An auxiliary verb modifies the main verb to give more information about the main verb.
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 ...
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"?
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
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" ...
13
votes
2answers
632 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 ...
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 ...
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]"?
9
votes
3answers
677 views
Is “am” in “I am right” an auxiliary verb?
Consider these sentences:
The ice was thick enough to walk on.
They were in a hurry.
There is enough salt in it.
It is freezing.
I am right.
Are the italicized verbs ...
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 ...
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
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
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 ...
6
votes
3answers
945 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
480 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
2answers
449 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?
5
votes
1answer
324 views
Question about “how many”
Why don't we use the auxiliary do in the following question:
How many people study there?
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?
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
1answer
160 views
Does “will” and other auxiliary verbs spread on all the sentence?
Consider the following example — I want to write down several sequential actions in future. Should I write:
I will go home, will have dinner, will play tennis, etc.
or:
I will go home, have ...
4
votes
5answers
26k views
What are the following words called: Am, Is, Are, Was, Were, Be, Being, Been?
Am, Is, Are, Was, Were, Be, Being, Been
What are the above words called? I think someone called them auxiliary verbs.
Edit: When I learned them, my curriculum called them "State of Being verbs" ...
4
votes
2answers
444 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:
...
4
votes
4answers
282 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
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 ...
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?
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 ...
4
votes
3answers
238 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 ...
3
votes
2answers
726 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?
3
votes
3answers
368 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.
3
votes
4answers
133 views
Usage of “is” and “does”
Which sentence is correct?
The directory is not exist
OR
The directory does not exist
This message informs a user about a folder he or she is trying to access.
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 ...
3
votes
2answers
384 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 ...
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.
3
votes
2answers
680 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 ...
2
votes
3answers
929 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.
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
407 views
“How can X be” vs. “how does X can be”
I have a Spanish friend, who wrote the following sentence:
"How does foo, bar, baz can be compared?"
I corrected it to read:
"How can foo, bar, baz be compared?"
Other than the obvious, he ...
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 ...
2
votes
2answers
192 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
3k views
“Who wrote … ?” or “Who did write … ?” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why is there no form of “do” in questions of the type “who knows?”
I want to know which is the correct way to ask this question:
Who wrote ...
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?
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?
2
votes
3answers
2k views
What's the difference between be verbs and auxiliary verbs?
I assume all be verbs are auxiliary verbs; is this correct?
2
votes
1answer
948 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?
2
votes
2answers
676 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 ...
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 ...
2
votes
1answer
890 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 ...
