beginning: often (with or without...