Modal verbs (such as can, could, shall, should, will, would, may, might, and must) combine with verbs in the bare infinitive to express information about the verb such as possibility or necessity.
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Are modal verbs finite or non-finite?
According to Oxford Dictionaries Online,
finite ... 2 Grammar (of a verb form) having a specific tense, number, and person.
non-finite ... Grammar (of a verb form) not limited by tense, ...
8
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2answers
183 views
Dare + have done
Here is an example from an old book. I know it’s old but it can’t be simply discarded, I hope.
"I never dare have spoken — never dare have told you that my love for you was killing me"
So, I ...
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1answer
83 views
Are “could I have been able to cope with” and "could I have coped with” the same?
I am a bit confused with the formation of this sentence. My lines are:
What if I were a girl? Would I have been able to cope with the ordeal that women and girls live through every day?
But I ...
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1answer
75 views
Is “should've” a word? [closed]
I've used the word many times but different sources say different things. Is it recognized as a word in the British standard?
4
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3answers
560 views
“Should” versus “would”
The NOAD reports the following notes about should and would:
The traditional rule is that should is used with first person pronouns (I and we), as in I said I should be late, and would is used ...
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1answer
72 views
“I may know where it is” vs. “I know where it may be”
I am wondering if the following two sentences have different meanings.
I may know where it is.
I know where it may be.
3
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4answers
121 views
Is the structure “can have verb-ed” possible?
I have seen and heard sentences like these:
He could have gone too far.
John can't have eaten all the cake.
But I don't seem to encounter this structure:
She can have done the work.
I ...
1
vote
1answer
131 views
Use of “would” in the specific situation
A man asked a question to his friend, “Why was it the best time for
Bilal to be in his home?”
His friend replied, “It would be the best
time for Bilal to be in his home because his uncle ...
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1answer
115 views
“To have to” vs. “should” [closed]
I wonder which one to choose here:
My father should drive carefully when it’s raining.
My father has to drive carefully when it’s raining.
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2answers
340 views
question about the future tense
In a sentence like
How do you get to the train station?
What would be an appropriate answer (tense wise)? Could you say both of these two:
I’ll drive you.
I’m going to drive you.
...
1
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0answers
34 views
The verb “should” as a conjunction [duplicate]
Here is the phrase from Wikipedia:
CFO Peter Klein has said that Microsoft has no alternate plan should its current mobile strategy fail.
Another example:
Should Microsoft’s tablet and phone ...
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3answers
984 views
How would you use “can” in a future sentence?
If you purchase this then you will be able to do that.
How can I write the above statement using "can"?
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1answer
62 views
'What may it be'/ 'what may be it' which one is correct? [closed]
I think,saying 'what may it be' is correct in the sense of something that i did not see before,it is new to me and on my hand.and i am saying this sentence "what may it be"/"what may be it".which one ...
32
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7answers
2k views
What is the infinitive of “can”?
Like the title says: I don't think "to can" is right :)
I mean "can" as in to be able to. I'm aware of other meanings.
I can't find the answer here. (There's What is an "infinitive"? which ...
2
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1answer
2k views
Is the usage “can able to” wrong? I believe it's wrong. But where can I find some reference on the same?
I hear a lot of people use 'can able to' in their daily talk. I believe it's entirely wrong. Both 'can' and 'able to' hold the same meaning. Where do I get more information on the same and also the ...
4
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2answers
188 views
could versus be able
Let me start by saying what is written in grammar books on this issue and after that I will put my question. (Take heed that this usage of "could" ONLY refers to the past and ONLY to affirmative ...
4
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4answers
3k views
“will be able to” vs. “can”
Consider the following:
He will be able to do it.
He can do it.
They mean the same thing, right?
Can "can" replace "will be able to" in any sentence? What is the difference, if anything? ...
11
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3answers
298 views
Strange grammar in Dracula
There is a place in Bram Stoker’s Dracula where I can’t quite parse the grammar:
8 May. — I began to fear as I wrote in this book that I was getting too
diffuse. But now I am glad that I went ...
3
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2answers
396 views
When is “will” used in an “if” clause?
Given the following sentences that use will in the if clause (which is seldom with if-clauses and therefore, I'm not sure they all are even grammatical or not).
If you will/would kindly lend me ...
0
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2answers
88 views
“I stay in Canada” vs. “I will stay in Canada” [duplicate]
Situation: I am in Canada and will go back to Hong Kong next week. So, I want to tell my friends that "I will stay in Canada until the 6th of March".
Question: I do not know if the word will should ...
0
votes
1answer
63 views
counterpart of “Shall I/we …” in written English
See my title. I am looking for a word or expression to replace the way of "Shall I/we ...?"
The context is I am asking for permission or suggestion but it is not in conversation. I want to apply such ...
1
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1answer
95 views
Is “he should be seventeen” correct?
Is the following sentence correct to describe a young man?
He should be seventeen.
My colleague was absolutely sure it was correct. I disagreed, so we had a bit of an argument. I would agree on ...
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3answers
140 views
Saying about many related events in the future
My question relates to these questions :
Conditionals in the future
Future tense in conditional clauses
“If I go..” vs. “If I will go..” referring to the future
About two mutually related, future ...
1
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3answers
166 views
Are there other verbs that work like “dare” and “need”? [duplicate]
The verbs dare and need do not require auxiliaries when used in the interrogative; for example, “need I?” is as acceptable as “do I need?”
Excluding the auxiliaries themselves (like be, do, have),
...
6
votes
4answers
412 views
“need to do” vs “need do”
Consider:
I need to do this.
I need do this.
My English grammar knowledge tells me that "need" doesn't have the same status as the modal verbs "may", "can", "should" and what not. Hence the second ...
4
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1answer
134 views
Why are 'preterite presents' called so?
While reading about 'defective verbs' on Wikipedia, I came across this term – preterite present verbs.
The most commonly recognized defective verbs in English are auxiliary verbs — the class of ...
3
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5answers
847 views
How do I report speech containing “must not”?
What's the form for reporting speech that contains must not?
I mean:
I can't come to the meeting on Monday => She told me she couldn't come to the meeting on Monday.
You must talk to me => ...
1
vote
3answers
173 views
Is there a rule for “wouldn't” used to mean “didn't want”?
I have seen the sentences in books where wouldn't seems to have been used in the meaning of didn't want, and I wonder if such a rule exists. For instance,
I wanted to participate, but he wouldn't ...
0
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1answer
84 views
“He was so desperate that he would have given anything” vs. “that he did give anything”
A: I heard he promised to buy her anything she wants.
B: Right. He was so desperate that he would have given anything to win her over.
In sentence B, instead of "would have given," is "did ...
6
votes
3answers
4k views
When should we use “can”, “could”, “will”, “would”?
Most of the people says I wish I could, I wish you would.
Can't we use I wish I can, I wish you will?
I'd like to know what the main difference between the usage of can/will and could/would is.
2
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2answers
3k views
“Can” vs. “could” in asking a question [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When do I use “can” or “could”?
I am a little bit confused about asking a question:
Can you please tell me my next work?
or
Could you please tell me my next ...
6
votes
4answers
5k views
Is either “can” or “could” more polite? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When do I use “can” or “could”?
I wonder which of the following is more polite:
Can you please change my email address?
Could you please change my email ...
0
votes
0answers
10 views
“Could someone please” versus “Can someone please” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When do I use “can” or “could”?
Is either “can” or “could” more polite?
“Can” vs. “could” in asking a question
“Can I have one apple from your box?” vs “Could I have one ...
1
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3answers
592 views
“Can I have one apple from your box?” vs “Could I have one apple from your box?” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
When do I use “can” or “could”?
I was doing some reading on usage of can and could. I understand that can is used when asking for ability, and could for willingness.
I ...
13
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2answers
640 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 ...
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2answers
440 views
Is it “What should he have done?” or “had he done”?
What should he have done?
What should he had done?
Could you tell me which one is correct? (If any.)
16
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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 ...
6
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4answers
2k views
What is the difference between 'can', 'could', 'may' and 'might'?
I'm a native English speaker and I've been doing some research into English grammar for a programme I'm working on. However, on looking into modal verbs, I've only just come to appreciate how subtle ...
2
votes
6answers
6k views
“won't” vs. “wouldn't”
Are these two words interchangeable? How do you know when to use one or the other?
For some sentences it is easy to know which one to use, but not for others. The type of sentences that are difficult ...
2
votes
4answers
118 views
“Would” in a reported statement
I am teaching some students changing original quotes into reported speech. Well, one of my students asked how the following quote can be changed into reported speech:
I would like to swim.
From ...
7
votes
3answers
257 views
Is it appropriate to omit “to” after “ought”?
Is it appropriate to omit to after ought?
I ought to be disciplined for my insolence.
Vs.
I ought be disciplined for my insolence.
Is it okay to omit the to?
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9answers
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“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"?
0
votes
2answers
403 views
Is there any difference between “He won't do something” and “He wouldn't do something”? [closed]
I have read somewhere that He won't do something means He refused to do something and also He wouldn't do something has the same meaning.
Now I'd like to know, what is the difference in usage of ...
7
votes
5answers
521 views
What's the tense for repetitive past action?
In English, "would" usually denotes a conditional voice. "If I were sleepy, I would go to bed."
But I've caught myself using it to denote repetitive or habitual past action. "On Thursdays, we would ...
6
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2answers
652 views
Use of “should have” in conditional sentences
In Return of the Soldier (1918) I came across what appears to be a conditional sentence:
I never should have got this telegram if me and my husband hadn't been down there last September and told ...
2
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4answers
2k views
Difference between “can” and “may” [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can/May/Will you help me with this?
Which is correct if I want to request for a pen?
Can I have your pen please?
May I have your pen please?
6
votes
5answers
18k views
“Can/may/will you help me with this?”
Which word to use when we ask for help?
Some conditions:
We know that the person asked is able to do it.
We don't know if the person asked is able to do it.
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0answers
57 views
“can I speak to Mr Tom” or “May I speak to Mr Tom” which one is correct [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Can/May/Will you help me with this?
Difference between “can” and “may”
Can I speak to Mr Tom?
May I speak to Mr Tom?
Which one is correct?
My thinking is ...
7
votes
3answers
219 views
“He grew up around cars that would later become classics.”
My question is about the use of would in the following sentence.
He grew up around cars that would later become classics.
The use of would in this particular sense always looks confusing to me ...
18
votes
5answers
6k views
Is “might could” a correct construct?
I have a friend from the southern U.S. who uses the phrase “might could” quite often. He’ll say, for example:
I might could do that this weekend.
When I first heard him say this, it made me do ...
