Hi, my dear teachers, 

Today, I read on English club's grammar this sentence, "Be, do and have are auxiliary verbs. Can, may, must etc are modal auxiliary verbs." 

https://www.englishclub.com/grammar/vocabulary.htm  

What is the difference between them, please? 

Thanks in advance and best wishes,

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  • Greetings, Gary, 

    Oh! it is very interesting for me that you love Farsi (Persian) films.  

    Yes. Be sure, I am from Iran and live in Tehran.

    I have good news for you because an Iranian film (the salesman) is nominated for Oscar prize. Here is a link for you: 

    https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2017/02/the-sales...   

    Please, you know that Taraneh is a superstar in Iranian films, and also she is a symbol of Iranian people. You can see a nice image of her in above link.

    I hope to see you in Iran one day because my country has many historical places like Persepolis (you can search for it, and also great Cyrus who was a kind king on the internet). I hope I will take you for seeing historical places one day.

    If you have Skype ID, I will be happy that we meet each other there (you can send me your ID by private message). 

    Please, feel free to say no. 

    Have a nice weekend in London.

    Thanks a lot and best wishes, 

    Nominated for an Oscar, Barred From America
    The Iranian film "The Salesman" is shortlisted for an Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. But because of Donald Trump’s executive order on…
  • Dear Gray, 

    Wow!  

    Your link is wonderful. 

    Thank you very much for showing it to me. 

    I saved it and I will certainly read carefully later. 

    If I will have any question, I ask you here.  

    Dear Gary, 

    Please, don't forget me  because I usually have many grammar questions on the site. 

    Thanks and bye for now, 

    Bijan

    Gary said:

    Hi bijan

    This is quite a good page for you to study, it is nice and clear and there are exercises:

    http://www.englishpage.com/modals/modalintro.html

    Here are a list of modal verbs, they can be used with past, present and future verbs.

    1. can

    2. could

    3. may

    4. might

    5. must

    6. must not/may not

    7. need not

    8. ought to

    9. shall

    10. should

    11. will

    12. would

    Let me know how you get on...

    Gary


  • Dear Gary, 

    Thank you for nice explanation. 

    One question, please:

    I know that "must, may, would, can" are modal auxiliary verbs.  

    Could you tell me the rest of them, please?  

    Thanks in advance,
    Gary said:

    Yes the auxiliary verbs are verbs in their own right; they become auxiliary when used with another verb which is the main verb:

    I am Gary

    Subject + verb + object

    I am working

    Subject + auxiliary + main verb

    Modal auxiliaries always need a main verb as they only tell us about the nature of the main verb:

    I must have

    I would have

    I can have


  • Hi, dear Gary,  

    First, thank you for answering me.

    Second, I read somewhere on the internet that we can use auxiliary verbs (be, do, have) both independently and dependently (with a main verb), but we cannot use modal auxiliary verbs (can, may, must...) independently. 

    Examples about auxiliary verbs:

    1. I did my homework yesterday.

    2. I am a student.

    3. I have a problem about auxiliary verbs.   

    Examples about auxiliary modal  verbs:  

    1. I can... 

    2. I must...   

    Is the above subject correct, please?  

    Best wishes,

     


    Gary said:

    Hi Bijan

    This is it basically, but there is lots of stuff on the web...

    An auxiliary verb is one that adds meaning to the main verb:

    Do you speak English = are you able to speak English

    Auxiliary + subject + verb + noun

    I haven’t seen you for ages = seeing you is something that has not happened for a long time.

    Subject + auxiliary + verb + noun

     

    A modal auxiliary verb is one that expresses necessity or possibility:

    Can I have some ice cream = is it possible for me to have some ice cream

    Auxiliary modal + subject + quantifier + noun

    I would like some ice cream = if it is possible ice cream is what I want

    Subject + Auxiliary modal + verb + quantifier + noun

    What is the difference between "auxiliary verbs" and "modal auxiliary verbs"?
    Hi, my dear teachers,  Today, I read on English club's grammar this sentence, Be, do and have are auxiliary verbs. Can, may, must etc are modal auxi…
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