An auxiliary verb modifies the main verb to give more information about the main verb.
0
votes
1answer
38 views
Meaning of “How'd you know?”: “would”, “did”, or “do”?
Does the question "How'd you know" mean:
How do you know?
How did you know?
How would you?
-1
votes
0answers
78 views
Skipping the words 'you' and 'did' in spoken English
Do sentences 1 and 2 mean the same thing? Are they when speaking? If yes, is the first sentence also acceptable in written English?
1) Don't see anything?
2) Don't you see anything?
How about ...
-2
votes
3answers
72 views
“What keeps him going?” vs. “What does him keep going?” [duplicate]
Why is the grammatical structure of "What keeps him going?" right? I got a bit confused over this, when I realized that this structure fundamentally contradicts the basic rule I teach my students: ...
-4
votes
3answers
59 views
Which is correct, “does go to” or “does goes to”? [closed]
Which is the correct statement?
Does she goes to Gym?
Does Rita go to Gym?
Does Rita goes to Gym?
-5
votes
1answer
102 views
Grammar: did + past simple, is it correct? [closed]
I’ve noticed a few times where someone says something like “Did you made...” or “Did you worked...” when asking questions.
Is this some kind of unofficial talk or is it completely incorrect ...
-2
votes
2answers
1k views
When do we use “had had” and “have had”? [duplicate]
I have seen several sentences in English where some writers have written had twice in a row. I am a bit confused about when the grammar calls for using had had.
For example:
I had had my car ...
2
votes
1answer
147 views
Passive auxiliary verb or progressive one?
Uncle Vernon made another funny noise, like a mouse being trodden on.
—Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
Is ‘being’ a passive auxiliary verb or a progressive one?
1
vote
0answers
102 views
Why does a negative adverbial phrase trigger inversion? [duplicate]
When a negative adverb (or adverbial phrase) is placed at the beginning of a sentence, we exchange the normal placement of subject and verb.
Why is that?
8
votes
4answers
217 views
When was the form “is become” first used?
In the famous “Hallelujah” chorus from Handel’s Messiah, a line goes:
The kingdom of this world is become the Kingdom of our Lord.
I’ve noticed similar forms in many biblical texts and ...
0
votes
2answers
189 views
Is it correct to say “It was not happened”?
Is it correct to say "It was not happened"? I have heard people saying "It was not happening" or "It didn't happen" but "It was not happened" is new to me.
13
votes
2answers
636 views
When did periphrastic tenses stop being tenses?
English sometimes has several different ways of expressing the same thing. For example, it can form a possessive either by using an old case inflection:
The dog’s tail was always wagging.
Or it ...
3
votes
2answers
386 views
Can “did” be used in affirmative sentences? [duplicate]
Duplicate:
“did shoot” vs “shot”
When do you use “Did + 1st form” instead of “2nd form”?
Use of “do” in affirmative statements
I know that did is used when asking or when using a negative ...
1
vote
0answers
19 views
Interrogative sentences without auxiliary verbs and declarative sentences with auxiliary verbs [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is it OK to add a question mark to show inflection?
Sometimes, auxiliary verbs or helping verbs are not present in some interrogative sentences in some specific contexts ...
2
votes
1answer
951 views
“I haven't got” vs. “I don't have”
Which is the correct way of saying this in English?
I haven't got any money.
I don't have any money.
If both are correct, which is the difference between them?
0
votes
3answers
308 views
“Feeling safe? So do I!” — is this grammatical?
I have a small question regarding the usage of the present simple, present continuous and auxiliary verbs. Is this correct English?
Feel safe? (Do you feel safe?) → So do I!
Feeling safe? ...
-3
votes
2answers
360 views
Subject-auxiliary inversions not associated with questions [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Inversion in “only [adverb] have they”
Is there some rule governing the following, or similar, subject-auxiliary inversions (*"Rarely they do see the light of day", ...
10
votes
6answers
5k views
What does “if you will” mean?
A TV program says,
they started this accounting gimmick, if you will, and they...
What does "if you will" mean? Is it a short form of "if you will [a certain verb]"?
2
votes
3answers
3k views
“I am going to have to”, “I have to”, and “I will have to”
What is the difference between these two:
I am going to have to see you sometime.
I have to see you sometime.
When would you use the first one?
On that note, how is . . .
I will have to see ...
7
votes
3answers
244 views
“Have” vs. “Is” + Verb
The phrases have expired and is expired are in practice more or less identical. Formally, of course, they are different in that the former uses expired as a verb with have as its auxiliary, whereas ...
0
votes
2answers
591 views
“Would rather [infinitive1] than [infinitive2]” vs. “would rather that [subjunctive]”"
I am aware of sentences like
Beth would rather study at the library than go to parties.
There is another type of using rather that:
She would rather that the plane leave early in the ...
3
votes
2answers
683 views
“Why couldn't” vs. “why couldn't you have”
Reading Harry Potter 2, I came across the following, and I wonder if the use of couldn't have is the equivalent of couldn't in this context?
"I have got a question, Oliver," said George, who had ...
16
votes
5answers
5k views
“How dare you” vs “How do you dare”
I know that dare is a semi-modal verb. I just don't know when to use it like a modal auxiliary verb and when to use it like a normal verb. Given the following examples:
How dare you ...
How do ...
0
votes
2answers
1k views
Why do we use the word “Do” when connecting a sentence? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Sentences using: [something] + have + they
Use of “do” in affirmative statements
I was reading a news paper article of Times Of India, and came across a sentence-
...
1
vote
2answers
423 views
Using 'would' to form reasons
In the following examples:
Why would anyone want to eat something so horrible?
Who would live for forever?
Why would I ever lie to you?
Is 'would' being used to refer to time in future or past Or ...
5
votes
1answer
326 views
Question about “how many”
Why don't we use the auxiliary do in the following question:
How many people study there?
1
vote
2answers
115 views
Do I need “have” here?
Was it specifically mentioned as part of their teaching or they have just
happened not to have killed anyone?
Do I need have there?
0
votes
4answers
190 views
Which mood is created with “everyone should visit”?
Which mood is created with the sentence, "Everyone should visit..." with the use of the auxiliary verb? I have decided already that it is not the imperative mood.
1
vote
3answers
158 views
“I'm not X, am I?” vs. “I'm not X, do I?” [closed]
Which of the following is correct or better? Can they both be used?
I'm not making any sense, am I?
I'm not making any sense, do I?
4
votes
3answers
241 views
What’s the difference between “come recommended” and “be recommended”?
… But their main business is in parts and refurbishing, and the old man, Deforges, doesn’t like to sell a used piano to someone who hasn’t come recommended. He says it’s more trouble than it’s ...
2
votes
2answers
5k views
Difference between “does have” and “has” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“did shoot” vs “shot”
'Did see' and 'Saw'
“I understand you” vs “I do understand you”
What is the difference in meaning between “I play” and “I ...
3
votes
3answers
369 views
Why would he do this to me?
Do the following two statements convey the same meaning?
Why would he do this to me?
Why did he do this to me?
To me both of them seem to imply something in simple past.
2
votes
1answer
1k views
“Might have” vs “could have”
What is the difference between might have and could have?
He might have come. He might have studied.
He could have come. He could have studied.
How would you describe a possibility? For ...
4
votes
5answers
528 views
Why are present participle and infinitive equally acceptable for some verbs, but not others
This question about "started teaching/to teach" made me realise that even though the present participle and infinitive are both acceptable after "started", that's not the case with other superficially ...
2
votes
1answer
897 views
Repeating “to” and “will” in enumerations of verbs
Should I use the second "will" in constructions like this one: "it will definitely help you and will make the text more readable"
And should I write "to" before every infinitive in enumeration, or ...
2
votes
2answers
193 views
Choosing Past Simple or Past Perfect: Do I need “had” here?
Do I need "had" here? If yes, do I need to change "did" to "done"?
A: Lucy accidentally broke her mum’s favorite cup yesterday.
B: Oh! I think her mom was really angry at her, right?
A: ...
2
votes
2answers
2k views
Don't remember vs. can't remember
Could you tell me which is proper in English:
I don't remember.
I can't remember.
And if both are possible and good English, what is the difference?
3
votes
3answers
146 views
Usage of “do” in “why do I want to do something”
Phrase:
Maybe you'll ask why do I want to lift my keyboard off my desk.
Question:
Microsoft Word says that I should remove the "do". Why is that? I think the "do" should stay there.
5
votes
4answers
1k views
Differences between Verb + to be + adjectives and Verb + adjective
If you have a more illustrative title, feel free to change it. I searched but I couldn't find one.
This may be an easy and trivial question; if so, I am sorry.
What are the differences between ...
5
votes
2answers
483 views
How do “need” and “not” mix and match?
You don't need to play
You need to not play
You need not play
You needn't play
You need not to play
What does each of these mean, and which ones are equivalent to the others?
Is the meaning of the ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Subject + “have had” + bare infinitive … ever correct?
In writing an email today I came up with the following sentence:
"We have had two other ladies express an interest in the room."
I'm a native English-English speaker and this felt fine to me. My ...
1
vote
0answers
354 views
“My love don't cost a thing” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
The grammaticality of “that don't impress me much”
In the Jennifer Lopez song "My Love Don't Cost a Thing" she says:
My love don't cost a thing
...
21
votes
7answers
3k views
Is “must” ever grammatical as a past tense verb?
I have seen uses of must that appear to be in the simple past tense. Sometimes these seem grammatical, but sometimes not. Examples that help illustrate my confusion:
He knew he must go to New York ...
2
votes
2answers
681 views
“Haven't you got X ?” or “Don't you have X ?”
In British English negative questions with the verb have (when it's a lexical verb and not an auxiliary) can be formed in two ways. Is there any difference between them?
Type 1
Haven't I got your ...
3
votes
3answers
2k views
Is it considered proper English to say “You best be…” or “You'd best…”?
Often, I hear people say something like this:
You best be going.
Or:
You'd best sweep the floor before you leave.
Essentially, you'd best/you best be just means you should. Is it ...
8
votes
1answer
2k views
Is “of” instead of “have” correct?
I have noticed a lot of people use of instead of have, for example: "that must of been really annoying". Is this correct?
1
vote
6answers
2k views
Is “am going” a verb phrase?
What part of a sentence is the phrase "am going", as in "I am going to pray"?
8
votes
2answers
2k views
“She is gone” versus “she has gone”
When should I say "She is gone", and when should I say "She has gone" (and why)?
I think that when I mean "She went away and she's still there", it should be "She has gone". Are there exceptions ...
2
votes
3answers
934 views
“I am gonna have to” vs. “I have to”
What is the difference between "I am gonna have to" and "I have to"?
When would you use the first one?
update: I am specifically asking about situations like the one described here.
1
vote
2answers
1k views
Wh-questions: auxiliary verbs or not?
What's the difference between these two questions:
Why they chose football?
and
Why did they choose football?
0
votes
3answers
176 views
“These will be, should be” [closed]
Is the following sentence correct?
"... the goods will arrive later. These will be, should be packed, will be stored in our third shed"
I don't know if it does make sense to you guys, but since ...
