Oxford_Guide_to_English_Grammar

83Auxiliary verbs and ordinary verbs

1In these statements, be and have are auxiliary verbs.

Continuous: I'm taking my library books back. Passive: Books are lentfor a period of three weeks. Perfect: I'vefinished this book.

In a statement we do not normally use the auxiliary do. Verbs in the present simple or past simple have no auxiliary.

Simple: I like murder stories.

2In negatives, questions and some other patterns, we always use an auxiliary. In simple tenses we use the auxiliary do.

84 The ordinary verb be

1 Be as a linking verb

The ordinary verb be functions as a linking verb. • 9

The world is a wonderful place. The prisoners were hungry.

Are you being serious? The boss has been out ofthe office.

For there + be, • 50.

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2 Form

In simple tenses we add n't/not for the negative, and there is inversion of be and the subject in questions.

This pen isn't very good. NOT This pen doesn't be verygood. Wereyourfriends there? NOT Didyour friends be there?

3 Be with the continuous

We can use be with the continuous for behaviour over a period of time.

The neighbours are being noisy today. The children were being silly.

Compare these two sentences.

You're being stupid. (behaviour for a time) You're stupid. (permanent quality)

NOTE

We can use be in the imperative for behaviour.

Be quiet. Don't be silly. Do be careful.

4 Be, lie and stand

We often use be to say where something is.

York is/lies on the River Ouse. The building was/stood at a busy crossroads.

Here lie and stand are more formal and literary than be.

5 Other uses of be

We can also use be in these contexts.

Events: The match was last Saturday. Identity: Mr Crosby, this is myfather. Age: I'll be eighteen in November.

Nationality: We're Swedish. We're from/We come from Stockholm. Jobs: My sister is a lawyer.

NOTE

aFor You are to report to the manager, • 76.

bWe do not use be before belong, depend and agree.

This bike belongs to me. NOT This bike is belong to me.

Well, that depends. NOT Well, that's-depend.

I agree absolutely. NOT I'm agree absolutely.

6 Gone or been?

We often use been instead of gone. Compare these two sentences.

Tom has gone to town. (He won't be backfor a while.) Tom has been to town. (He'sjust got back.)

Gone means 'gone and still away'. Been means 'gone and come back'.

In questions about what places people have visited, we use been.

Haveyou (ever) been to Amsterdam?

NOTE

aWe also make this difference before an active participle. The girls have gone swimming. (They're at the pool.) The girls have been swimming. (They're back now.)

bFor American usage, • 303 (7).

aHave (got) can express permanent or temporary possession.

Louise has (got) a new radio. She bought it yesterday. Louise has (got) a book that belongs to me.

bWe can use with for possession after a noun phrase.

We saw a man with a gun. (= a man who had a gun)

But with cannot replace a main verb.

The man had a gun. NOT The man was with a gun.

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3Most expressions with empty verbs mean the complete action. A swim means a period of swimming from start to finish. A walk means a complete journey on foot which we do for pleasure.

Helen jumped in the water and swam afew strokes.

Helen went to the pool and had a swim.

We missed the bus, so we walked.

It was a lovely day so we went for a walk.

4 Compare the use of the adverb and the adjective in these sentences.

It is often easier to use the adjective pattern.

I had a good long sleep.

This is neater than I slept well andfor a long time.

88 The ordinary verb do

1 We can use do as an ordinary verb.

2 These are the forms of the ordinary verb do.

We form negatives and questions in the same way as with other verbs. In simple tenses we use the auxiliary do.

Tom doesn't do chemistry any more. He isn't doing biology now either.

Did you do games yesterday afternoon? What have you been doing lately?

We can also use the negative imperative don't and the emphatic do before the ordinary verb.

Don't do anything dangerous.

Your sister did do well in the competition, didn't she?

3 The ordinary verb do has a number of uses.

aWe use do for an action when we do not say what the action is. This may be because we do not know or do not want to say.

What are you doing? ~ I'm working out this sum. You can do lots ofexciting things atAdventure World! Guess what we didyesterday.

bWe also use do to mean 'carry out', 'work at', 'study' or 'complete'.

Have you doneyourexercises?

They're doingsome repairs to the roof.

We did thejob in an hour.

cIn informal English we can use do instead of another verb when we are talking about doing a job.

The roofwas damaged. They're doing it now. (= repairing) I've done the shoes. (= cleaned)

The restaurant does Sunday lunches. (= serves)

dWe can also use do with a gerund. • 138(2)

Someone ought to do the washing.

Here are some expressions with do and make.

do your best (= try hard), do business (with someone), do a course, do someone a favour, do good (= help others), do harm, do homework/housework, do a test/an exam, do well (= be successful)

make arrangements, make a (phone) call, make an effort, make an excuse, make a fuss, make love, make a mistake, make a mess, make money, make a noise, make progress, make a speech, make trouble

For make as an empty verb in expressions like make a suggestion, • 87.

NOTE

For These players will make a good team, •9(1) .

For The story really made me laugh, • 127(3a).

2 Here are some more uses of do.

What doesJason do? (= What's Jason's job?) How are you doing? (= getting on)

I don't want much for lunch. A sandwich will do. (= will be all right)

I could do with a coffee. (= want)

We shall probably have to do without a holiday. (= not have)

The boss wants to see you. It's something to do with the new computer. (= connectedwith).

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12

Modal verbs

90 Summary

Introduction to modal verbs • 91

The modal verbs (or 'modal auxiliary verbs') are will, would, shall, should, can, could, may, might, must, need, ought to and dare.

I must go now. We can park here.

There are some expressions with have and be which have similar meanings to the

These expressions can have other forms such as a past tense or a to-infinitive.

I had to hurry to get here. We asked to be allowed to go.

Modal verbs express meanings such as necessity and possibility. We can use modal verbs to tell or allow people to do things; or we can use them to say how certain or uncertain we are.

Necessity: must, have (got) to, needn't and mustn't • 92

I must go to the bank.

Obligation and advice: should, ought to etc • 93

You should answer the letter.

Permission: can, could, may, might and be allowed to • 94

We can leave our luggage at the hotel.

Certainty: will, must and can't

Mandy will be in London now.

Probability: should and ought to • 96

The rain should stop soon.

Possibility: may, might, can and could • 97

The keys may be in my coat pocket.