OPERATOR VERBS v Descriptive Grammar 2 S 2016

OPERATOR VERBS (v) Descriptive Grammar – 2 S, 2016 Mrs. Belén Berríos Droguett

Function • This class appears in VPs as auxiliaries or operators, which happen next to a main verb • There are two types: • Modal verbs • Primary verbs • Generally, these verbs are considered invariable or unchangeable, still they can have a “present/past” form (can – could) • In the case of primary verbs, there can be recognized specific uses: • Be for progressive tenses and the passive voice • Have for the perfect tenses • Do for questions in present and past

Form • Primary Auxiliaries • There are only three members in this group: be, have, do • They are the most important and most used verbs in English • Among their characteristics are the change in tense, irregular forms and their possibility of being auxiliary or main verb • Modal Verbs Can/could Shall/should. Must Will/would May/might Ought to* • Modal verbs happen always next to a main verb, they are supposed to have a present and past forms, however the second one can be used in future and presents forms too (according to the context they happen)

Meaning • For AITEG, there can be noticed two main meanings to divide the modals: • Human control over events • Judgment about the “like-ability” of something to happen (or not) • Although these two ideas seem very useful to consider when analyzing, it is better you do not over think about them • As you may know, the use of modal verbs is related to a certain meaning they imply, but this can be more clearly seen inside a sentence and the classification is not really worthy