Imagine trying to speak without expressing possibility, permission,or necessity; it would be like painting without colour. That’s were the modal verb step in. These special helping verbs—can, could, ...

These are useful verbs that are always followed by an infinitive. They are usually used in the present, imperfect, past tense with a past participle or in the conditional tense.

Picture a small child saying: "Can’t, shan’t, won’t!" They are using modal verbs to show their feelings and attitude to something. Maybe they are refusing to go to bed or eat their peas. Modal verbs ...

There are three basic kinds of verbs plus many subclasses. Here we cover only the three basic types. Initially, verbs are divided into main verbs and auxiliary verbs. Then auxiliary verbs are divided ...

Most learners of English get to know soon enough that a verb is a word that describes an action, condition or experience, but not many are able to confidently distinguish main verbs from auxiliary ...

Here s a set of basic but tough grammar questions posted in Jose Carillo s English Forum by an Iran-based member who goes by the cryptic username r_a: What are the differences between a helping verb, ...

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea minima culpa: Michael Bulley (Letters, 10 May) is right to correct me – Latin does have the modal verbs he names, which cover possibility (possum), permission (licet) and ...

Christina Lamelas from Spain writes: I have some doubts dealing with appropriate use of the auxiliary particles do/does/did with need and dare. Sometimes I find need and dare used with these ...