All Questions
Tagged with modal-verbs auxiliary-verbs
30 questions
3
votes
2
answers
87
views
When the verb dare is an auxiliary, can it take the preterite form dared?
I need to distinguish the auxiliary dare and the lexical dare. I know that as semi-modals need and dare act similarly. As a modal the verb need can only have present tense forms without the 3rd person ...
- 137
0
votes
2
answers
395
views
Can "may have" be used in a past-tense narrative?
In a narrative written in third person past tense, such as you'd find in most published books, can the phrase "may have" be used after verbs like "thought" or "said"? As ...
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
226
views
the auxiliary “need” (in affirmative sentences?)
I remember being told the modal “need” is used only in interrogative and negative sentences and was for quite a long time more idiomatic than the normal forms, but is there anything wrong with the ...
- 495
1
vote
0
answers
74
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must have washed downstream VS must have been washed downstream
There are two hikers hiking near a stream. One of them seeing it in says:
Look! A miner's old pack and gear! Must have washed downstream!
My question is:
Is it just a simple passive voice sentence ...
- 11
0
votes
1
answer
3k
views
What type of word is "must"? [closed]
First of all, let me give you these example sentences:
there is a storm
there was a storm
there has been a storm
there had been a storm
Every one of the above examples expresses that there certainly ...
- 123
1
vote
1
answer
145
views
What is the opposite of "had to"? [closed]
"Had to" is the past tense of "have to," referring to a past obligation. Negating it to "didn't have to" doesn't give me the opposite meaning. I know that we can use "mustn't" as an opposite to "have ...
- 121
0
votes
1
answer
422
views
Confusion with use of Could Have + P.P
Let's suppose I have two simple sentences:
1. I could run faster than Bob.
2. I could have run faster than Bob.
The first sentence can have the following meaning:
[1a] I was able to run faster ...
- 123
1
vote
1
answer
1k
views
Could and Could Have + P.P [closed]
I am very confused with usage of could and could have +p.p.
For example, do these sentences mean the same:
I couldn't come to college last week.
I couldn't have come to college last week.
I couldn't ...
- 123
9
votes
1
answer
861
views
Can the continuous form be combined with the passive voice?
According to the site Study And Exam, passive constructions cannot be used with verb forms such as:
the present perfect continuous construction
the past perfect continuous construction
the future ...
- 344
2
votes
1
answer
6k
views
Shall: In Present Tense
http://webstersdictionary1828.com/Dictionary/Shall
Shall is primarily in the present, and in our mother tongue was
followed by a verb in the infinitive.
I've been doing some research to figure ...
- 123
1
vote
4
answers
2k
views
Is there a more precise phrase for "can and should?"
The idea that one is able and obligated to act is often conveyed through the phrase, "can and should." Is there a way to convey the same idea through a single word or is there a stronger way to ...
- 113
1
vote
1
answer
467
views
Finite and non-finite clauses: "We have washed the dishes"
I have a quick question regarding finite and non-finite clauses if I may?
In clauses that contain modal or auxiliary verbs marked for tense AND a non-finite element, is the clause finite or non-...
- 83
1
vote
1
answer
2k
views
Difference between "should", "would" and "ought to" [closed]
The sentence:
It's essential that the documents should be destroyed
immediately.
Why can't ought to be used in place of should and why can't I go for would?
- 21
3
votes
2
answers
2k
views
Can we say "you can [not go] to school" or does it automatically become a negative sentence? [duplicate]
"You can [not go] to school."
Can this sentence mean that you can stay here and not go, or does it automatically become a negative sentence if I say it like this?
- 49
6
votes
5
answers
2k
views
Are modal verbs and auxiliary verbs actually verbs?
A friend recently told me that "can" is a rare verb without an infinitive. I have since looked it up and discovered it is an auxiliary verb. In my mind it modifies a "proper" verb in much the same way ...
- 5,190
0
votes
1
answer
315
views
Finite verbs / Do vs Be
Which is correct?
"You were always looking out for me. You always do."
or
"You were always looking out for me. You always are."
0
votes
3
answers
16k
views
What are all the words that make up a complete list of linking verbs in English?
What are all the words that make up a complete list of linking verbs in English? My English teacher from what I can remember listed them as follows, am I missing any?
is • am • are • was • were • be ...
1
vote
2
answers
846
views
Modal verb without auxiliary verb
I'm used to seeing modal verbs followed by auxiliary verbs, like this:
I should have been reading.
However, I've heard people say things like:
I'm glad you did or I wouldn't met you.
I ...
- 805
5
votes
3
answers
8k
views
Is it Standard American English to ever contract "did" as "-'d"?
Assuming that it is Standard American English to contract would as -'d, is it standard to contract did as -'d? For example:
I would really like to have a glass of single malt scotch right now.
...
- 935
28
votes
3
answers
5k
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 can ...
- 137k
3
votes
2
answers
21k
views
"Would certainly have" or "certainly would have"?
I have these confusions sometimes. Firstly, which among the following are grammatically correct to use in sentences-
She would certainly have loved that.
She would have certainly loved ...
- 227
25
votes
5
answers
100k
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 ...
- 4,253
1
vote
2
answers
2k
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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 Is ...
- 55
9
votes
2
answers
231k
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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 do ...
user20168
7
votes
3
answers
8k
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 done to me in the past.
- 13.6k
32
votes
6
answers
98k
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 -...
- 4,902
13
votes
1
answer
20k
views
"Dare" with and without "to"
To my surprise, there's a missing question about this particularly interesting verb, dare. All I know about it is the fact it can be in two forms, as an auxiliary (without to: "I dare not mention ...
- 613
4
votes
2
answers
5k
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 has ...
- 637
8
votes
2
answers
58k
views
"has been" vs "have been"
I am answering an online English grammar test and encountered the following question
Where was Jack yesterday? —I don't know. He ________ seeing the doctor.
My answer is: might has been
Correct ...
user6709
33
votes
13
answers
65k
views
"May" & "Might": What's the right context?
I may not be coming in tomorrow...
I might not be coming in tomorrow...
When should I use "may" and when should I use "might"?
- 1,165