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Seyfihoca Posted 21 years ago
Grammar

Modals and semi-modals

0 hello 02br
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00is it possible to call "have to", need to", "be able to" and "be used to" a SEMI-MODAL? 02br
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00thanks 0-
  

Top answer

12i 10 It now fluctuates between the modal and the regular verb forms: 12br 12br 10-He need only ask for what he wants. 12br 10-He needs only ask. 12br 10-He needs only to ask.

— Rvw

  • 12i 10 It now fluctuates between the modal and the regular verb forms: 12br 12br 10-He need only ask for what he wants.
  • 12br 10-He needs only ask.
  • 12br 10-He needs only to ask.
  • 12br 12br 10----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 12br 10English has developed a number of verbs and verb phrases which, though they do not exhibit the formal characteristics of the modals, serve as auxiliaries to express similar colorings of meaning.
  • Because there is no distinguishing form, the class cannot be delimited; similar locutions might be added to those given below, with the group blending gradually into the mass of verbal expression.
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4 Answers
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0 One reference -- Paul Roberts' 01i00Understanding Grammar02i00 -- says 01i00need02i00 has become a sometimes modal auxiliary, while 01i00have to, be able to,02i00 and 01i00be used to02i00 are "equivalents of modal auxiliaries." 02br
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01i10Need12i10
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0Many sources call them '01b00semi-modals02b00', Seyfihoca, though they may be grouped in various ways. 02br
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00 “Have to ... though semantically very close to must, has none of the modal properties and is clearly a catenative [verbs with verbal complements, like want to], not a modal.” (Huddleston, 1984: 165) But for oth
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0i want some explanation and examples for the semi-modal verbs because i have a lesson about them and i hope that you are the best person who will help me ,please 02br
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00and thank very much.0-
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0 See p. 2 here:02br
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01a00HUNTER COLLEGE READING/WRITING CENTER 01b00GRAMMAR02b00 AND MECHANICS The Verb System02a02br
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00 Also:02br
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00 The following verbs are often called "semi-modals" because they are02br
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