Questions tagged [auxiliary-verbs]
Use this tag if you are asking about the usage of Auxiliary/Helping Verbs. Auxiliary/Helping Verbs are verbs that are used with other full verbs to make the different tenses, voice or modality in a sentence.
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Why do we need auxiliary verbs in the following case? [closed]
Why can't we just say:
There a book in my table.
OR just
Is a book in my table.
Why in English do we need: "there is"?
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How to distinguish MAY from MIGHT?
I need to define what a given functional object is, what it looks like, what it is made of.
Should I say:
It MAY be any kind of box, a metal box like a shoe box, or a cardboard box like a cookie box. ...
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"I'll never allow that to happen." and "I'd never allow that to happen"
"I'd never allow that to happen." This is a phrase from a popular anime, Madoka Magika.
What is the difference between "I'll never allow that to happen." and "I'd never allow ...
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Is "What say you?" the same as "what do you say"?
I was watching a detective drama and an officer says to his boss, "what say you, boss?"
Is this the same as "What do you say, boss?"
I know moving the verb forward is the old way ...
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1
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What does 'did' refer to?
What is your favorite color? Do you often wear fashion items in that color? As for me, my favorite color is green, but I felt it did not go well with my skin tone, so I used to avoid wearing it. One ...
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1
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The difference between "I'm interested" and "I'd be interested"
In one strip of Peanuts, Charlie Brown say to Snoopy, who's playing golf,
"I'd be interested to know what your handicap is these days."
Is there any difference between "I'd be ...
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2
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We are busy at the moment. Vs We are being busy at the moment
I am not sure about which option should I chose in the following context:
It's Tom birthday today. We are busy/are being busy at the moment. Dad is doing some last-minute shopping. Mum is tidying the ...
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I don't mind if I do
What does the auxiliary verb do stand for in the following?
A: “Would you like another cup of coffee?”
B: “Thank you: I don't mind if I do!”
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Would like + ed verb
Yesterday I received an email with a weird construction.
I have a 1X40HQ I would like pulled from Location to Location.
1x40HQ refers to a container.
For me, the verb in the past tense after "...
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What is the difference between 'to be' and 'for'?
I have a question about 'to be' and 'for'.
I drink water for healthy.
or
I drink water to be healthy.
What's the difference between both?
user441130
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auxiliary omission: [has] eaten a piece of cake
Can the second "has" be dropped in the following?
John has drunk a cup of water, and Peter has eaten a piece of cake.
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What is"be + to + noun""? [closed]
here is my example
"my back is to the world" it's from the song enemy from imagine dragon
what does that sentence mean ? and what is the grammar rules behind that sentence ?
Is "to"...
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Can I used no sooner without auxiliary verb
Alex ____ no sooner learnt to drive than he bought a car.
A) has
B) had
C) no word
D) b and c
Which is the correct choice here? I said B but the teacher said D is correct and I can't find any similar ...
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1
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When is 'to be' an auxillary or linking verb?
He was broken.
He was broken by the news.
In the first example, is 'was' a linking verb or an auxiliary verb? The second example shows that adding a prepositional phrase ('by the news') evidences ...
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1
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do replacing 'trust with'
a. You don't trust your wife with your money but you do your cousin?
b. You don't trust your wife with your money but you do your cousin with it?
c. You don't trust your wife with your money but you ...
- 2,697
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Is "I do drink" a strange form of the Present Simple?
Can I say "I do drink a cup of tea"? it is Macmillan student's book. There is a multiple choice exercise that you need choose the correct tense for a sentence
"Actually, I _______ a ...
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1
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What is the rule in the conjunction of sentences that are using present perfect?
I'm using conjunction between two phrases, both of them are using the present perfect tense.
My question is:
should I repeat the auxiliary verb have/has or I should use it only the first time? and ...
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About passive rules
There is a sentence that I can't understand:
"There are around 7000 languages spoken in the world."
Shouldn't we say??? :
"are spoken"
Where is the auxiliary verb?
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1
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aren't my hobby / aren't my hobbies
How is better to express this thought idiomatically and which one isn't grammatically correct?
Watching movies isn't my hobby.
Movies aren't my hobby.
Movies aren't my hobbies.
Movies aren't my cup ...
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1
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"Joseph visits Beneatha after she learns that Walter had lost the money in an investment opportunity."
Is had appropriate in the below sentence?
Joseph visits Beneatha after she learns that Walter had lost the money in an investment opportunity.
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1
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Why "the reason being is" not just "the reason is"?
Source: https://www.searchenginejournal.com/why-start-digital-marketing-agency/385300/#close
Is a digital marketing agency a good business?
Building out a digital marketing agency is far more ...
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2
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When to use Do/Does & Is in questions
Primary sentence
This is applicable for all account
Which question form is correct and why?
A) Is this applicable for all account?
B) Does this applicable for all account ?
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Would seem versus seem [duplicate]
Is it redundant the use of "would" in the sentence below?
The reduction in blood pressure induced by long-term CR would seem to involve positive systemic and cellular adaptations.
Can I ...
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3
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If you asked him what his name was/is
Are these sentences interchangeable?
If you asked him what his name was, he wouldn’t tell you.
If you asked him what his name is, he wouldn’t tell you.
I think it is wrong to use “is” in this ...
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When should I use "do" for intensifying a clause?
After interviewing with GTE’s IT Department, I was brought back for an interview with three people from Human Resources, then offered a job as a programmer. Dreams really did come true! No more ...
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The preference for "may be" ot "maybe" after the conjuction "― and"
My dad turned around and stared at us, his fear confirming that something wasn't right ― and maybe even very wrong.
One student struggles to understand the sentence especially in a bold part. - and (...
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A question about the word **would**
I'm really hoping that someone can help me.
In these sentences what does would actually mean? Usually we can use would to talk about past habit, suggestions, advice, conditionals etc.
1.
He would get ...
user423669
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0
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auxiliary verb after "and"
Shall we use the auxiliary verb again after "and" as in the following case?
The data has been collected and has been proved to be significant.
or
The data has been collected and proved to ...
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2
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Is "This story can be true." grammatically incorrect?
I want to ask a question about the usage of an auxiliary verb "can."
I think the next sentence is grammatically incorrect.
This story can be true.
In contrast, I think the next sentence is ...
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Are these sentences grammatically correct? "Climbing in winter can't be safe." "Can climbing in winter be dangerous?"
I'm a Japanese learner of English.
I have some questions about the usage of an auxiliary verb "can."
I think the following two sentences are grammatically correct.
Climbing in winter can be ...
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1
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"Would you have a resume I can refer to?" or "Do you have a resume I can refer to?" [duplicate]
"Would you have a resume I can refer to?" or "Do you have a resume I can refer to?"
I want to ask someone for their resume, but I'm confused between would and do? Which one is ...
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Should I put an auxiliary verb ('is') in this case?
Should I put an auxiliary verb ('is') in this case?
I've never understood what is the difference between subject A and
B.
or it should be
I've never understood what the difference between subject A ...
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Is it correct to use continuous without the auxiliary verb "to be?"
I am working on a project, and I am faced with a sentence that I am unsure is correct. I can make it correct with proper punctuation, but it just made me curious to learn how to use such sentences ...
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What is the difference between these two uses of the word, "having”?
What is the difference between the word “having” in the following two sentences:
Having accepted her mistake, the judge pardoned her.
I am having a good time.
Talking of the auxiliary and lexical ...
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or we will/would .
I'm wondering whether "will" or "would" should be used in the following, and why:
Our water has frozen. We should heat it, or we will/would have nothing to drink.
When we go ...
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Word order and auxiliary verbs in questions (present simple tense)
I'm using an app to learn/practice English and I had a task to translate a question into English.
My answer was:
May I know why exactly does he think so?
But the app said that it was incorrect and ...
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1
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word order in a sentence starting with "Not even when"
Not even when the doorbell rang could Mary rise from the bed.
Not even when the doorbell rang Mary could rise from the bed.
Are both sentences correct? If so, is there a difference in usage between ...
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How to parse the phrase how come?
How to parse the phrase how come?
And can one use this phrase with auxiliary verbs as well as modal verbs?
That is to say, are these examples both correct?
How come are you sitting here when they're ...
user126190
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1
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doesn't or wouldn't let?
I'm wondering whether doesn't or wouldn't should be used.
Dad doesn't / wouldn't let Joanne watch TV as a punishment because she hasn't done her homework.
I'd appreciate your help.
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Negation of sentences containing modals and auxiliary verbs
This question drew my attention to something that seems perfectly clear to native English speakers, but leaves English learners bewildered.
When you negate a sentence containing a modal or an ...
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0
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Using 'will' twice [duplicate]
I am currently making a lesson plan and I have to put this sentence, but I'm not confident about its grammar correctness.
"Students will photograph their works and will post them on the subject’s ...
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1
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Gerund or Compound verb
In the sentence "He is playing for Australia".
"is playing" seems to be the verb
But isn't "playing" a gerund here as it is the complement of the verb "is"?
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Can I use the auxiliary "will" twice in a sentence that starts with "when"?
Can I use the word "will" in two clauses of the same sentence that starts with "when"?
I've already checked all questions in this forum about the use of "will" twice in a ...
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1
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Is "To be" a linking or auxiliary verb?
I have been wondering about this question for a long time but I was hesitant to ask as it seemed a very small one. But I must ask it now:
Is the verb To be linking verb or auxiliary verb(helping verb)...
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auxiliary verb or bare infinitive?
"She might have been waiting for us"
‘Have been waiting’ forms the present perfect progressive tense
‘might’ is a modal verb
The verb that follows modal verbs is suppose to be a bare ...
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0
answers
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I don't think you should have done that
a. I don't think you should have done that.
b. I think you shouldn't have done that.
c. I don't think you should go there.
d. I think you shouldn't go there.
Is there any difference between the ...
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1
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Where lies true happiness? - is this correct?
The context is
... money does not really hold the key to a happy life. So where lies
true happiness?
Do I need an auxiliary verb here, or is there a rule that would explain the non-usage of ...
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0
answers
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The word "have" in different contexts
I have a rather unusual question about English for native speakers.
Recently a friend of mine showed me a book to learn my native language (non-English obviously) and I saw a section about "...
Mike
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2
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What is difference in using do, would in interrogative sentences?
Consider the following sentence.
Meera asked her mother-in-law, “__ you like something to drink before
dinner?”
The four options are would, do, will and did. The correct answer is would.
I am ...
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Can you correctly drop auxiliary verbs in writing?
While creatively writing, I found myself dropping an auxiliary verb (I believe?) in a description. The statement went: "He seemed to be a freak of nature, his mutilated feautures artificially ...
