An auxiliary verb modifies the main verb to give more information about the main verb.
-1
votes
0answers
77 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 ...
5
votes
3answers
2k views
needn't = don't need to?
Are these two sentences equivalent?
You needn't pay at once.
You don't need to pay at once.
If yes, which one would you recommend? Is it an US/GB thing?
-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: ...
6
votes
6answers
4k views
“I'm done” or “I've done”
When someone asks whether you have completed a task e.g. shopping, dinner. What should be your answer?
I am done.
or
I have done.
To me, the former sentence's formation, Sub + VBe+ Past ...
4
votes
5answers
527 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
144 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?
-4
votes
3answers
55 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
99 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
98 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?
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]"?
8
votes
4answers
216 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 ...
13
votes
2answers
627 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 ...
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 ...
12
votes
1answer
382 views
“All your commas are belong to Array” and similar — is this grammar form “proper”?
I've often come across some weird grammar structures like, say, instead of
All of your commas belong to Array.
it is
All your commas are belong to Array.
I mean seriously, is that some ...
0
votes
2answers
185 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.
2
votes
1answer
887 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 ...
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 ...
19
votes
9answers
3k views
“May” & “Might”: What's the right context?
I may not be coming in tomorrow...
I might not be coming in tomorrow...
When could I use "may" & "might"?
-3
votes
2answers
356 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", ...
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 ...
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?
2
votes
2answers
191 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: ...
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"?
2
votes
3answers
920 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
411 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 ...
6
votes
3answers
943 views
Make “will have been going to go” correct
Is there a situation or question where the phrase will have been going to go is the best, most natural, or clearest response (or included in said response)?
I'm asking this probably somewhat silly ...
3
votes
2answers
381 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 ...
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 ...
0
votes
4answers
684 views
“Were gone” vs. “had gone” [closed]
Whats the difference between:
She were gone to party.
She had gone to party.
Are they both ok?
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 ...
7
votes
3answers
243 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 ...
2
votes
1answer
941 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?
5
votes
2answers
447 views
When can “have” be used without “got”?
I read this article and now I'm confused when got can be omitted when using have.
Could this be explained in plain English without technical terms?
Is there a different usage in past tense?
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.
9
votes
5answers
3k views
“Have not” versus “do not have”
As a non-native English speaker, I have a little doubt about using, or not, the auxiliary verb "to do" with the verb "to have". Are there differences in meaning between "I have not" and "I do not ...
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? ...
0
votes
4answers
189 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.
3
votes
3answers
363 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.
0
votes
2answers
584 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
674 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 ...
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-
...
4
votes
2answers
441 views
Could “are he” be correct?
I was just trying to formulate a sentence in an email, and wanted to reference a third person, inquiring as to which of something that person was referring in the forwarded mail message.
Is it:
...
1
vote
2answers
264 views
4
votes
1answer
7k views
Is “is” an auxiliary verb? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Is "is" an auxiliary verb?
My Mum's bag is blue.
Is is an auxillary verb in that sentence? If not, what part of speech is it?
5
votes
1answer
321 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?
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
236 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
4k 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 ...
