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Khnnoufa Posted 17 years ago
Grammar

Modal auxiliaries and grammatical moods

hello

can i used the modal auxiliaries in the other grammatical moods (conditional,pottential,subjunctive,....)

beside the master mood the indicative mood.

thank.
  

Top answer

It is advisable to learn the various ways of using the modal auxiliaries without thinking of grammatical moods at the same time. These auxiliaries lack forms ( must has only one form, for example) and the potential mood, as it exists in some languages, is nonexistent in English. However, auxiliaries such as may and can can be used to convey thoughts that are expressed using the potential mood in other languages.

— Cool Breeze

  • It is advisable to learn the various ways of using the modal auxiliaries without thinking of grammatical moods at the same time.
  • These auxiliaries lack forms ( must has only one form, for example) and the potential mood, as it exists in some languages, is nonexistent in English.
  • However, auxiliaries such as may and can can be used to convey thoughts that are expressed using the potential mood in other languages.
  • It is perfectly possible, though, that in many cases can may be translated into your native language using the indicative mood.
  • Some auxiliaries are used in conditional sentences, some aren't.
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3 Answers
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It is advisable to learn the various ways of using the modal auxiliaries without thinking of grammatical moods at the same time. These auxiliaries lack forms (must has only one form, for example) and the potential mood, as it exists in some languages, is nonexistent in English. However, auxiliaries such as may and can can be used to convey thoughts that are expressed using th
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Thank you very mush,
another question :
when read a sentence content a auxiliary verb (modal,principal,or semi) do i read them in my mind as a part of the sentence or just take their meaning ?
thank .
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khnnoufawhen read a sentence content a auxiliary verb (modal,principal,or semi) do i read them in my mind as a part of the sentence or just take their meaning ?
I'm not sure I understand your question. Anyway, very often there's no knowing the exact meaning of an auxiliary without context. That means you have to take the entire sentence into account. In many c
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