Hi from Türkiye,
Modals : Can, Could, May, Might, Should, Ought to, Must, Would, Will, Shall
Semi-modals : Dare, Need, Have to, Used to
Others : Had Better, be Supposed to, be Used to, be Accustomed to etc.
Why we call semi-modals and others instead of saying all of them modal??????(It was taken from a grammar book)
Modals : Can, Could, May, Might, Should, Ought to, Must, Would, Will, Shall
Semi-modals : Dare, Need, Have to, Used to
Others : Had Better, be Supposed to, be Used to, be Accustomed to etc.
Why we call semi-modals and others instead of saying all of them modal??????(It was taken from a grammar book)
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 negations:
I can't swim. (Not: I don't can swim.)
Should I go there? (Not: Do I should go here?)
With the semi-modals you have a choice, at least many grammarians think so:
Dare he do it? Or: Does he dare to do it?
I need not go there. Or: I don't need to go there.
He used to like it. Or: He didn't use to like it. (Quite a few people consider even He didn't used to like it correct.)
However, most usage experts (if there are any
) would want you to sayI don't have to do it, and would think I haven't to do it wrong.
But even have can be made negative without do when it is the auxiliary of the perfect tense: I haven't seen him. So that may be the reason some people call it a semi-modal. And you can say:
I haven't a cat. Or: I don't have a cat.
Cheers
CB
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 negations:
I can't swim. (Not: I don't can swim.)
Should I go there? (Not: Do I should go here?)
With the semi-modals you have a choice, at least many grammarians think so:
Dare he do it? Or: Does he dare to do it?
I need not go there. Or: I don't need to go there.
He used to like it. Or: He didn't use to like it. (Quite a few people consider even He didn't used to like it correct.)
However, most usage experts (if there are any
) would want you to sayI don't have to do it, and would think I haven't to do it wrong.But even have can be made negative without do when it is the auxiliary of the perfect tense: I haven't seen him. So that may be the reason some people call it a semi-modal. And you can say:
I haven't a cat. Or: I don't have a cat.
Cheers
CB
Comments
others = modal idioms
"Why we call semi-modals and others instead of saying all of them modal"
because they are intermediate between auxiliaries and main verbs.
I daren't jump -- You mustn't jump
I do not dare jump --
You do not must jump