Chapter 11_ Auxiliaries, Modals, And Phrasal Modals

7/27/2019 Chapter 11_ Auxiliaries, Modals, And Phrasal Modals

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Chapter 11: Auxiliaries, Modals, and Phrasal Modals

In this chapter we describe the patterns of two kinds of verbs which form part of the verb group: auxiliaries andmodals. We also include here phrasal modals, that is, phrases which behave like modal verbs. This chaptercontains:

1 Auxiliary verbs:be, do, get, and have2 Modal verbs e.g.may, must, should, will3 Phrasal modals e.g. beable to, had better, would rather

1 Auxiliaries

There are four verbs which are sometimes auxiliary verbs: be, do, get, and have. They are used mainly to addmeaning to a main verb, for example by forming a continuous tense, a passive, a negative, or an interrogative.They are also used to add meaning to a clause, for ex ample by helping to form question tags.

Like other verbs, auxiliaries have tenses, some of which are formed with other auxiliaries. For example, in theclauseShe has been singing for two hours, the auxiliarybe is used in the pattern AUX -ing, that is, been singing.

However, the auxiliarybeitself has a tense formed by the auxiliary have in the pattern AUX -ed, that is, has

been.

DIAGRAM HERE

Another example is the clause Our boat was being thrown around like a toy, where the auxiliarybe is used inthe passive patternAUX -ed, that is, being thrown. However, that auxiliary itself has a tense formed by the

auxiliarybein the pattern AUX -ing, that is, was being. The verb group in this clause therefore contains two

forms of the auxiliary verbbe.

DIAGRAM HERE

Looking at this from another point of v iew, when an auxiliary is followed by an `-ing' form, an `-ed' form, or a to-

infinitive form, that form may itself be that of an auxiliary verb which is followed by another verb. For example,in the clauseShe has been arrested, the auxiliaryhave is used in the pattern AUX -ed, that is, has been.

However, beis also an auxiliary, used here in the pattern AUX -ed, that is, been arrested.

DIAGRAM HERE

In this chapter, we use the terms `- ing' form, `-ed' form, and to-infinitive form to indicate either a single mainverb with that form, such as liking, liked, or to like, or an auxiliary with that form together with the main verbfollowing it, such as being liked, been liked, or to be liked.

Auxiliary v erbs are made negative by putting notafter them, as inShe is not swimming, They did not know,orHe has not written to you. In spoken English and informal written English, notis usually contracted to n'tandis added to the auxiliary:He hasn't written to you.

The interrogative of verb groups formed with auxiliary verbs is made by placing the Subject after the auxiliaryverb, as inIsshe swimming?orHas he not written to you?. If then'tform of the negative is used, the Subjectcomes after that:Hasn't he written to you?

Auxiliary v erbs have the following patterns:

*AUX -ing

He is swimming.*AUX to-inf

She is to arrive at six.

*AUX neg inf

Don't go!*AUX n inf

Did they remember?


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*AUX inf

Do come in.*AUX -ed

She got knocked down.*AUX

She's probably earning more than I am.*cl AUX n

She hasn't finished, hasshe?*so/nor/neither AUX n

...so do I.*AUX n -ed

Had I known...

AUX -ing

The auxiliary verb be is followed by the `-ing' form of another verb. The auxiliary and the other verb togetherform the verb group.

Auxiliary-ing

form

Subject Verb Completive

I ambeingpunished.

He was driving too quickly.

She is writing a novel.

This pattern is used to form continuous tenses.

Darkness wascoming, a pink glow above the rooftops.He was being questionedat a police station in London.Everybody iscomplainingabout the recession.An air and sea rescue operationhas been going onall day for the crew of a fishing trawler which sankin the English Channel.

AUX to-inf

The auxiliary verb be is followed by the to-infinitive form of another verb. The two verbs arein phase and formacomplex verb group.

Auxiliary

verbto-infinitive


Thetalks

are to begin tomorrow.

She isto becongratulated.

He was to become President.

This pattern is used to talk about something that will happen, something that should happen, something thatwould happen under certain conditions, or something that has happened, seen from the viewpoint of a time beforeit happened, and when it was not expected.

The Prime Ministeris to geta full briefing on the release of the hostages next week.


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She said if she didn't get back by six, Iwas to callthe police.Whatis to be done?If you were to ruba piece of plastic with a cloth, you would produce static electricity.He needs to pull his socks up if he is to make a success of his England career.Other reformers such as Thomas Spence, who was to become a more significant radical influence at alater date, substituted phonetic for conventional spellings in their writings.

AUX neg inf

The auxiliary verb do is followed by the negativenotand thebare infinitive form of another verb. The auxiliaryand the other verb together form the verb group.

Auxiliary

verbnegative infinitive

Subject Verb... Negative ...Verb Completive

He did not like cakes.

Do not open the box.

This pattern with do is used to make negative forms of verbs in the simple present and the simple past tenses,

and to make negative imperatives.

Franklin did not wantWilson to resign.He does not havea name until much later in the story.Don'tever callthis number again.

AUX n inf

The auxiliary verb do is followed by a noun group and thebare infinitiveform of another verb. The auxiliaryand the other verb together form the verb group. The noun group is the Subject.

Auxiliary

verb

noun

group

infinitive

Verb... Subject ...Verb Completive

Do you like chocolate?

Did she break her leg?

This pattern with do is used to make questions with verbs in the simple present and the simple past tenses.

Whatdo you mean?

Does she love you?

Where did they findthe money?

AUX inf

The auxiliary verb do is followed by thebare infinitive of another verb. The auxiliary and the other verbtogether form the verb group.

Auxiliary

verbinfinitive


I do understand.

Do haveanotherbiscuit.

This pattern is used to add emphasis to a verb in the simple present or the simple past tense, for examplebecause it contrasts with something that has previously been said or implied. It is also used to invite someone


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politely to do something.

He doesn't say too much, but what hedoes say either enhances the absurd humour or the spectacle.Well, as a matter of fact, Idid wantto talk to you about something.

Do sit down.

AUX -ed

The auxiliary verb is followed by the `-ed' form of another verb. The auxiliary and the other verb together form

the verb group.

Auxiliary

verb-ed

form


They were eaten by rats.

We got marriedinSeptember.

He has finished his work.

This pattern has four uses.

1 The auxiliaries be andgetare used with this pattern to form the passive.Be is used much more frequently inthis way than get.

Doctors believe more research isneededinto the spread of the disease.No suspects have been picked upyet by police.`Did I get you into trouble?' she asked. He laughed. `No. Igot teaseda bit,' he added.

2 The auxiliaryhave is used with this pattern to form perfect tenses.

Mount Pinatubohas blanketedthe countryside with volcanic ash, up to half a meter deep.Jupe picked one of the magazines up and leafed through it. Someone hadinserteda slip of paper

halfway through to mark a place.Havingestablishedhis business in San Francisco in the 1960s, he travelled to England with the simpleobjective of catching up with contemporary British design.

The verb have is also used with the `-ed' form of the auxiliarybe to form perfect continuous tenses. This patternis AUX been-ing.

So far Indonesiahas been accepting all boat people arriving on its shores - some twelve hundred eachmonth.

3 The auxiliarygetis used with this pattern, but without making a passive, to indicate that an action, usuallysomething difficult, is successfully achieved. This is an informal use.

He spoke in a hasty, nervous way, as if once he had gotstartedhe was afraid that he might beinterrupted.Until Iget warmed up it's difficult to run and there's pain.

4 The to-infinitive form of the auxiliary verb be is used with this pattern, usually with the verbsfound, heard,or seen to indicate that people can find, hear, or see something somewhere.

Most of his works are to be foundin the area around Arezzo.There's hardly a treeto be seen.

AUX

The auxiliary verb is used with nothing following it, or with just notfollowing it, when confirming or contradictinga statement, in short answers to questions, or following comparatives. This pattern is used with the auxiliaries be,do andhave.

`I'm keeping my piranhas,' Paul said. `No you're not,' said his mother. `Yes Iam,' said Paul.`Is Debbie coming to see us tomorrow?' `Yes, she is.'


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`Governor Clinton never indicated during the campaign that he supported a gasoline tax.' `No,he didn't.'You'd imagine that I'd learn with age but Idon't.`You've never even seen it!' `Yes Ihave,' snapped Betty.My grandparents were very poor and they wanted their kids to do better than they had.

cl AUX n

The auxiliary v erb follows a clause and is followed by a noun group. The noun group is the Subject of the auxiliary

verb. It is usually a personal pronoun.

clauseAuxiliary

verbnoungroup

Clause Verb Subject

She isn'tlaughing,

is she?

You live inBirmingham,

don't you?

They hadn't

beenarrested,

had they?

This pattern is used withbe, do, and have to form question tags, which ask the hearer or reader to confirm astatement. A negative statement is always followed by a positive question tag. A positive statement may befollowed by a negative or a positive question tag. A negative question tag following a positive statement indicatesthat the information is considered to be shared. A positive question tag following a positive statement indicatesthat the information is not considered to be shared, but is something that the hearer alone has the right toconfirm or deny.

In the case ofbe and have, the clause before the question tag contains a verb group formed with beor have as anauxiliary. In the case ofdo, the clause contains a verb group formed with do as an auxiliary, or a verb without anauxiliary.

He isn't wearing shorts, is he?Ah, you're making an assumption there, are you?You liked Gil,didn't you?They'd moved up here before you were born, hadthey?

so/nor/neither AUX n

The auxiliary verb follows one of the conjunctions so, nor, or neither and is followed by a noun group. The noungroup is the Subject of the auxiliary verb.

so/nor/neitherAuxiliary

verbnoungroup

Conjunction Verb Subject

So am I.

Nor did John.

Neither had they.

This pattern is used withbe, do, and have to indicate a situation that is similar to one mentioned in a previousclause, but with a different person involved.

`I'm working at home on Wednesday.' Soam I.'He never spoke of my mother; nordid my aunt or my grandmother.`I've never been to Alcatraz.' Neitherhave I.'

This pattern, with nor, is also used to confirm a previous clause. This is a formal use. In spoken English, the stressis on the auxiliary rather than the Subject.


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He confirmed there and then: `I will never race again.'Nor did he.

AUX n -ed

The auxiliary verb hadis followed by a noun group and the `-ed' form of another v erb. The noun group is theSubject. This pattern is always used with another clause, which comes before or after this one.

Auxiliarynoungroup

-ed

Verb... Subject ...Verb Completive

Had I known...

Had she remembered her lines...

This pattern is used to indicate a situation that might have happened but did not. Its meaning is similar to themeaning of a clause beginning with if, but this pattern is more formal.

The captain of the boat did not want to leave; he wanted to remain on his vessel and try and dosomething.Had he remained, he would have gone down with his boat.Kay didn't know of the affair he was having with a younger woman, but she probably would not have

done anything about ithad she known.

2 Modals

There are eleven modal verbs in English. They are used to add meaning to a main verb, for example to indicatehow certain or possible something is, or how frequently something happens, or whether a course of action isrecommended or allowed.

can could dare may mightmust need shall should willwould

Unlike ordinary v erbs and auxiliary verbs, modal verbs do not change their form depending on the Subject. Forexample, you sayI mustandHe must.

Unlike ordinary verbs and auxiliary verbs, modal verbs do not change their form to indicate tense,although could, should, and wouldare sometimes considered to be the past equivalents ofcan, shall, and will. Itis better, however, to think of these words as different verbs, not as different forms of the same verb, becausethey have very different meanings. The patternMODAL have -ed is sometimes used to talk about something in

the past, as inShe must have seen him.

Modal verbs are made negative by putting notafter them, as inShe might not be happy, orYou should not go. Inspoken and informal written English, notis usually contracted to n'tand is added to the modal:You shouldn't go.The negative form ofcan iscannot. In spoken and informal written English this is usually contracted to can't.Similarly, shall notis usually contracted toshan'tand will nottowon't.

The interrogative of verb groups formed with modal verbs is made by placing the Subject after the modal verb, as

inMight she be happy?orShould you not go?If the n'tform of the negative is used, the Subject comes afterthat:Shouldn't you go?

The modal verbs dare andneedalso occur as main verbs. InHe doesn't dare climb the tree, dare is a main verb,but inHe dare not climb the tree, dare is a modal verb.

There are two main patterns associated with modal verbs:

*MODAL inf

She must be mad.*MODAL have -ed

She must have missed the bus.

MODAL inf

The modal verb is followed by thebare infinitiveform of another verb. The two verbs together form the verb


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group. The bare infinitive may be befollowed by an `-ed' form or an `-ing' form.

Modalverb

infinitive


I can't tell you that.

Shecouldnot

lie to him.

We may be facingacatastrophe.

Finaldecisions

shall be taken in the future.

Thebuilding

should reopen soon.

All the modal verbs are used with this pattern, with a variety of meanings. These include:

expressing certainty or uncertainty about a situation e.g. could, might, mustsaying what sometimes happens e.g. can, may

talking about an obligation e.g. must, need, shouldtalking about ability e.g. can, couldsaying what someone dare dotalking about future possibilities e.g. may, shall, willtalking about permission e.g. can, may, mighttalking about something hypothetical e.g.should, would

Insect stings can benasty but they aren't usually dangerous.The British Airways desk clerk said shecould not acceptme on to the plane unless I showed mypassport.We dare not letthat happen again.And many thanks to Debbie Licorish for her calm manner and eye for detail. Finally, may Ithank Tony

Green for all his support and good humour during the most trying of times.MightIask what you're doing here?He had decided shemust have some idea of what was going on.Only those who have been misbehaving or who have something to hide need worry.If you don't want to talk to me, Ishan'ttry to force you to.Maybe you shouldsee a doctor, get something to help you sleep.So willinterest rates keep rising?If this became known, he wouldbe lucky to escape with his life.

MODAL have -ed

The modal verb is followed byhave and the `-ed' form of another verb. The three verbs together form the verb

group. The `-ed' form may be of the auxiliary verb be, with another verb following it. In this chapter we treat theauxiliarybe and the following verb together as the `-ed' form. (See Section 1 above.)

Modalverb

have -ed


He must have forgotten his lunch.

She should have remembered his name.

I would have been told earlier.

This pattern is used with all the modal verbs except dare, with a variety of meanings. These include:

drawing a conclusion about the past e.g.can(not), maydrawing a conclusion about the present e.g. will, wouldtalking about something that was possible but did not happen e.g. could, mighttalking about something that will be true in the future e.g. shall, should


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talking about something that you think was unnecessary or that you disapprove of e.g. need (not), would(not)

If Jane had shouted back, she couldhave won the day. Sadly, she didn't.The picture came out of a magazine or newspaper. Some kids got hold of it and it may have been

passedaround the school.If this had happened, he mighthave drunk less and been a better statesman.At one time Berti's place must have been part of the cottage.She needn't have worried.Iwouldneverhave done what they did.

Other related patterns

In addition to the two patterns described above, modal verbs are used in two patterns that are the same as thoseused with auxiliary verbs.

MODAL

The modal verb is used with nothing following it, or with just notfollowing it, when confirming or contradicting astatement, in short answers to questions, or following comparatives. (See AUX infin Section 1 above.) All the

modal verbs exceptdare and needare used in this pattern.

His mother could no more relax than hecould.`You'll never see it,' he said. `Yes, hewill,' said a voice.

cl MODAL n

The modal verb follows a clause and is followed by a noun group which is the Subject. This forms a tag question.( See cl AUX n in Section 1 above.) All the modal verbs are used in this pattern.

You'll look after me,won't you, Mama?

3 Phrasal modalsPhrasal modals are phrases which form a single verb group with another verb and which affect the meaning ofthat verb in the same way that a modal verb does. In the Collins Cobuild English Dictionary they have thelabel PHR-MODAL.

Some phrasal modals begin with be or have: be able to, be bound to, be going to, be liable to, be meant to, besupposed to, be sure to, be unable to, have got to , and have to. The first word in these phrases changes its formdepending on the Subject and the tense, in the way that be and have normally do. You sayI am liable topanic andShe is liable to panic, We have to leave tonightand They had to leave last night. The other phrasalmodals do not change in this way. You sayI would rather go by bus andHe would rather go by bus.

Most phrasal modals are made negative by puttingnotafter the first word in the phrase, as inHe is notable to bewith us or Youought not to eat so quickly. However, had best, had better, would rather, would just as soon,and would soonerare made negative by putting notafter the whole phrase, as in You had bestnot go byyourselforIwould just as soon not go by myself. The negative ofwould do well to is made byputting notafter well, as inShe would do wellnot to forget that. The phrasal modal used to has three negativeforms: used not to, didn't used to, anddidn't use to.

The interrogative of verb groups formed with most phrasal modals is made by placing the Subject after the firstword in the phrase, as inHave you got to go?or Would yousooner stay?The interrogative form ofhave to is doyou have to, as inDo you have to go?The interrogative form ofused to is did you used to, as inDid you usedto eat sweets?.

Phrasal modals have the following patterns:

*MODAL inf

I have to go.*MODAL


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Go if you have to.*MODAL infthan/as inf

I'd rather die than surrender.*MODAL that

I'd rather you didn't.

MODAL inf

The phrasal modal is followed by thebare infinitive of another verb. The phrasal modal and the infinitivetogether form the verb group.

Phrasalmodal

infinitive


Sheis ableto

sit upin awheelchair.

Theyweregoing to

shoot something.

He used to shout at people.

All the phrasal modals have this pattern.

The deep-sea divingis bound to takeme away a good deal, but I know when it's time to settle down,then I'll be looking to come back here.`Maybe we ought to explore the mountain a little,' said Ginger to Steve.Itwas supposed to lastfor a year and actually lasted eight.We need good health and circulation of our blood and wewould do well not to addsalt to our food atall.

be able to had best had better be bound to be going to have got to have to be liable to be meant to ought to would ratherwould just as soon would sooner be supposed to be sure to be unable to used to would do well to

MODAL

The phrasal modal is used with nothing following it, when the verb it refers to is clear from the immediatelypreceding context.

`It's not really improving anything.' `No, but perhaps it's not meant to.'I've never had a tremendous social life; I tend not to put that first. Iought to, but politics comes first.I felt I could no longer bully and whip people into line like a foreman is supposed to.I wish I could run about like Iused to, and I love dancing. Well, I can't do that any more.

In the case ofwould rather and would sooner, the phrasal modal is usually followed by not, and the patternis MODALnot.

`Don't tell me if you'd rather not,' he said.They'll be delighted if you'd like to come, but of course we'll understand it if you 'd sooner not.

be able to had better be bound to be going to have got to have to be meant to ought to would rather would sooner besupposed to be sure to be unable to used to

MODAL infthan/asinf

The phrasal modal is followed by thebare infinitive of another verb, than, and thebare infinitive of another

verb. In the case ofwould just as soon, as is used instead ofthan. The phrasal modal and the two infinitives forma co-ordinated verb group.

Phrasalmodal

infinitive than/as infinitive


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Subject Verb... Completive Co-ordinator

...Verb Completive

Iwouldrather

die than surrender.

He'd just assoon

dance as eat.

Theywouldsooner

buy sweets than eata propermeal.

This pattern is used with phrasal modals which indicate what someone prefers.

Iwould rather behonest with peoplethan misleadthem that there is going to be some pot of gold atthe end of the rainbow.The average villain today would just as soon killyou as look at you.Iwould soonergive up sleep than miss my evening class.

would rather would just as soon would sooner

MODAL that

The phrasal modal is followed by a that-clause. The phrasal modal by itself is the verb group and the that-clauseis a new clause, with its own structure.

Phrasalmodal

that-clause

Subject Verb Clause

Iwouldrather

that thetheorywasstated.

I 'dsooner we saidit.

This pattern is used to indicate what someone would like to happen.

Most of what he's marked on the printout has behind it the opinion: Iwould rather that thebroadcasters had not said this.

In the case ofwould just as soon and would sooner, the that-clause never begins with the word that.

I'd just as soonyou put that thing away.I'd sooner he grinned and bore it. He can have a two month rest in the summer.

In this pattern the that-clause is often co-ordinated with another clause using than or as.

The police would rather you played safe than ended up being sorry.

would rather would just as soon would sooner

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Chapter 11_ Auxiliaries, Modals, And Phrasal Modals