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 #2 (permalink) Tue Mar 10, 2009 20:11 pm What is a modal verb? |
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§ 14. auxiliary and primary verbs
Auxiliary verbs, sometimes called helping verbs, help complete the form and meaning of main verbs. The auxiliary verbs include the modal verbs, the primary verbs, and a few special verbs like dare and need. The modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. They are called modal because they express the mood of verbs. The primary verbs are be, do, and have. The primary verbs have the distinction of being able to function either as main verbs or as auxiliaries.
http://www.bartleby.com/64/C001/014.html
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 Milanya
I'm here quite often ;-)
Joined: 29 Dec 2008
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Location: Texas, USA (at present)
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| #3 (permalink) Tue Mar 10, 2009 21:35 pm Thank you. |
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Dear Milanya,
Thank you. I learnt something new today. Best. Rinn |
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Rinn
I'm new here and I like it ;-)
Joined: 14 Jan 2009
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| #4 (permalink) Wed Jun 03, 2009 19:20 pm What is a modal verb? |
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Thanks for that great explanation Milanya.
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Kitosdad
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| #5 (permalink) Wed Jun 03, 2009 19:22 pm What is a modal verb? |
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Modal verbs also have the distinction of not changing their tense in the third person.
He/She/It :-
could.
should.
will.
shall.
might.
would.
can.
may.
must.
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Kitosdad
Language Coach
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| #6 (permalink) Fri Jun 12, 2009 3:11 am Great post. Gives me what I have been looking for. |
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| I have admire your unselfishness in taking the time to make this web site. |
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YoungRenis
New Member
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Location: India
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| #7 (permalink) Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:04 am What is a modal verb? |
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| Kitosdad wrote: |
Modal verbs also have the distinction of not changing their tense in the third person.
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That does not really make sense. It's true however that modal verbs are uninflected in the third person of the present tense, if modal verbs can be said to have tense, e.g.
1. I can / you can / he can
vs
2. I eat / you eat / he eats
(In the past simple, of course, no such distinction can be made.)
MrP |
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MrPedantic
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