T.20. Auxiliary and Modal Verbs: Form and Function.

2. AUXILIARY AND MODAL VERBS

Describe the difference between primary auxiliaries and modal verbs.

Primary auxiliaries (helping verbs: do, be, have), change to indicate voice, tense, or number, contributing to the grammatical structure. Modal verbs NEVER CHANGE FORM and instead express necessity, ability, or possibility.

All modal verbs are auxiliaries, while not all primary auxiliaries are modal (they can be lexical verbs).

2. AUXILIARY AND MODAL VERBS

What is the rule of thumb for auxiliaries and modal verbs regarding pairing?

• Auxiliary verbs (do, be, have) can pair with different verb forms.

• Modal verbs CANNOT. They can only pair with base form…. EXCEPT…

when they are followed by an auxiliary verb:

She will be promoted.

He should have won the lottery.

2. AUXILIARY AND MODAL VERBS

2.2. Modal verbs: What are the core modal verbs?

• Can/could

• May/might

• Shall/should

• Will/would

• Dare

• Must

• Needn’t

• Ought to

• Used to (semi-modal)

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Do’ as an aux.v.: 3.1.1. Form

• 5 forms: do, does, did, done, doing

• Negative: don’t, doesn’t, didn’t.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Do’ as an aux.v.: 3.2. Function. What are the functions of ‘do’?

1. As an operator

2. As a pro-form

3. As an emphatic particle

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Do’ as an aux.v.: 3.2. Function. Do as an operator.

• English sometimes needs ‘do’ (that’s why we call it an operator) to form grammatical structures:

  • to create negative statements AND questions in the simple present and past tenses:

He doesn’t work here anymore.

Did you finish your assignment?

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Do’ as an aux.v.: 3.2. Function. What else should we mention?

For interrogative sentences, ‘do’ precedes the subject, followed by the base form of the verb.

HOWEVER, when the subject itself is the question word (Wh-word), do is NOT used:

Who won the game?

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Do’ as an aux.v.: 3.2. Function. Do as a pro-form.

• To avoid repetition/redundancy in tag questions, short responses or comparisons, do replaces the main verb.

He likes the tea, doesn’t he?

She signs beautifully, and so do I.

She works more than I do.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Do’ as an aux.v.: 3.2. Function. Do as an emphatic particle.

• To add emphasis or stress to an imperative, p.simple, or past tense verb.

I do believe you!!!

They did finish the project on time.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.1. Form: What are the 8 forms of the verb to be.

• Am, is, are, was, were, being, been, be.

• In negative constructions: be+’not’ = isn’t, aren’t. BUT ‘am not’ remains uncontracted.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.2. Function: Name the functions of the verb to be:

1. Forming continuous tenses

2. Forming the passive voice

3. Be + to + infinitive

4. Immediate future expressions

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.2. Function: Explain the continuous tense.

BE + present participle (-ing) = continuous verb forms

They are watching a movie (pr.cont)

She was studying for the test (past.c)

This can be used across several tenses, including FUTURE. (will be watching) and PERFECT CONTINUOUS (has been running).

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.2. Function: Explain forming the passive voice.

Be + past participle of main verb: The letter was sent yesterday.

→ It is worth noting that be is essential for forming the passive voice.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.2. Function: Explain be + to + infinitive

• Structure implies obligation, intention, or scheduled plan.

The guests are to arrive at 8 p.m.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.2. Function: What else should we remember about be + to + infinitive?

That in the past (was/were + to+ inf), it suggests an unfulfilled expectation/destiny:

The train was to have departed, but it got delayed.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.1. ‘Be’ as an aux.v. 3.2.2. Function: Immediate future expressions

• Be about to + infinitive

• Be on point of + -ing

Indicates actions expected to happen soon.

The game is about to begin

She was on the point of leaving when you called

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.3. ‘Have’ as an aux.v. 3.3.1. Form.

4 forms: have, has, had, having. Negative forms: haven’t, hasn’t, hadn’t.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.3. ‘Have’ as an aux.v. 3.3.1. Form. Forming perfect tenses.

Have + past participle = perfect aspects

She had already left by the time we arrived.

They have moved to a new city

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.3. ‘Have’ as an aux.v. 3.3.1. Form. Obligation with ‘have to’

Have to + infinitive = necessity or obligation

You have to submit the paper by noon.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.3. ‘Have’ as an aux.v. 3.3.1. Form. Had better + infinitive

Offers strong advice or recommendation:

You had better be careful.

3. PRIMARY AUXILIARIES

3.3. ‘Have’ as an aux.v. 3.3.1. Form. Causative ‘have’.

Indicates that someone arranges for something to be done:

She had her car repaired yesterday.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.1. Introduction

Regarding the 1st paragraph. How many modal auxiliaries are there? What do they express?

There is a total of 12 modal verbs in English, and they are used very frequently by English speakers. They express… (ACIOPPPPRS).

• Ability

• Certainty

• Intention/Willingness/volution

• Obligation/lack of obligation

• Offers

• Permission

• Possibility

• Prediction

• Probability

• Requests

• Suggestions/Advice

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.1. Introduction

What are the paired forms and the single ones?

• Paired (4): will/would, shall/should, can/could, may/might

• Single (4): ought to, needn’t, must, dare

*Aquí no contamos el used to porque es un semi modal.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.1. Introduction

Regarding the third paragraph, how many characteristics do modals present and what do each mean?

1. They are anomalous; they lack a full set of forms:

   1. they have no proper past tenses

   2. there is no -s for the simple present (3rd person),

   3. no infinitives or participles → cannot use in progressive tense.

2. They must be followed by the base form (ought to is the exception)

3. Similar to primary auxiliaries, they can act as operators when…

   1. Forming interrogative and negative sentences

   2. They can also act as pro-forms.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.1. Could/Can:

What should we mention?

• Both used to say something is possible:

  • ability → “be able to”

  • permission → “be allowed to”

  • circumstances provide opportunity → “have the chance to”

• Capacity or ability (present and future):

  • ‘Could’→ “was/were able to” (when referring to a spec.sit. we prefer it)

  • To emphasise performance succeeded → manage to, succeeded in.

  • Idea of future capacity → “will be able to”

• Both used to ask for permission and difference in politeness or distance

  • Permission in the past → “was/were allowed to” > “could”.

• To express probability (present or future)

  • Could → less possibility than can.

  • To talk about possibility in the past → could + perf.inf it could have rained.

  • Requests, asking favours → Could you pass me the salt?

  • Present meaning when there is an idea of condition → she could be a nice girl (if she wanted to).

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.2. May.

• To talk about permission (1st person pronoun) May I leave earlier?

  • Affirmative sentences abt permission (2nd & 3rd) Yes, you may leave earlier.

  • “May not” is not used, instead → mustn’t, can’t. → No, you mustn’t/can’t.

• To express possibility or probability

• Express a wish: May God bless you.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.3. Might.

• To express possibility or probability: less likely possibility than may.

• Rarely used for permission, more hesitant, implies a great uncertainty about the answer.

• Used in reported speech may → might.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.4. Shall.

• Occurs mainly in questions (esp. used in singular and pl. subjects). Negative: shan’t or shall not.

• Mainly used for offers and suggestions: Shall I bring you anything else? What shall I do?

• Although less frequent, it also indicates determination or prediction: I shall tell him what I think/ You shall do as I tell you.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.5. Should.

• Mainly used to express escapable obligation or what is advisable: You should eat the cake.

• To refer to something that is expected: Where is Lisa? She should be on her way.

• Should + perfect inf. for actions expected but not done: She should’ve been here by now.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.6. Will

• Primary use futurity, but also expresses volition or certainty.

• Volition

  • Strong (insistence on orders) You will wait for me till the end of the match. WILL ISN’T CONTRACTED BECAUSE IT IS A STRESSED FORM.

  • Intermediate (intention or determination) I will ask him out.

  • Weak (polite requests) Will you drive me to the airport?

• Certainty (for frequency in habits): My dog will sit and wait till I arrive home.

• Future, decide to do something: I’ve no money. I’ll lend you some.

• Future predictions: I think he will win the match.

• Promising, inviting, offering, first conditional.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.7. Would

• Students struggle with contracted form: I would→ I’d.

• 2nd and 3rd conditional: Give hypothetical meaning to the lexical verb: If I were prettier, I would model. + “I wish” “If only”.

• Reported speech of will.

• Invitations and requests: Would you like to come to my party?

• Action occurred repeatedly in past: When you were a child, you would NOT stop talking.

• MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.8. Dare

• Lexical verb + infinitive → Typically used in affirmative and negative sentences to express “not to be afraid of”.

• In negative and interrogative it can function, like ‘do as an auxiliary’ as operator: Dare you tell me that? but this is INFREQUENT instead of expressions like: I dare say. (implying probability)

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.9. Must

• For when the obligation comes from the speaker: must. For when it comes from outside: have to. (doesn’t involve a personal implication)

  • In 1st person, the difference between have to and must is blurred, since it is difficult to determine whether the obligation comes from within or without.

  • In 3rd person: mainly used to give instructions/general rules.→ Cars must stop at the next junction.

• In the past: ONLY ‘HAD TO’ IS POSSIBLE.

• (-) → prohibition

• Logical deduction → He must be rich.

• Fixed expressions → I must say, I must admit.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.10. Needn’t

• Absence of obligation (don’t have to)

  • When referring to the past or future, we use needn’t over “don’t have to”: I needn’t wear a suit, but I did.

• Both modal auxiliary and lexical verb.

• Needn’t + perfect infinitive = an unnecessary action. You needn’t have helped me; I could have done it on my own.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.11. Ought to.

• Used to replace “should”.

  • More emphatic

  • Unlike should, it cannot be used in inversion.

4. MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

4.2. Modal auxiliary verbs. 4.2.12. Used to.

• It is a semi-modal because it expresses meaning like a modal verb but behaves like a lexical verb.

• For questions and negatives, it requires ‘did’ to function: Did you use to play football?

• Defines a past habit no longer practiced or a past routine. As a child, I used to play by the river. Here, it is interchangeable with ‘would’.