Verbs (Auxiliaries)

Index:-

 1.Definition

 2.Kinds of Verb

•  Auxiliaries
•  Main-verbs

 3.Auxiliaries

•  Functions
•  Formation of question tags

4.Principal Auxiliaries: Usage

•  Be (am, is, are/ was, were)
•  Have

 5.Modal Auxiliaries: Usage

•  Can/could
•  May/might
•  Must
•  Shall/should
•  Will/would
•  Ought to

6.Semi-Modals

•  Need
•  Dare
•  Used to

                            -:Definition:- 

A verb is a word or phrase indicating an action, event or state:

For Example:- 

I teach you English. - action

we won the match last night. - event

He is poor. - state

   The verb is the most important part of a sentence. It is obligatory even in the shortest of sentences, even every verb is a sentence in itself if there is full stop (/punctuation mark) after it.

For Example:-

Go!

he went !.

They have Gone!

 Kinds of Verb:- 

On the basis of their function, Verbs can be broadly categorised into two parts, 

a) Main verbs (principal verbs)

Ex.  read, write, dance, go, laugh, drink, etc.

b) Auxiliary verbs (helping verbs)

Ex. do, have, can, has etc.

                        -:Auxiliary verbs :- 

Auxiliaries are of three kinds:

a) Primary auxiliaries

be verb: am, is, are, was, were, be, been, being

have verb : has, have, had

do Verb : do, does, did

b) Modal Auxiliaries (modal verbs)

A modal auxiliary is a verb used with another verb to express an idea such as

possibility which is not expressed by the main verb of the sentence viz., He could

play this game. 

Modal auxiliaries are:

can - could, may - might, will- would

shall - should, must, ought (to)

c) Auxiliaries (Semi-modal/marginal auxiliaries)

need, dare, used (with to)

 Main-verbs:-

All verbs other than auxiliaries are called main verbs: read, write, eat, drink, etc.

These can be divided into two on the basis of how they form the simple past and

past participle:

a) Regular Verbs

The simple past and the past participle of regular verbs are formed by adding

d/ed to the bare infinitive:

simple present     simple past           past participle

like                                       liked                              liked

love                                     loved                             loved

call                                     called                              called

pray                                    prayed                            prayed 

Since the simple past and the past participle forms of regular verbs are the same, thats why these are called as Regular Verbs.

b) Irregular Verbs

The simple past and the past participle of irregular verbs are formed in a variety of

ways:

simple present                    simple past                 past participle

go                                            went                          gone

give                                         gave                         given

take                                         took                          taken

sing                                         sang                          sung

Auxiliaries:- 

Functions:-

i) Auxiliaries are used primarily to show whether an action is complete, hacitual or

continuous.

ii) Auxiliaries are also used in negation, interrogatives and emphatic statements.

iii) They are used in short answers to avoid the tedious repetition of words.

e.g. Do you like it? Yes, I do./No, I don't.

Can you do this ? Yes, I can./No, I can't.

An auxiliary verb allows the rest of the clause to be deleted.

Can you help me lift this box?

Yes, I can. (not, Yes I can help you lift this box.)

Formation of question tags:-

A question tag or tag question is also called a tail question. The structure of a

question tag is:

auxiliary + subject (pronoun)

e.g. Isn't she?

The statement expresses an assumption and the question tag expresses confirmation of the assumption. So such a statement has two parts:

1. Statement

2. Question tag

The structure of such a sentence is:

Statement :  Question Tag

Puneet is tall. Isn't he?

A. Use of the auxiliary:- 

i) A question tag always begins with an auxiliary verb, and not with a question- word like who/what.

ii) A question tag is formed by repeating the auxiliary verb used in the statement

1. It's hot today, isn't it?

2. She isn't tall, is she?

Note: A question tag is formed by using do/does/did when the statement is in the

simple present/past tense:

For example:-  You play cricket, don't you?

                        She likes soft drink, doesn't she?

iii) With I am the question tag takes aren't I?

For example:- I am innocent, aren't I? (not, amn't I?)

                        I am good, aren't I? (not, amn't I?)

iv) With used the question tag can take didn't.

For example:- He used to play the piano, didn't he?

                        She used to go for a walk, didn't she?

v) With had better/had rather the question tag takes hadn't

For example:- You had better stay in this Villa, hadn't you?

                        You had rather wait for a while,  hadn't you?

vi) With would rather the question tag takes wouldn't

For example:-  You would rather resign, wouldn't you?

vii) With an imperative expressing command or request the tag is will you?

For example:-    Switch on the light, will you?

                          Please give me some money, will you?

viii) The imperative expressing offer or invitation takes won't you?

For example:-   Come in, won't you?

                         Have a cup of tea, won't you?

ix) With let's expressing proposal or suggestion we use shall we?

For example:-   Let's go home now, shall we?

                         Let's have something, shall we?

Note: But let expressing permission takes will you?

For example:-  Let them play here, will you?

                        Let her come in, will you?

B. Use of the subject pronoun

i) The subject of a question tag is always a pronoun, not a noun:

For example:-     Veer is intelligent, isn't he? (not, isn't Mary?)

                          Veer has got a bike, hasn't he? (not, hasn't Tom?)

ii) A singular noun of a common gender usually takes he, not she/they:

For example:-    A doctor serves the sick, doesn't he? (not, doesn't she?)

                           A teacher loves his pupils, doesn't he? (not, doesn't she?)

iii) A singular indefinite pronoun of common gender takes they:

For example:-  Everyone praised her, didn't they?

One used as a subject in the statement takes he or you in the question tag:

 For example:-  One can't eat a dozen bananas, can he?

                          One can eat a dozen bananas, can't you?

iv) Prescriptive grammar requires one here:

For example:-  One can eat a dozen bananas, can't one?

v) The subject of a question tag is always a single pronoun. Any premodifiers like

'some of/ none of' in the subject phrase of the statement are left out.

For example:-  1. Some of it is good , isn't it?

                        2. Some of them are cunning, aren't they?

                        3. Most of the girls are beautiful, aren't they?

                        4. None of you can solve this, can you?

vi) This/that used as a subject in the statement becomes it in the question tag, and

these/those used as a subject in the statement becomes they in the question tag.

For example:-  This is a book, isn't it? (not, isn't this?)

                        These are dolls, aren't they? (not, aren't these?)

(vii) there is used as the subject in the question tag when the statement begins with

there:

For example:-  1. There is some water in the bottle, isn't there? (not, isn't it?)

                         2. There are some birds on the roof, aren't there? (not, aren't they?)

                         3. There was a hawker at the door, wasn't there? (not, wasn't he?)

C. Other forms:-

The combination of auxiliary and pronoun comes in handy in certain other contexts

too.

For example:-  Sania is very beautiful. Of course, she is.

                        Ronaldo doesn't play cricket. Yes, he does.

b) In short answers:

For example:-  Can women fly planes? 

                        Yes, they can. / No, they can't.

                        Is it true?

                        Yes, it is.  / No, it isn't.

c) Use of positive/negative expressions:-

(i) positive + negative

If the statement is positive the tag is negative:

1. Joe Baiden speaks Hindi, doesn't he?

2. A dog is faithful, isn't it?

ii) negative + positive

If the statement is negative the tag is positive:

1. Manu can't solve this problem, can she?

2. He didn't resign his post, did he?

iii) A statement containing a negative word is also treated as negative, so the tag is

positive:

1. No one cared for these poors, did they?

2. Neither of them reached on time, did they?

3. No man can save her , can he?

4. She hardly ever helps anybody, does she?

Note: 

Negative pronouns:

No one, None, Neither, Nobody, Nothing

Negative adjectives:-

no, neither, few, little

Negative adverbs:-

barely, hardly, scarcely, never, seldom, too

The structure of a sentence with a question tag is either (i) or (ii):

i) positive statement + negative tag

ii) negative statement + positive tag

Examples:

1. She is a teacher,isn't she?

2. He runs fast, doesn't he?

3. She isn't a doctor, is she?

4. He doesn't love her, does he?

5. Nothing can save him,can it?

6. He has scarcely any money, has he?                         

                 -:- Principal Auxiliaries: Usage-:- 

 

Be (am, is, are/ was, were)

I. Be as an auxiliary

i) am/is/are/was/were + present participle (verb + ing) is used to form the present

continuous tense:

For Example:-  He is learning French.

                         They were playing football.

ii) be + past participle is used to form a passive verb:

For Example:-  The letters are being typed.

                         The robbers have been caught.

iii) is/am/are + present petticip'e is used to express some plan/programme in near future:

For Example:-     I am leaving for home tomorrow.

                            He is seeing the movie tonight.

iv) am/is/are + infinitive expresses a plan/programme in future:

For Example:-   Our examination is to start next month.

v) am/is/are + about + infinitive indicates immediate future:

For Example:-     He is about to go.

                            She is about to leave.

Have (has, have, had) :-

i) Have as an auxiliary

    has or have + past participle is used to form the perfect tense:

For Example:-    I have/had finished the work.

ii) have + direct object + past participle is used in a causative sense, so it can be

replaced by get + direct object + past participle:

For Example:-        I had my hair cut. (I got my hair cut.)

                              He will have the house repaired. (He will get the house repaired.)

 Do:-

I )- Do as an auxiliary verb

i) Do (do/does/did) is used to form the negative and interrogative of simple present

or simple past of main verbs:

For Example:-  They speak English. 

                            They don't speak English.

                                Do they speak English?

                        He Loves her.

                           He doesn't love her.

                                   Does he love her?

                         She wrote to him. 

                                She didn’t write him.

                                    Did she write to him?

ii) Do is used to make an affirmative sentence (simple present/simple past)

emphatic:

 For Example:-      I know him. I do know him.

                              I came. I did come.

                             He has antique furniture. He does have antique furniture.

iii) Do is used to make a sentence emphatic or persuasive:

For Example:-   See me tomorrow.

                                  Do see me tomorrow.

                         Please come.

                                    Please do come.

II)- Do as a main verb

i) Do is a transitive verb and is followed by a noun phrase:

 For Example:- Everyone has to do one's work sincerely.

                          Do your role to the best of your ability.

                            I will do that by the end of this week.

ii) Negative/interrogative of the main verb do is formed by using do again:

For Example:-   I do it.               I do not do it.                     Do i do it?

                             He does it.         He does not do it.             Does he do it?

           

                -:-Modal Auxiliaries: Usage-:-

 

                                        Can/could 

i) Can is used to express power/ability/capacity to do something:

For Example:-  The D.M. can stop the violation.

                          This tanker can hold 30,000 gallons of water.

                       

ii) Can't is the negative form of can. It is used to express absence of power/ability

etc.

For Example:-  His memory is poor.  He can't remember the things.

                         He is poor.  He can't purchase it.

Note: 

can + verb of perception (hear, feel, smell, see, taste)

Can with a verb of perception does not express power or ability. It is used to

indicate that something is happening 'now', i.e, instantaneous present:

For Example:-  I can hear her murmuring. (I hear that she is murmuring)

                    I can smell something burning there. (\ get the smell of something burning)

iii) Can and able to

Be + able to is an alternative form of can for the present tense. Of the two forms

can is the more usual:

For Example:-     He can run fast. He is able to run fast.

                             They can't do it. They aren't able to do it.

iv) Has/have been able to is the present perfect form of be able to:

For Example:-    I have been able to finish the work in time.

                            She hasn't been able to see her friend .

v) Shall/will be able to is the simple form of be able to:

For Example:-      I hope he will be able to do so.

                            I'm afraid I won't be able to reach home on time.

vi) Simple past tense forms of can are:

 i) could

 ii ) was/were able to

Could is used to express a past ability only, not fullfilment or performance of an action.

Was/were able to is used instead to express a past ability + fullfilment or performance of an action.

For Example:-  

He was happy because he was able to see the rainbow

(was able to see the rainbow  i.e., saw the rainbow.)

 She got a medal because she was able to win the hearts.

(was able to win the hearts i.e., won the hearts.)

Thus was/were able to is equivalent to the affirmative simple past tense of an ordinary verb, but could is not:

1. Pragya was able to pass the examination.

(i.e. Pragya passed the examination.)

2. Vikram could pass the examination easily, but he did not think it necessary.

(i.e. Vikram had the ability/capacity to pass the examination but he did not take the

examination).

Note: Was/were able to, too, can be used to express a past ability but could is the more usual because was/were able to is likely to confuse fulfillment with non- fulfillment of an action.

vii) The negative forms of could are:

a) couldn't   

b) was/were + not able to

Either couldn’t or was/were not able to can be used to express non-performance of

an action in the past:

For Example:-  Vikram couldn't save any money when he was abroad.

                              (i.e. he wasn't able to save any money.)

                          He couldn't pass the examination at the first attempt.

                                       (i.e. He wasn't able to pass the examination.)

Of the two forms couldn't is the more usual.

iii) Had been able to is the past perfect form of be able to:

For Example:-  He had been able to dispose of all the files.

ix) could + perfect infinitive is used to express non-fulfillment in the past, so it is

equivalent to negative simple past tense:

For Example:-  Mary could have got a good job in those days.

                            (i.e., Mary didn't get a good job).

x) Can is often used to indicate (a) permission (b) possibility:

 For Example:-  Can I go out now? - permission

                         Can it be misfortune? - possibility

xi)     can + perfect infinitive

        could + perfect infinitive

Both constructions are used to express a deduction or assumption about a past

possibility:

For Example:-  

 He cannot have caught the first train in any case.

 He could have caught the last bus.

xii) can't be/couldn't be

This construction is used to express a negative deduction or assumption about a

present action:

For Example:-  The flying object can't be/couldn't be a bird.

                         It must be a chopper because it has wings and lights.

 

                                                  May/Might

i) May/might expresses a request for permission:

For Example:-  May I come in?

                         Might I use your phone?

Note: Might is more polite than may but it indicates a certain lack of confidence on

the part of the speaker about a positive response.

ii) Can/could is often used instead of may/might to express a request for

permission:

For Example:-  Can I use your pen, Preetha?

                         Could I borrow your bike, Rupa?

Note:-

a) Of all these forms may is the most formal and can the most informal, but could is both formal and informal. Could is also the politest form to express request.

b) Could/might (past form) indicates more politeness than the present form can/may, so could/might is used with reference to present! future time, not past time:

For Example:-  Could I see you tomorrow?

                         Might I see you tonight?

iii) The positive response to may/might/can/could (permission) is:

Yes, you may.

Yes, you can.

Of the two (may/can),  may is the more formal.

The negative response is:

No, you can't.

No, you mayn't/may not.

No, you mustn't.

For Example:- 

 May I play in the park? Yes, you may.

Yes, you can.

No, you can't.

No, you may not.

No, you mustn't.

 Can I park my car here? Yes, you may.

Yes, you can.

No, you can't.

No, you may not.

No, you mustn't.

Of these mustn't is the most emphatic, mayn't/may not the most formal and can’t

the most informal.

iv) may/might expresses possibility as well, i.e., more of doubt/uncertainty than

certainty:

For Example:-  It may rain tonight.

                         It might rain tonight.

Note:

 a) Can / could, too, expresses possibility:

For Example:-   This is a mad dog. It can/could bite you.

                          Your cellphone can be /could be in the car.

b) Might indicates a greater degree of doubt/uncertainty than may:

For Example:- 

c) Going to is used to express likelihood or probability more of certainty than

uncertainty:

For Example:- The clouds are black and thick. It is going to rain tonight.

v) The interrogative form of may (possibility) is can because may/might is not used

to ask questions about possibility. So may is always replaced by can in questions:

For Example:- 

Statements                                                              Questions

It may rain tonight                                            Can it rain tonight?

She may get back today.                                 Can she get back today?

Note:-

a) be likely or do you think can be used to ask questions about possibility:

Example:-     Is rain likely tonight?

                     Do you think it will rain tonight?

b) May can be used in questions when an interrogative sentence begins with a

question word:

Example:-    What may be the people's reaction to the new tax?

                     When may I expect your reply?

vi) The negative forms of may (possibility) are:

      may not, can't

                        Affirmative                                 Negative

Example:-  It may rain tonight.                    It may not rain tonight.

                                                                     It can't rain tonight.

                   She may get back today.           The news may not be true.

                                                                     The news can't be true.

vii) may/can/will/might/could + perfect infinitive

All the five forms are used to express a deduction/assumption about a past action.

But there are subtle differences:

a) may + perfect infinitive or can + perfect infinitive indicates that there was a

possibility of something happening but the result is not known yet, so there is an

element of doubt and uncertainty about it:

Example:-     He may have caught the bus.

                      He can have caught the bus.

b) will + perfect infinitive, too, can be used to express a deduction/asumption about

a past action. It has the same meaning as may/can + perfect infinitive:

Example:-     He will have heard the news.

                    The news may be true.

(i.e., There was a possibility of his hearing the news but we don't know for sure.)

c) might + perfect infinitive or could + perfect infinitive indicates that there was a

possibility of something happening in the past but since the action did not take

place there is no uncertainty.

Example:-

  Thank god, he wasn't in the plane! He might have died in the accident.

(i.e. There was a possibility of his death in the accident but since he wasn't on the

plane he didn't die.)

 He could have competed.

(i.e., There was a possibility of his competing but he didn't.)

d) may + perfect infinitive can't be used to indicate certainty.

viii) May have to is used to express the possibility of an obligation/necessity in

future:

Example:-   The auditorium is full. We may have to stand.

                     He is travelling without ticket. He may have to pay a fine.                    

                              MUST

i) Must is used for emphasis. It is a positive way of expressing

duty/obligation/necessity/advice/suggestion in the present or future:

Example:-1. We must love our country.

                2. We must obey the traffic rules.

              

ii) Mustn't is a negative way of expressing obligation/necessity/advice.  It indicates

prohibition:

Example:-    You mustn't drink  here. (You are not allowed to smoke in here.)

                     We mustn't disturb the student.

iii) must have + noun, too, expresses obligation/necessity:

 Example:-     We must have respect for human rights.

                       A teacher must have patience.

In spoken English must have + noun is usually replaced by have to have + noun:

Example:- We must have respect for human rights.

                            (i.e., We have to have respect for human rights.)

                 A teacher must have patience.

                            (i.e., A teacher has to have patience.)

Note: 

a) needn't

Needn't is negative in form and sense as well. It indicates total absence of obligationt or necessity:

Example:-

 It's holiday. You needn't go to school today. (absence of obligation)

 He is in good condition. He needn't take any economical help. (absence of necessity)

Needn't is the negative form of both must and have to.

b) responses to must

Positive response to must is must:

Example:- 

Must I start at once? Yes, you must.

Negative response to must is needn't, not mustn't:

Example:-

Must I start at once? No, you needn't. (not mustn't)

c) must and have to/have got to

A distinction is often made between the present tense forms of must and have to in

affirmative sentences:

Must usually expresses a speaker's authority, i.e., obligation/compulsion/advice/order/wish imposed on someone by the speaker/ writer:

Example:-

You must go for practice now.

Have to is usually used to express external authority, i.e., obligation/ compulsion

etc. imposed by someone other than the speaker

(custom/law/rule/necessity/events/circumstances):

Example:- 

You have to go for a walk now.

(i.e., You have to go for a walk now because you need to exercise for a healthy life.)

But this distinction ceases to exist in the past tense because had to is the only

possible past form of both must and have to.

Example:-

He had to go for a walk.

In the future tense, too, this distinction disappears because shall!

will/have to is often preferred to must to indicate future time more precisely than

with must.

Example:-

They will have to leave in a few minutes.

In the first person, must and have to are often interchangeable.

Example:-

I must buy another bike.

or, I have to buy another bike.

But must is preferred when an obligation or necessity requires urgent attention:

Example:-

My son has met an accident. I must leave for home at once.

iv) Shall/will have to is the future form of have to:

Example:- He will have to catch the first train tomorrow.

v) The negative form of shall/will have to is shan't have to/won't have to:

Example:-

I have bought a bike. I won't have to depend on the irregular bus service any more.

Won't have to is the more usual.

vi) must + infinitive, or must be + noun/adjective is used to express a deduction or

assumption about a present or future action. It indicates certainty or a strong

likelihood:

Example:-

1. He is sketching a portrait.. He must be an artist

2. They look ferocious. They must be robbers.

3. You haven't eaten anything since morning. You must be hungry.

Note: 

The negative of this construction is can't/can't be, not mustn't, because

mustn't / can't be used for a negative deduction/assumption:

assertive negative

Example:-

 She must be rich. She can't be rich.

 He must be a fool. He can't be a fool.

vii) must have + perfect infinitive and must have been + noun/adjective are used to

express deduction or assumption about a past action. They indicate certainty or a

strong likelihood:

Example:-

He started early. he must have caught the bus.

The old person is charming. he must have been quite smart in her youth.

Note: The negative of these constructions are can't + perfect infinitive and can't have been + noun/adjective:

Example:-

* He must have caught the bus.

He can't have missed the bus.

** She must have been a teacher.

She can't have been a journalist.

                                                    

                               Shall/should

i) Should/Shouldn't expresses duty/obligation:

Example:-  You should help your friends in need.

                  You shouldn't travel without a ticket.

Note: 

Shouldn't does not denote absence of duty/obligation. It is only a negative way of

expressing duty/obligation:

Example:- One should always speak the truth.

i.e. One shouldn't ever tell a lie.

ii) Should/shouldn't can be used to give advice:

Example:-    we should help the poor.

                     we shouldn't hunt.

Note:- 

a) Should expressing obligation/advice is not as emphatic as must because

must indicates the speaker's authority whereas should does not. Should only

indicates the speaker's personal opinion, not his authority, so the desired action is

not mandatory.

b) Ought to is more emphatic than should because ought to indicates adherence to

some norm or law:

Example:-  You should get up early. (non-emphatic advice)

                  You ought to get up early. (emphatic advice)

iii) Should is normally used when seeking advice:

Example:- What should I do now?

Ought to is hardly used when seeking advice because it sounds awkward:

(not, What ought I to do now?)

iv) Should + perfect infinitive expresses an obligation not fulfilled or something

advisable but not done in the past:

Example:-  You should have saved the child.

     She should have spoken the truth.

It has the same meaning as ought to + perfect infinitive:

You ought to have saved the child.

v) shouldn't + perfect infinitive is used to express the idea that something wrong

was done in the past:

1. You shouldn't have wasted your time. (but you did)

2. He shouldn't have betrayed his friend. (but he did)

Note:

shouldn't/oughtn't + perfect infinitive and needn't + perfect infinitive

Shouldn't/oughtn't + perfect infinitive indicates that something wrong was done in

the past:

Example:- You shouldn't have/oughtn't to have kick the dog.

(i.e., It was wrong of you to kick the dog but you did.)

Needn't + perfect infinitive indicates that something unnecessary was done in the

past:

Example:- You needn't have kick the dog.

(i.e., It was not necessary for you to kick a dog but you did.)

Shouldn't/oughtn't + perfect infinitive indicates annoyance/irritation

be needn't + perfect infinitive indicates a mild form of disapproval.

vi) should + infinitive is used to express a deduction or assumption about a present

or future action:

Example:- 

 He has been working continiously. He should finish the task by 2 p.m.

(present action)

 Since the date of examination has been postponded ,you should have plenty of

time to prepare yourself well.

(future action)

Note: 

A deduction/assumption with should indicates one's expectation, not certainty:

Example:- he should get back soon. (I expect he will get back soon.)

vii) Should + perfect infinitive can be used to express a deduction or assumption

about a past action:

Example:-  Since he started the job earlier he should have enough experience.

                   My letter should have reached her by now.

viii) should like/would like + perfect infinitive is used to express a wish that was

not fulfilled in the past:

Example:- I should/would like to have seen the Taj Mahal.

                  (I wanted to see the Taj Mahal but couldn't.)

ix) Should means 'in case' in constructions like the following:

1. Take an umbrella with you should it rain in the afternoon.

2. Keep this money should there be any unexpected development.

                                                 Will/would

i) Will you + please is used to express a request or an invitation. It is a more polite

form than please + imperative:

Example:- Will you please switch on the fan?

                 Will you have a cup of tea, please?

                    (not, Please have a cup of tea.)

ii) Will you without please is usually used to express command:

Example:-  Will you close the gate?

                  Close the gate, will you?

Note: 

Will you is a politer form than the imperative:

 For Example:- 

•  Close the gate. (rude behaviour)

Will you close the gate? (polite behaviour)

•  Sit down; (harsh behaviour)

Will you sit down? (polite behaviour)

 

Would you is used to make a polite request:

• Would you have a cup of tea?

Combined with please makes it an extremely polite request:

• Would you have a cup of tea, please?

Note: 

a) Would you is politer than will you.

b) Will/would indicates present time.

c) Will/would can't be replaced by going to to express command or request. 

We don't say:  Are you going to lend me some money, please? 

we say:- will you lend me some maoney, please?

iv) Won't you is used for invitations:

For Example:- 

Won't you have a cold drink?

 Won't you have a little more?

v) Would you mind is the politest form of making a request:

Example:

 Would you mind if I smoked a cigarette?

 Would you mind waiting a few minutes?

Will is never used with mind: Will you mind waiting a minute? (wrong)

Note: Would you mind is used with a noun or gerund.

vi) Would like is used to express request or invitation:

For Example:- 

 Would you like a cup of tea?

 Would you like to stay with me?

Note: 

a) Would you like can be used with a noun or infinitive:

Example:-  Would you like a cigar?

                     Would you like to go for a walk?

b) Like is not used with will. We don't say:

I will like to speak to Aladin, please.

We say:

Example:- I would like to speak to Aladin, please.

                 I would like to have a cup of tea.

vii) Would is used to express occasional occurrence of a past activity:

Example:-  They would often meet at night.

viii) Would is used in the indirect speech to express future time:

Example:-  He told me that he would go home soon. (not will go)

ix) Will be and would be are used to express a deduction or assumption about a

present action:

Example:-    That will be/would be the right time to make a call .

                     That will be/would be the best deal for your life.

x) Will be can be used to express a deduction or assumption about a future action

as well:

Example:- He will be at the club on Tuesday evening.

                 They will have plenty offers tomorrow.

xi) Would be is used to express a deduction or assumption about a past state or

event:

Example:-    They would be in their peak at the time of their success. (not will be)

                     he died seven years ago. She would be seventy then. (not will be)

xii) Will + perfect infinitive can be used to express a deduction or assumption

about a past event:

Example:-  He will have heard the news.

xiii) Would + perfect infinitive is used in the main clause of a sentence expressing

a condition which no longer holds true:

Example:-  Had he won the match, he would have become a master.

xiv) Would is usually used with I to make a request/ advice/suggestion/opinion/

answer very polite. It has a softening effect on a verb:

Example:-

•   I would advise you to attend the reasoning class. (not I advise ... )
•   I would request you to grant me a permission.  (not I request ... )
•   I would suggest another way of tackling this problem. (not I suggest ... )            
•   I wouldn't suggest her for the job. (not I don't suggest ... )
•  What's your opinion about Mona? I would say she is honest. (not I say ... )
•  What have you got to say in defence of VIMS?
•  Well, I would say they are not the type who does such things. (not I say ... )

xv) Would is often used with rather/sooner.

For Example:- 

            I would rather have tea.

            I would sooner die than live in disgrace.

     (Will is not acceptable here.)

            I will rather die than live in disgrace. (Wrong)

                                                      Ought to

i) ought to expresses duty or obligation:

For Example:-      You ought to obey your teachers.

                             You oughtn't to behave like this.

Note: oughtn't

Oughtn't is only a negative way of expressing an obligation. It doesn't denote an

absence of obligation.

ii) Ought/oughtn't can be used just to give advice or suggestion:

For Example:- You ought to take some exercise.

                        You oughtn't to eat too many sweets.

Ought/oughtn't always takes a full infinitive, that is, an infinitive with to:

For Example:-     You ought to speak the truth. (not, ought speak)

                            You oughtn't to tell a lie. (not, oughtn't tell)

iii) Ought to + perfect infinitive expresses an obligation not fulfilled in the past or

something desirable not done in the past:

For Example:-  You ought to have obeyed your parents. (but you didn't)

                   You ought to have consulted a lawyer. (but you didn't)

iv) Oughtn't + perfect infinitive expresses the idea that something wrong or

undesirable was done in the past:

For Example:-  You oughtn't to have touched a fireball. (but you did)

v) Ought to, like should, can be used to express a deduction or assumption about a

present or future action:

For Example:-   He ought to be back by now.

                                                         Semi-Modals

 

Need

i) Need as a non-auxiliary verb means 'require/be in the need of'. In such sentences

need + noun/pronoun or need + infinitive is used to express one's requirements:

For example:- 

I need some expert opinion on this.

he needs a week's time.

I need to know where you were last night.

ii) The negative and interrogative of need is formed with do:

For example:-  I don't need your help.

                         Does he need my help?

iii) Need to as an auxiliary can be used to express obligation or necessity:

For example:-  You need to pass a driving test.

                         I need to know the correct position.

iv) Need as an auxiliary is normally used in the negative form (needn't) to express

absence of obligation or compulsion:

For example:-  He/they needn't work hard.

                  You/she needn't worry .

Needn't takes a bare infinitive (infinitive without to):

For example:-  You needn't go to school today. (not, needn't to go)

                        She needn't see a doctor. (not, needn't to see)

Note:

Needn't is always in the plural form. It is never used in the singular:

For example:- He needn't hurry. (not, needs not)

                        They needn't hurry.

iv) Needn't can be replaced by don't have to/haven't got to/don't need to:

For example:-  He needn't go for a walk.

                        He hasn't got to go for a walk.

                        He doesn't have to go for a walk.

                        He doesn't need to go for a walk.

                        

v) The past tense forms of needn't are:

a) hadn't got to

he hadn't got to play in this inning.

b) didn't have to

he didn't have to play in this inning.

c) didn't need to.

he didn't need to play in this inning.

Didn't have to is the most usual form.

vi) The normal response to need is must

Need I go by bike?

Yes, you must.

vii) needn't + perfect infinitive expresses the idea that an action which was neither

necessary nor obligatory was performed in the past:

For example:-    She needn't have bought another pair of shoes . (but she did)

                         He needn't have travelled by air. (but he did)

Note: 

a) didn't have to/didn't need to

Didn't have to/didn't needn't to indicates that there was no obligation and so the

action was not performed:

For example:- He didn't have to travel by bus.

(i.e. He didn't travel by bus.)

b) needn't + perfect infinitive

Needn't + perfect infinitive indicates that although there was no obligation or

necessity an action was performed in the past:

He needn't have travelled by bus.

(i.e. He did travel by bus.)

                                                       Dare

i) Dare as a non-auxiliary verb means 'to challenge'. In such sentences we use dare

+ object + infinitive (with to). In these sentences dare has a singular form with a

singular subject and a plural form with a plural subject:

For example:-   I dare them to dismiss me from the team.

                         He dares me to break this window.

ii) Dare as an auxiliary means 'to have the courage'. The negative form daren't

means 'to lack courage':

For example:-       She daren't oppose her parents.

                             He daren't challenge me.

                             how dare you to touch me?

Note: 

a) Daren't always takes a bare infinitive:

For example:- They daren't raise their voice against him. (not, to raise)

b) Daren't is always in the plural form:

For example:-  She/he/they daren't utter a word. (not, dares not)

                        The past form of daren't is dared not + bare infinitive (with to):

                        He dared not fight robbers. (not, dared not to fight)

                                                     Used to

i) Used to/used to be expresses a past habit or state which has ceased now, so this

construction indicates a contrast between a past situation and a present situation:

For example:-    I used to play football at school. (but I don't play now)

                         Michael used to be cheerful. (but he is not cheerful now)

This construction is used to express a habit or situation that continued in the past

without any break, i.e., a habitual or continuous action in the past.

Note:

a) Used to is replaced by would to express occasional occurrences of an

activity in the past, i.e., an activity occurring only from time to time:

For example:-     He would often invite me to dinner. (not use to)

                            They would often meet in a square. (not used to)

b) Used to is replaced by simple past tense to indicate that an action occupied a

period of time but is now terminated:

For example:- He lived in Chicago  for ten years.

          (not, He used to live in Chicago for ten years.)

ii) The negative form of used to is usedn't to or didn't use to:

For example:- He used to smoke. He usedn't to smoke.

                        He didn't use to smoke.

Didn't is the more usual in common speech, particularly in question tags:

        He used to play hockey, didn't he? (not, usedn't he?)

iii) be + used to + noun/gerund means ' to be accustomed to':

For example:-  I am now used to dust and noise.

                       We are now used to standing in a queue for long hours.

                       They are used to sleeping in the open.

Note: 

a) be + used to is an objective, not a modal verb.

b) The negative of this construction is formed by placing a not after the verb be:

For example:- He is not used to dust.

c) Used to is not used for a present habit or continuous action 

so we don't say:

For example:-   he uses to play badminton in the afternoon.

                          I use to have breakfast at 8 a. m.

Simple present tense is used instead:

1. he plays badminton in the afternoon.

2. I have breakfast at 8 a. m.

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