SEMINAR 4 -- PRIMARY VERBS AND MODAL AUXILIARIES

Verbs as operators

Auxiliaries become the operator when they occur as the first
verb of a finite verb phrase.
The main verbs "be" and "have" are also operators when they are
the only verb in the verb phrase.

Characteristic features of operators:
  a)  to make a negative, we put "not" immediately after the
     operator
  b)  to make questions, we put the operator in front of the
     subject (subject-operator inversion)
c)  the operator can carry nuclear stress, e.g. Won't you try
again? -- I will try again.
d)  the operator is used in elliptical clauses., e.g. Won't
you try again? -- Yes, I will.

If there is no operator in positive sentences, the operator "do"
is introduced:
  a)  negative - She saw him.  -- She didn't see him.
b)  questions - He wants to come. -- Does he want to come?
c)  Expressing emphasis -- But I do listen to you.
d)  Short answers -- Do you use a computer? -- Yes, I do. No,
don't.
  

Modal auxiliaries

       -   are followed by the bare infinitive, e.g. I will help you.
       -   cannot occur in nonfinite functions, i.e. as infinitives
          or participles
       -   have no --s form for the 3rd person sg of the present tense
       -   their past forms can refer to present and future time,
          e.g. I think he might be outside.

PRIMARY VERBS

BE

  a)  functions as a main verb (copular verb), e.g. Carol is a
     pretty girl.
  b)  Functions as an aspect auxiliary for the progressive, e.g.
     She is learning French.
c)  Functions as a passive auxiliary, e.g. She was asked to
leave.  Our team has never been beaten.

Note
!Ain't is a nonstandard contraction used especially in AmE in
place of am not, is not, are not
(but also has not and have not)
! Aren't is the standard contraction for am not in questions,
e.g. Aren't I tall?  I am your friend, aren't I?


HAVE

  a)  functions as a main verb, normally takes a direct
     object,e.g. I have no money.
  b)  Functions as an auxiliary for perfect aspect, e.g. I have
     finished.

In stative senses have is used as an operator. There is also
the informal have got construction.
e.g. We haven't any butter. -- We have some.
        We haven't got any butter. -- We've got some.

In dynamic senses, have is used with do (negative, questions),
have got is not possible.
e.g.  Do you usually have coffee in the morning? -- No, I don't.


DO

  a)  functions as a main verb ( has nonfinite forms -- doing and
     done)
  b)  functions as an auxiliary; as an aux. it has no nonfinite
     forms, only present and past forms

!Especially in informal speech, the main verb do is used a
transitive verb, e.g. Let's do the dishes.


MODAL AUXILIARIES (central v. marginal)

Central modal auxiliaries: can, could, may, might, shall,
should, will, would, must

Marginal modal auxiliaries: used to, ought to, dare, need


Used to
       -   always takes the to-infinitive
-   occurs only in the past tense
       -   normal interrogative and negative are formed with do


Ought to
       -   normally has the to-infinitive, but to is optional
          following ought in ellipsis, e.g. Ought I to stop smoking? --
          Yes, I think you ought (to).
       
Dare and need
       -   can be used either as modal auxiliaries (with bare
          infinitive and without the inflected forms) -- mainly in
          negative and interrogative sentences
       -   or as main verbs (with to-infinitive, inflected --s, -ing
          and past forms) -- can always be used, it is more common


MODAL IDIOMS AND SEMI-AUXILIARIES

Modal idioms -- are combination of auxiliary and infinitive or
adverb: had better, would rather, have got to, be to. They do
not have nonfinite forms.

Semi-auxiliaries -- are introduced by primary verbs have or be:
be able to, be about to, be bound to, be due to, be going to,
be likely to , be supposed to, have to. They have nonfinite
forms.