Tagged: modals

Should As A Modal Auxiliary Verb

Should is a modal auxiliary verb. There is no –s in the third person singular. He should be here soon. (NOT He shoulds …) You should mend your ways. Should is followed by an infinitive without to. Questions and negatives are made without do. You should...

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

An auxiliary verb is one which helps other verbs to make tenses, passive forms etc. There are two groups – primary auxiliaries and modal auxiliaries. Modal auxiliaries The verbs will, would, shall, should, can, could, may,...

How To Identify Verbs

Verbs are the most important words in sentences. A verb is an action word. That means it refers to some sort of activity. Identifying verbs is easy. Here are a few tips. Verbs typically exhibit the...

Could | Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Could is a modal auxiliary verb. There is no –s in the third person singular. Could is used to indicate ability that existed in the past. It is followed by an infinitive without to. In my younger days I could run...

Auxiliary Verb Equivalents

Be able to Be able to can be used to talk about ability. It often has the same meaning as can/could. He is able to support her. (He can support her.) They were able to catch the thief. (They could...

Auxiliary Verb Equivalents

Be able to Be able to can be used to talk about ability. It often has the same meaning as can/could. He is able to support her. (He can support her.) They were able...

Auxiliary Verbs

A verb like be, have and do which is used with another verb to make tenses, passive forms, questions and negatives. English auxiliaries are divided into two types: the primary auxiliaries be, have and...