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Questions and Answers
What are the three primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What are the three primary auxiliary verbs in English?
do, be, and have
What is the function of primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the function of primary auxiliary verbs in English?
They serve a purely grammatical function and help convey verbal meaning.
What is the purpose of 'dummy-do'?
What is the purpose of 'dummy-do'?
To form questions, negate sentences, and emphasise the truth of an assertion.
What is the difference between Progressive Be and Passive Be?
What is the difference between Progressive Be and Passive Be?
How many forms does Auxiliary Be have?
How many forms does Auxiliary Be have?
What is the function of Perfective Have?
What is the function of Perfective Have?
What is the defining characteristic of modal verbs?
What is the defining characteristic of modal verbs?
What are the three types of modality discussed in the text?
What are the three types of modality discussed in the text?
Who are some scholars mentioned in the text who classified modality according to their own standard?
Who are some scholars mentioned in the text who classified modality according to their own standard?
What is Pare's view on the two forms of modality existing in all classification types?
What is Pare's view on the two forms of modality existing in all classification types?
What are some traditional categories into which modal verbs are divided for language learners?
What are some traditional categories into which modal verbs are divided for language learners?
What is the difference between epistemic modality and deontic modality?
What is the difference between epistemic modality and deontic modality?
What is dynamic modality?
What is dynamic modality?
What are some examples of modals of possibility?
What are some examples of modals of possibility?
What are some examples of modals of obligation?
What are some examples of modals of obligation?
What is the difference between 'must' and 'have to' in deontic modality?
What is the difference between 'must' and 'have to' in deontic modality?
What are auxiliary verbs in English?
What are auxiliary verbs in English?
How many modal verbs are there in English?
How many modal verbs are there in English?
What are the NICE properties of auxiliary verbs?
What are the NICE properties of auxiliary verbs?
What is the function of do-support in English?
What is the function of do-support in English?
What is the difference between primary and modal auxiliaries?
What is the difference between primary and modal auxiliaries?
What are marginal modals in English?
What are marginal modals in English?
What is the syntactic role of auxiliary verbs in English sentences?
What is the syntactic role of auxiliary verbs in English sentences?
What are the two main classes of verbs and how do they differ in function and characteristics?
What are the two main classes of verbs and how do they differ in function and characteristics?
What is the diachronic origin of auxiliary verbs in English and how have they evolved from lexical verbs?
What is the diachronic origin of auxiliary verbs in English and how have they evolved from lexical verbs?
Why are auxiliary verbs an important focus of attention for learners of English?
Why are auxiliary verbs an important focus of attention for learners of English?
What is the basis for recognizing verbs as either lexical or auxiliary?
What is the basis for recognizing verbs as either lexical or auxiliary?
What is the definition of closed class verbal items and how do they relate to auxiliary verbs?
What is the definition of closed class verbal items and how do they relate to auxiliary verbs?
What is the focus of analysis in the following essay?
What is the focus of analysis in the following essay?
What is the syntactic function of auxiliary verbs in English sentences?
What is the syntactic function of auxiliary verbs in English sentences?
The auxiliary verb ________ is used to form passive sentences in English.
The auxiliary verb ________ is used to form passive sentences in English.
The primary auxiliary verbs have very little meaning themselves, they serve a purely ________ function.
The primary auxiliary verbs have very little meaning themselves, they serve a purely ________ function.
When there is no auxiliary present, auxiliary do (does, did) is inserted to form ________ and negate sentences.
When there is no auxiliary present, auxiliary do (does, did) is inserted to form ________ and negate sentences.
The modal auxiliaries must be followed by a ________ infinitive.
The modal auxiliaries must be followed by a ________ infinitive.
Verbs need and dare sometimes behave like auxiliaries, and sometimes do not. In cases of negation and inversion, they can behave in exactly the same way as the ________ auxiliaries.
Verbs need and dare sometimes behave like auxiliaries, and sometimes do not. In cases of negation and inversion, they can behave in exactly the same way as the ________ auxiliaries.
The verb that follows perfective Have is always in the ________ participle form.
The verb that follows perfective Have is always in the ________ participle form.
Auxiliary Be has seven different forms: be, am, are, is, was, were, ________.
Auxiliary Be has seven different forms: be, am, are, is, was, were, ________.
These are comprised of primary auxiliaries (do, have and be) and ______ auxiliaries
These are comprised of primary auxiliaries (do, have and be) and ______ auxiliaries
There are ______ modal verbs in English
There are ______ modal verbs in English
Marginal modals are not frequent and different grammatical approaches use the term in different ______
Marginal modals are not frequent and different grammatical approaches use the term in different ______
A further group of words known as ______ is semantically related to modals
A further group of words known as ______ is semantically related to modals
Auxiliaries are always optional (in declarative sentences) and precede a lexical verb, whose form is determined by the preceding auxiliary, but which is always either a non-finite form: an infinitive (either a base-infinitive or a to-infinitive), an -ing form or a past ______.
Auxiliaries are always optional (in declarative sentences) and precede a lexical verb, whose form is determined by the preceding auxiliary, but which is always either a non-finite form: an infinitive (either a base-infinitive or a to-infinitive), an -ing form or a past ______.
Negation in English can be achieved by the placement of the negative particle not, or its cliticised form n’t after an ______ verb
Negation in English can be achieved by the placement of the negative particle not, or its cliticised form n’t after an ______ verb
In various constructions, auxiliary verbs can invert with the subject, whilst lexical verbs ______
In various constructions, auxiliary verbs can invert with the subject, whilst lexical verbs ______
Verbs have sometimes been characterised as 'doing words' or 'words of action' in some grammars. However, because many verb occurrences do not involve action (e.g. is, have, know, believe, think, hope), it is probably better to recognise verbs on the basis of their ______.
Verbs have sometimes been characterised as 'doing words' or 'words of action' in some grammars. However, because many verb occurrences do not involve action (e.g. is, have, know, believe, think, hope), it is probably better to recognise verbs on the basis of their ______.
There are two main classes of verbs: lexical verbs (e.g. think, know, say) and ______ verbs (primary auxiliary and modal verbs).
There are two main classes of verbs: lexical verbs (e.g. think, know, say) and ______ verbs (primary auxiliary and modal verbs).
The roots of auxiliaries can be traced ______, to earlier stages in the development of English when they were not distinct from lexical verbs.
The roots of auxiliaries can be traced ______, to earlier stages in the development of English when they were not distinct from lexical verbs.
Auxiliary verbs represent a ______ number of items which are highly distinctive both syntactically and semantically.
Auxiliary verbs represent a ______ number of items which are highly distinctive both syntactically and semantically.
Because they are one of the idiosyncrasies of the English language, auxiliary verbs are an important focus of attention for learners of ______.
Because they are one of the idiosyncrasies of the English language, auxiliary verbs are an important focus of attention for learners of ______.
Auxiliary verbs are defined as ______ class verbal items which help lexical verbs form a tense or an expression by combining with present or past participles or with infinitive.
Auxiliary verbs are defined as ______ class verbal items which help lexical verbs form a tense or an expression by combining with present or past participles or with infinitive.
The analysis of auxiliary verbs will be in the ______ of the following essay.
The analysis of auxiliary verbs will be in the ______ of the following essay.
Modality refers to the properties of verbs that express a speaker’s attitude towards the ______ of a situation.
Modality refers to the properties of verbs that express a speaker’s attitude towards the ______ of a situation.
Epistemic modality refers to the speaker’s knowledge, ______, or opinion.
Epistemic modality refers to the speaker’s knowledge, ______, or opinion.
Deontic modality encodes notions such as ______ and possibility of acts imposed by social laws and obligations.
Deontic modality encodes notions such as ______ and possibility of acts imposed by social laws and obligations.
Dynamic modality was added to refer to the root meaning of ______ (meaning ability and sensation).
Dynamic modality was added to refer to the root meaning of ______ (meaning ability and sensation).
In spoken English, 'have to' is about three times as frequent as 'must' for expressing ______.
In spoken English, 'have to' is about three times as frequent as 'must' for expressing ______.
Compared with 'must,' 'have to' is more ______.
Compared with 'must,' 'have to' is more ______.
'Should' and 'ought to' are almost the same when they are used as ______.
'Should' and 'ought to' are almost the same when they are used as ______.
In questions, 'shall' and 'will' show ______ meaning.
In questions, 'shall' and 'will' show ______ meaning.
Many scholars classified modality according to their own ______.
Many scholars classified modality according to their own ______.
What is the function of the primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the function of the primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the term used to describe the insertion of auxiliary 'do' to form questions and negate sentences?
What is the term used to describe the insertion of auxiliary 'do' to form questions and negate sentences?
What is the difference between progressive 'be' and passive 'be' in English?
What is the difference between progressive 'be' and passive 'be' in English?
What is the term used to describe the action/event being completed prior to some point of reference in the present, past, or future?
What is the term used to describe the action/event being completed prior to some point of reference in the present, past, or future?
What is the defining characteristic of modal verbs in English?
What is the defining characteristic of modal verbs in English?
What are the three primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What are the three primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the difference between the use of need and dare as auxiliary verbs versus lexical verbs in English?
What is the difference between the use of need and dare as auxiliary verbs versus lexical verbs in English?
What are the nine modal verbs in English?
What are the nine modal verbs in English?
What is the function of do-support in modern English?
What is the function of do-support in modern English?
What is the difference between marginal modals and semi-modals?
What is the difference between marginal modals and semi-modals?
What is the syntactic role of auxiliary verbs in modern English?
What is the syntactic role of auxiliary verbs in modern English?
What are the strict restrictions on the possible grammatical orders available for auxiliaries?
What are the strict restrictions on the possible grammatical orders available for auxiliaries?
What is the function of dummy-do in modern English?
What is the function of dummy-do in modern English?
What are the NICE properties of auxiliary verbs?
What are the NICE properties of auxiliary verbs?
What is the difference between primary auxiliary and modal verbs?
What is the difference between primary auxiliary and modal verbs?
What is the function of auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the function of auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the historical origin of auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the historical origin of auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the difference between lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs?
What is the difference between lexical verbs and auxiliary verbs?
What is the function of primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the function of primary auxiliary verbs in English?
What is the difference between dynamic and epistemic modality?
What is the difference between dynamic and epistemic modality?
What is the main focus of the essay?
What is the main focus of the essay?
What is the difference between epistemic and deontic modality?
What is the difference between epistemic and deontic modality?
What are the three types of modality discussed in the text?
What are the three types of modality discussed in the text?
Which modals are used to express possibility in epistemic modality?
Which modals are used to express possibility in epistemic modality?
Which modals are used to express obligation in deontic modality?
Which modals are used to express obligation in deontic modality?
What is the difference between 'must' and 'have to' in deontic modality?
What is the difference between 'must' and 'have to' in deontic modality?
Which modals are used to express ability in dynamic modality?
Which modals are used to express ability in dynamic modality?
What is the root meaning of 'can' in dynamic modality?
What is the root meaning of 'can' in dynamic modality?
What is the difference between 'should' and 'ought to' in deontic modality?
What is the difference between 'should' and 'ought to' in deontic modality?
What is the most frequently used modal verb in modals of deduction?
What is the most frequently used modal verb in modals of deduction?
Study Notes
Auxiliary Verbs in English
- The three primary auxiliary verbs in English are do, have, and be.
- Primary auxiliary verbs have little meaning themselves and serve a purely functional purpose.
- They are used to form questions, negations, and to express tense and aspect.
Function of Primary Auxiliary Verbs
- The function of primary auxiliary verbs is to help lexical verbs form a tense or an expression by combining with present or past participles or with an infinitive.
Marginal Modals
- Marginal modals are not frequent and different grammatical approaches use the term in different ways.
Modal Verbs
- There are nine modal verbs in English.
- Modal verbs express a speaker's attitude towards the probability of a situation.
Types of Modality
- Epistemic modality refers to the speaker's knowledge, belief, or opinion.
- Deontic modality encodes notions such as permission, obligation, and possibility of acts imposed by social laws and obligations.
- Dynamic modality refers to the root meaning of ability and sensation.
Modals of Possibility and Obligation
- Examples of modals of possibility include can, could, may, and might.
- Examples of modals of obligation include must, have to, should, and ought to.
NICE Properties of Auxiliary Verbs
- NICE stands for Negation, Inversion, Code, and Emphasis.
- Auxiliary verbs have the NICE properties, which allow them to participate in negation, inversion, code-switching, and emphasis.
Do-Support
- Do-support is the insertion of auxiliary 'do' to form questions and negate sentences.
Syntactic Role of Auxiliary Verbs
- Auxiliary verbs always precede a lexical verb, whose form is determined by the preceding auxiliary.
- Auxiliary verbs can invert with the subject in various constructions.
Historical Origin of Auxiliary Verbs
- The roots of auxiliaries can be traced back to earlier stages in the development of English when they were not distinct from lexical verbs.
Difference between Lexical and Auxiliary Verbs
- Lexical verbs are "doing words" or "words of action" and have a specific meaning.
- Auxiliary verbs are a closed class of verbal items that help lexical verbs form a tense or an expression.
Focus of the Essay
- The focus of the essay is on the analysis of auxiliary verbs in English.
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Description
Test your knowledge of the three primary auxiliary verbs in English - do, be, and have - and their grammatical functions in various constructions with this quiz. Sharpen your understanding of their role as 'helpers' in conveying verbal meaning.
