An auxiliary verb modifies the main verb to give more information about the main verb.
13
votes
2answers
1k views
“did shoot” vs “shot”
This morning I read this sentence (see story):
On July 24th and again on July 29th,
Egyptian police did shoot dead unarmed
African migrants attempting to cross
that border.
Why "did shoot" ...
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", ...
3
votes
2answers
723 views
What is the difference in meaning between “I play” and “I do play”?
What is the difference between I play and I do play?
For example:
If someone were to ask to me, do you play soccer?
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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]"?
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 ...
20
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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?
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 ...
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?
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 ...
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 ...
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
...
1
vote
2answers
264 views
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 ...
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
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 ...
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
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.
7
votes
2answers
430 views
“I need it to lift 2 tons this time.” “I don't know if it *could* do.” Why do some people use “do” like this?
Sometimes, instead of saying "could/can" or "would/will" (the two most common I've heard), some people say "could/can do" or "would/will do".
Instead of:
I don't know if it can.
I sometimes ...
4
votes
4answers
281 views
Do I have to use the auxiliary before all the verbs?
Which of the following is correct?
I will dance and sing at the concert tonight.
I will dance and will sing at the concert tonight.
Does it happen with to, too? For example:
I ...
4
votes
2answers
1k views
Auxiliary verb and adverb ordering
(I'm not really sure if the title is a correct definition of my problem at all)
I'm not a native English speaker, and I'm used to say:
Spaghetti suddenly can talk
But I've seen a phrase from a ...
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 ...
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 ...
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?
