All Questions
Tagged with modal-verb or modal-verbs
642 questions
2
votes
2
answers
921
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Modal verbs (must, may, would) in reported-speech backshift
Could a native English speaker please finally clear this confusion for us? The textbooks are either silent or contradicting each other.
Must
Direct speech:
"That must be wrong!"
Later she ...
- 6,278
59
votes
17
answers
37k
views
"Can I" vs "May I" in restaurant setting when ordering [duplicate]
A while back, while we were getting fast food, my friend commented on my usage of "can" versus "may" when asking to take my order. I said:
Can I have a .......
and my friend argued you're ...
-1
votes
0
answers
9
views
How to render the word WOULD / MUST in the Reported Speech? [migrated]
I.
If I have this sentence in the direct speech:
She said: "I would like a cake."
How to change the word "would" in the reported speech? I've heard that the word "would" ...
- 11
2
votes
4
answers
6k
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 my ...
- 11
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
"Will be living since" vs "Will have been living since" [duplicate]
Could you tell me which is correct, please? The following is just part of an exercise given at B2 British Council online course, so no context at all.
Joe will be living in Austria since April.
Joe ...
- 137k
2
votes
1
answer
33k
views
"We can able to" or "we are able to" [duplicate]
Can someone tell me if "we can able to" or "we are able to" is the correct usage? I feel the latter is correct. However, I noticed the former usage in a few write ups and emails.
- 67.3k
0
votes
0
answers
36
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Present Continuous: Is there an oughting to, shoulding, or musting? [duplicate]
I just tried to say "I detest my bed oughting to stay clean" before my brain short-circuited.
Naturally the structure of the sentence works if "ought to" is replaced by other ...
- 137k
0
votes
1
answer
2k
views
(negative to affirmative) "we could not but pocket the insult"
When we do negative to affirmative, we always use 'must' in the place of 'can not but'. I further know that we cannot use 'must' in the place of 'could not but' because 'could not but' is a past form. ...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
2
answers
844
views
"Will have done" vs "would have done" in expressing certainty
Recently, I have been looking a little bit deeper into the modal verb “will”, its usage and properties. In the process I have been able to find the usage I have already encountered, though have seen ...
CommunityBot
- 1
5
votes
2
answers
454
views
What's quasi-modal be?
What's quasi-modal be? It is not a traditional grammar term. Google says
You are to be good. <=> You must be good.
Other than obligation, what modalities can the quasiness refer to?
What ...
- 23.9k
-1
votes
1
answer
8k
views
"If you was to . . ." vs "If you were to . . ."
Good day. I've been learning modal remoteness and the irrealis were, and I understand that the irrealis were is limited to 1st and 3rd person singular subjects. Now, my quesiton is, what should I use ...
- 137k
1
vote
2
answers
3k
views
The modal verb Be to
Is this sentence correct?
I am to win the competition.
With this sentence I want to say that I must win the competition.
- 137k
4
votes
4
answers
7k
views
Infinitive of “may” and “might”?
What’s the infinitive of the verb I use when I say “I might go” or “May I come with you”?
I think in German it’s dürfen. Is there one in English? If not, why not?
- 6,278
1
vote
1
answer
198
views
"must" vs "be required to"
I am a non-native speaker. I understand that both sentences below have the same meaning. However, I feel that the use of the word "must" isn't suitable for a document such as a questionnaire ...
- 15.3k
3
votes
3
answers
566
views
The usage of the modal verb "must be"
Is this sentence grammatically correct?
These two people must be freelancers working hard on their computers.
This sentence is a translation from Russian Эти два человека, должно быть фрилансеры, ...
- 1,650
3
votes
3
answers
7k
views
Common tag question for "must"
In this question, the OP wrote this:
She must leave early, mustn't she?
But I read this sentence here:
You must go, needn't you?
I read about must have here, but it doesn't say explain a lot about ...
- 18.1k
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 ...
1
vote
2
answers
402
views
Use of modal verbs when writing in past tense [closed]
I'm trying to write a story in past tense (I'm using deep POV).
I have two characters who parted ways. One of them is regretting not spending more time with the other before leaving. Since he is ...
CommunityBot
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-3
votes
2
answers
93
views
It can't possibly be true, but somehow maybe
How is this sentence to be construed:
'It can't possibly be true, but somehow maybe.' ?
Can you rephrase it?
Source: https://youtu.be/X19aZ-MgibA?t=663
Would I Lie to You S17 E8. Non-UK viewers. 16 ...
- 46.4k
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-...
- 1
4
votes
1
answer
246
views
Can 'would' be used for something probably true without any conditional clause implicit or explicit?
I was reading Mari-Lou A's answer would have done on a use of would have without involving any conditional clause, implied or otherwise.
My question is with would. Can would be used for showing ...
- 87.2k
5
votes
7
answers
4k
views
Is use of "shall" archaic?
A friend of mine, pursuing BA(Hons) in English corrected me that no one uses shall now and often it is advised to prefer the use of should, would, etc.
Although Downton Abbey is set upon a time ...
- 1
0
votes
1
answer
105
views
will + perfect construction
In section "10.3.4 Will / would" of "Oxford modern English grammar", the author gives the following example:
31 You will have gathered from the above that I, for one, do not
...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
27
views
This question popped up on my mind: "why do we use bare infinitives after modal verbs?" [duplicate]
So, I know that after modal verbs, the bare infinitive or base form of a verb is used according to Oxford ("Modal verbs are followed by the infinitive of another verb without to. The exceptions ...
- 1
3
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Difference in the usage? ; It "can / could / must" be something serious
I'm teaching English in Japan. I'm using "Grammar In Use Intermediate Workbook" (Cambridge). The following is the question in the workbook:
Complete the sentence. Use can, could, must or (...
- 6,278
0
votes
1
answer
67
views
Usage of "may" instead of "might" in the past context
I came across the following sentence while reading "A Clash of Kings" book by George R. R. Martin:
Whitetree was the fourth village they had passed, and it had been the
same in all of them. ...
- 13.5k
0
votes
1
answer
160
views
Varying modal verbs in counterfactual ("subjunctive") conditionals
There are some situations in which one would like to vary the modal verb in counterfactual conditionals, but it seems to be incorrect.
"If things were otherwise, she would keep her promise."...
CommunityBot
- 1
0
votes
0
answers
154
views
"ought" with or without "to"? [duplicate]
We usually say "ought to" not "ought". (Although more often we say "should"). I wonder when I can say "ought" without "to".
Some examples:
1: Ought I ...
- 137k
3
votes
2
answers
317
views
How does "dare" change in indirect speech?
In indirect speech some modal verbs usually change.
can -> could
He said "I can ride a bike" = He said that he could ride a bike
may -> might/could
He asked "May I use the ...
- 90.3k
2
votes
3
answers
733
views
Max couldn’t go out after dark. <permission at a past time?>
A linguistics paper titled "Tense and Modals" by Tim Stowell shows these examples and explains them as follows:
(9) a. Carl can’t move his arm. (ability at the utterance
time)
b. Carl ...
- 23.9k
3
votes
2
answers
297
views
What are the roles of ‘can’, ‘do’, and ‘is’ in ‘All a man can do is smile back’?
What roles (Subject, Head etc) do the words can, do and is each play in this sentence in terms of its syntactic grammar, either individually or as a group?
Death smiles at us all, but all a man can ...
- 67.3k
16
votes
12
answers
4k
views
The usage of "can not" vs. "cannot" in mathematics
I saw the following passage in Professor West's homepage, and I hadn't noticed this point before. See https://dwest.web.illinois.edu/grammar.html#cannot
"Can not" and "may be". ...
- 149
1
vote
2
answers
2k
views
Can the modal auxiliary verbs be considered to be in the present tense (form, not meaning)?
According to Practical English Usage by Michael Swan, modal auxiliary
verbs do not normally have past tenses:
The modal auxiliary verbs are will, would, shall, should, can,
could, ought, may, ...
- 1
3
votes
2
answers
107
views
"I might do too"
Today I came read someone write "I might do too" and it struck me as non-idiomatic – but I was unable to identify the offending aspect.
Near variations all sound acceptable to my ear:
"...
- 3,671
11
votes
4
answers
4k
views
"Don't mind what she does tomorrow" but not "Don't know what she does tomorrow" Why?
Bounty note:
This question is primarily about the acceptability of will in different types of environment. I have used the verb mind in my examples, but if you are an American English speaker, as ...
- 109k
3
votes
3
answers
548
views
How did "ought" lose its original usage as the past tense of "owe"?
Ought is originally the past tense of owe (v.). It appears that this usage is retained in Scottish and in some dialects of English. The current use of ought in standard English is a modal auxiliary (...
- 46.4k
4
votes
1
answer
5k
views
Modal "will can"
Does the following make any sense?
"I will can"
I saw a post where someone wrote "I will can". Is this grammatically right or wrong?
- 67.3k
4
votes
1
answer
5k
views
What is the structure of “might did”?
What is the structure of might + verb (in past tense) called?
I might said it. (Instead of I might have said it.)
I might did it. (Instead of I might have done it.)
I might did say it. (Instead of ...
- 67.3k
1
vote
2
answers
358
views
How to negate the double modal construction "might could" (and others)?
I have relatives from the southern U.S., and they often use double modal verbs in their speech, like "I might could go to the market". I understand that this isn't considered standard, but it got me ...
- 67.3k
37
votes
5
answers
91k
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 a ...
- 67.3k
1
vote
2
answers
13k
views
"should say that" vs "should have said that"
Example 1: It was odd (that) you should say that
Example 2: It was odd (that) you should have said that
I don't understand what the putative should implies when it's constructed with the present ...
CommunityBot
- 1
24
votes
6
answers
105k
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", "...
- 109k
2
votes
1
answer
119
views
Is "Could you help me move these boxes?" interpreted as deontic or dynamic when it comes to the modality families?
I have a problem with the following clause:
Could you help me move these boxes?
I would like to know for my upcoming English test that if this clause is interpreted as epistemic, deontic or dynamic.
...
- 19.6k
7
votes
4
answers
26k
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 with ...
- 87.2k
0
votes
3
answers
174
views
"No, it can't be...." vs " No, it may not be..."
I know "No, it can't be" can mean "It's impossible that it is", but I don't think "No, it may not be" can also mean "It's impossible that it is". I know that &...
- 26.4k
8
votes
2
answers
126k
views
What is the difference between “have to”, “must”, and “should”? [duplicate]
Is there any difference between have to”, “must”, and “should”?
If there is some difference between them, when do I have to use (nor not use) each of the constructions below?
have to do something
...
- 109k
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 ...
- 46.4k
12
votes
2
answers
3k
views
If saying 'Why can't I ...?' is correct, would 'Why cannot I ...?' be technically correct?
Why can't I ...?
is perfectly correct grammar as far as I can tell. But what happens if the contraction is removed,
Why cannot I ...?
This sounds bizarre, but would this be technically correct ...
1
vote
0
answers
48
views
Should I use 'can' or 'will be able to'? "If he fixes your car tonight, you [?] drive it to school tomorrow." [closed]
Should I change "will be able to" to "can" in the bolded sentence from the exchange below?
A: My car broke down and I have to drive to school to pick up my daughter tomorrow. I ...
- 8,646
1
vote
0
answers
52
views
Real Conditional Clause + Present Unreal Main Clause [closed]
Is it grammatical to say these four sentences?
If I have studied it for four years, I should be good at it.
If I had studied it for four years, I should be good at it.
If I have been studying it ...
- 8,646