English 430
Primary Verbs, Modals and Semi-auxiliaries
Primary verbs
Primary verbs are verbs which can function both as
main elements of verb phrases and as auxiliaries.
Semi-auxiliaries
The semi-auxiliaries are verb idioms which begin
with a form of have or be. You can often tell a
semi-auxiliary because you can substitute a modal
auxiliary with nearly the same meaning.
Example: I am able to go = I can go.
Have to
I have to work.
Have got to
You have got to go.
Have
Do
(Get)
Be to
My goal is to succeed.
Be able to
He is able to go.
Be bound to
They are bound to try.
Modals
Be going to
We are going to eat.
Be obliged to
He is obliged to attend.
Be supposed to
You are supposed to go.
Be willing to
I am willing to work.
Be about to
I am about to leave.
Be likely to
I am likely to do that.
Be able to
He was able to return to
Be
(Finite forms: am, is, are, was, were
non-finite forms: be, been , being )
Present
Past
can
may
shall
will
must
could
might
should
would
ought to
work
Semi-auxiliary Forms
Catenatives
As a general rule, semi-auxiliaries (except for had
better, would rather and would sooner) take a toinfinitive rather than a bare
infinitive as the primary verbs and modals do.
Marginal Modals
need
dare
‘Dare’ and ‘need’ are semi-auxiliaries only when
they function as operators.
Examples: Dare I go? Need I do that?
used to
He used to live here.
These are like semi-auxiliaries, but don’t start with
Have or Be.
Appear to
It appears to be here.
Came to
I came to believe he was
innocent
Failed to
I fail to agree.
Happen to
It happens to be mine.
Seem to
They seem to agree.
Labeling: Verb phrases with auxiliaries are always
complex, so there will be verb formulas involved.
Modal Idioms
Like other modals, semi-auxiliaries always
had better
You had better go.
combine with V.
would sooner
I would sooner die !
We are going to eat.
would rather
I would rather do it myself!
SEMI-A
I will
+ V
be able to leave at nine.
Mod + V
SEMI-A
+ V