The modal auxiliaries
12 important questions on The modal auxiliaries
What are the grammatical properties that define the class of modal auxiliaries?
- Only tensed forms; no plain, gerund-participle, or past participle.
- Invariable in present tense.
- License following infinitival Complement without "to" (except OUGHT).
When do NEED and DARE function as auxiliaries?
1. Infinitival construction without "to".
Examples:
- Need I bother?
- I daren't tell them.
What are some examples of NEED and DARE as lexical verbs?
- I need a haircut.
- I need to get my hair cut.
- I dare you to repeat that.
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I always thought I studied well. My grades were fine. I could never have imagined that applying these study skills would have such a huge and direct impact on my grades, my speed and the pleasure I have in learning.
For the first time, I finally feel totally confident about the way I learn. I have the perfect overview and make great progress in terms of speed and the grades I get. Thanks, Chris!
I immediately started to enjoy learning again, and my grades soared. All of a sudden, everything went better. I highly recommend Study Smart to all students..
Being able to create my materials online made the process of studying so much smoother and quicker. I no longer have to spend a huge amount of my time on creating my summaries.
At first, my notes were a mess. Now I use Study Smart to take my notes in a perfectly structured way. It helps me to save a lot of time and do other things I enjoy.
Students that study with Study Smart get better grades. The system applies all the learning methods in such a way that both well-performing students and students who struggle perform much better.
Hi Chris, I would like to thank you very much. Last year I scored C on a course, and this year I got an A+ thanks to your method! Thank you very much!
The largest effect is that my child is more enthusiastic about school! Every parent wants their children to be happy at school, Study Smart made it happen.
In high school, I failed several exams, and that has really changed now. I actually needed this tool very much back then. Since I started studying with StudySmart, I haven't had any D's. My average score is now an A and those are results I would have never had in the past
With my old method, I passed only 3 out of 8 courses. Since I started taking my notes digitally in Study Smart, I have passed all my courses on the first try. For me, StudySmart takes away the stress of wondering if I will pass or not.
Thanks to StudySmart, I passed all my exams, and with better grades than before! On top of that, I have mastered a very good study method now, which I am confident will help me earn my degree.
For my 1st exam I got a C. Then, I started looking for ways to learn better and I came across Study Smart. Since then I have scored a A+, A, A- and another A. I highly recommend it to everyone who wants to hear it. I am so happy with it!!
I was struggling to finish all my first-year subjects for 3 years. Then I discovered Study Smart, which helped me to finish all of them within 3 months.
Because of StudySmart, things are going well in many ways. Before, I always had study stress and no time for anything. Now I feel calm and confident (because of the program). I used to score a B, now I usually score an A or A+.
Hey Chris, I really want to thank you very much for developing the platform, I usually got around C for my exams, now I scored an A+, an A and a A- !!
Since using Study Smart, my average has increased significantly. I even completed a statistics course with a A+ while I'm bad at statistics. I took on extra courses this year, because of Study Smart. Thanks so much!
Ever since I started studying with StudySmart I passed all my exams !!! No more re-sits!! At first, I was happy with a pass and now I only get good grades. Many thanks!
I aced all the courses I studied with Study Smart. For law, I first scored a D, and now an A! I’m 100% sure that I’ll pass all the courses I study with Study Smart.
I always thought I studied well. My grades were fine. I could never have imagined that applying these study skills would have such a huge and direct impact on my grades, my speed and the pleasure I have in learning.
For the first time, I finally feel totally confident about the way I learn. I have the perfect overview and make great progress in terms of speed and the grades I get. Thanks, Chris!
What is a key exception regarding modal auxiliaries and "to"?
- Modal auxiliaries typically license following infinitival Complements without "to".
- OUGHT requires "to": They ought to accept the offer.
Why is the use of HAVE in "We have to invite them all" not considered a modal auxiliary?
- Does not exhibit the three grammatical properties of modal auxiliaries.
- Functions as a static verb rather than an auxiliary.
What are the preterite forms of CAN, MAY, WILL, and SHALL, and how do their uses differ in Present-day English?
- Could (CAN)
- Might (MAY)
- Would (WILL)
- Should (SHALL)
What is the primary use of the modal auxiliaries in terms of preterite forms?
- Could and would: basic preterite for past time
- Might and should: conditional constructions, reported thought
- More tentative in usage
How are modal meanings categorized, and what are the three major types?
- EPISTEMIC MODALITY: necessity, likelihood, possibility
- DEONTIC MODALITY: requirements, permissions
- DYNAMIC MODALITY: abilities, dispositions
How can modal sentences exhibit ambiguity in meaning?
- “You must be tactful” can be:
- - Epistemic: an inferring statement
- - Deontic: a directive statement
- “She can't be serious” can mean inability or inference.
What distinguishes the use of might and should from other preterite forms?
- Used in conditional constructions
- Found in reported speech where present forms do not apply
- More frequent in modal auxiliaries compared to others
How does the meaning in modal auxiliaries vary based on their type?
- EPISTEMIC: inferring necessity or possibility
- DEONTIC: expressing requirements
- DYNAMIC: indicating abilities or willingness
In what contexts do might and should exhibit their preterite status?
- Conditional scenarios
- Reported thoughts
- Situations where present tense cannot be used
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