Questions tagged [semi-modals]
Use for questions regarding semi-modals, for example: 'need', 'dare', 'ought to', and 'used to'.
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Why use "need not" instead of "do not need to"?
The header of psyco.sourceforge.net states:
High-level languages need not be slower than low-level ones.
Why use need not instead of do not need? What does it mean? Also, why no to before be?
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"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", "...
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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),
...
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"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 ...
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"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 ...
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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 ...
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Infinitives with "ought not"
Most of the references I can find about the word “ought” indicate that even when negating it, you should use an infinitive: “You ought not to go there.”
That sounds quite bad ...
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Future Tense of Modal Verbs
All normal verbs can be conjugated in the future tense.
e.g. I know, I will know. I do, I will do.
But I have noticed that we cannot conjugate the modal verb can in the future tense.
can, I will ...
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Indispensability of 'to' after 'ought' in British English [closed]
I'm Brazilian, and I need to know which British literature says 'to' is indispensable after the word 'ought'.
For example: Your skin color ought not to dictate your future.
Could you give me ...
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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?
user11550
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"Need just [verb]" vs. "need to just [verb]" [duplicate]
I wonder if it's okay to use these interchangeably:
You need just accept it.
You need to just accept it.
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Grammar of 'dare' in this example
What is the grammar of the verb 'dare' in the following example?
The pizza was nice but, dare I say it, the salad was awful.
Is it some type of imperative?
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Passive of modal verb "dare"
What would be the passive of the following sentence?
You dare not talk to her.
Also, is it right to say "you dare not talk to her" at all?
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