The auxiliaries dare and used
161 dare i A In the affirmative dare is conjugated like an ordinary verb, i.e. dart/dares in the present, dared in the past. But in the negative and interrogative it can be conjugated either like an ordinary verb or like an auxiliary, i.e. it is a semi-modal. Negative: present do/does not dare dare/dares not past […]
Must, have, will and should
[’ for deduction and assumption 156 mu»t used for deduction A Forms Present must + present infinitive: He must live here, or must + continuous infinitive: He must be living ken. Past must + perfect infinitive: He must have lived here, or must + continuous perfect infinitive: He must Have been living here. Note the […]
Ought, should, must, have to,
need for obligation 139 ought: forms ought is a modal verb (see 107 B). The same form can be used for present and future and for the past when preceded by a verb in a past tense or followed by a perfect infinitive: I ought to unite to him today/tomorrow. I knew I ought to […]
Can and be able for ability
136 can and be able: forms can is used here in conjunction with be + the adjective able, which supplies the missing parts of can and provides an alternative form for the present and past tense. We have therefore the following forms: Infinitive: to be able Past participle: been able Affirmative Negative Interrogative Future will/shall […]
May and can for permission and possibility
Permission 127 may used for permission: forms may for aD persons in the present and future. might in the conditional and after verbs in a past tense. Negative: may not/mayn’t, might not/mightn’t Interrogative: may I? might I? etc. Negative interrogative: may 1 not/mayn’t I? might I not/mightn’t I? etc. Other forms are supplied by allow, […]
Be have Do
be as an auxiliary verb . 13 Form and use in the formation of tenses A Form Principal parts: be, was, been Gerund/present participle: being Present tense: 11 be, have, do B Use to form tenses be is used in continuous active forms: He is working/will be working etc., and in all passive forms: He […]
Introduction to verbs
100 A 1 Classes of verbs There are two classes of verbs in English: The auxiliary verbs (auxiliaries)’, to be, to have, to do; can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, would; to need, to dan and used. -~ -ii nrdinarv verbs: SsrSrss”-’* ; ordinary E to work tostng ”>?’<•’ triples like ordinary […]
Prepositions
86 Introduction Prepositions are words normally placed before nouns or pronouns (but see 87 about possible alternative positions). Prepositions can also be followed by verbs but, except after but and except, the verb must be in the gerund form: He is talking of emigrating. They succeeded in escaping. The student has two main problems with […]
Relative pronouns and clauses
There are three kinds of relative clauses: defining (see 72-7), nondefining (78-81) and connective (82). 72 Defining relative clauses These describe the preceding noun in such a way as to distinguish it from other nouns of the same class. A clause of this kind is essential to the clear understanding of the noun. In the […]
Possessives personal and reflexive pronouns: my, mine, I, myself etc.
62 Possessive adjectives and pronouns Possessive adjectives Possessive pronouns my mine your his/her/its yours his/hers our ours your their yours theirs No(e that no apostrophes are used here. Students should guard against the common mistake of writing the possessive its with an apostrophe. it’s (with an apostrophe) means it is. The old form of the […]