Dear Bijan! Let me start answering your questions and Tanya will join us some later. Well, I will numerate my answers for you to be easier to react, OK?
1. Helping and auxiliary verbs. Yes, you are right, they are the same verbs, just different terms.
2. The modal verbs (there are 10 such verbs) are called modal auxiliaries. First, let me explain, what modality is. Modality is our attitude to what we say and to what goes on. In fact, they define different nuances of our feelings. The modal verbs are very special, imperfect, they have different grammar, have no tenses. That is why we usually say there are 3 auxiliary verbs (be, do and have) which are used to form tenses and moods and 10 modal auxiliaries used to express modality.
3. Like in No1, lexical and notional verbs are the same verbs and Tanya is right calling them "notional" as it makes more sense. I don't know how to explain it, but here is an example:
I don't know her.
Don't know is a compound predicate. DON"T is an auxiliary, it means nothing but negation in the simple tense while KNOW is a verb defining my state. Is it clear? It is impossible to tell you WHY we call them lexical/notional. With the same result you can ask why we call our planet the Earth.
4. Well, a modal verb must be followed by one more notional verb if it is not a shorten answer. Otherwise, a sentence will be senseless. I can't say just "I can" as I will be asked immediately what I mean. But if I am asked, for example:
Can you swim?
I will answer
Yes, I can.
Sure, the modal auxiliaries can be followed by be, do and have:
I can do it.
I can be there.
In this case, be, do and have are used as notional verbs.
5. I think you should realize that be, do and have are the same verbs as others (except modals). They mean what you know:
to be - to exist, to stay,.....
to do - to undertake some acton;
to have - to own.
And we often use them as notional verbs. For example:
I have a car.
I do my work well.
On the other hand, when we use these verbs as auxiliaries forming tenses/moods, they lose such meanings and only show us what tense we mean. For example:
I have just returned.
Here, HAVE is an auxiliary. It only defines the tense, present perfect. And the verb RETURN defines what I have done.
Well, I am not an English teacher and my explanations may sound like baby-talk, but I hope I've made myself clear enough. If you still have some questions, we both will be online today
I am very happy, because I can see myself in a nice website with kind teachers and friends.
You have said that there are three auxiliary verbs: be, do and have and 10 model auxiliaries.
I guess, "helping verbs" and "auxiliary verbs" are the same.
Please tell me, if this is correct.
Here are my questions:
First, what is the difference between three auxiliary verbs and 10 model auxiliaries?
Or, why do we say "model auxiliaries"?
Second, I understood that all verbs except helping verbs, are lexical verbs.
But, why do we name them "lexical verbs"?
Third, it looks like "lexical verbs" and "notional verbs" are the same.
Sorry.
Why do we name them "notional verbs"?
Or
What does "notional verbs" mean?
Fourth, you have said that any verb (except be, do and have) after a model auxiliary is a lexical verb.
Why except (be, do and have)?
Because, they will not have the meaning?
May you give us (the students) a few examples about "be, do, have" that the next verbs are not the lexical verbs?
Sixth, you have said that we cannot use modals (auxiliary) themselves, they must be followed by some other verbs...an auxiliary can be followed by be, do or have...I can be there, I can do it.
Do they mean my below examples?
I will.
I may.
I do.
I be.
I can.
Sorry.
I cannot get it.
Seventh, I can be there, I can do it.
What does "be, do and have" as notional verbs mean?
Hi, dear Bijan! Nice to meet you! I see, Danny tried to answer your question, but he didn't make himself clear enough. So, let me explain it in a few words.
There are three auxiliary verbs: be, do and have and 10 modal auxiliaries. All the rest verbs are lexical, both action and state. I am used to say "notional verbs" as it makes more sense for students. I think, I have answered your first question. As to the second question. Yes, any verb (except be, do and have) after a modal auxiliary is a lexical verb. We can't use modals themselves, they must be followed by some other verbs. On the other hand, an auxiliary can be followed by be, do or have. For example:
I can be there.
I can do it.
In this case, be, do and have are used as notional verbs.
OK, I will be online today. So, you can ask me your questions.
Thank you for spending your time for the students.
First, because of your above sentence (...to define a lexical verb, I would say it describes the action" run, read, rest..."...), and also, English grammar divides verbs:
A- Action verbs.
B- State verbs.
So, can we say "lexical verbs" are the same of "action verbs"?
Second, can we say any verb that is used after helping verbs, are lexical verbs?
Dear Bijan! Now I see what you mean. You have to know I am not an English teacher, I am a native speaker who teaches natural science. My wife is an English teacher, but she doesn't use this term, either. OK, I can explain now.
An auxiliary verb is a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs. The primary auxiliary verbs in English are be, do, and have; the modal auxiliaries are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. For example:
I am resting.
The predicate is underlined, but RESTING is not a verb, it is a participle. So, to make a predicate a verb, we add an auxiliary (am, i.e, the verb TO BE). As you should know, in most of tenses a predicate is either a compoud (two words like in the example given above) or a complex (three or more words) and only the first word in any predicate is a verb. It is only the simple prestent and past tenses that contain a simple predicate in affirmative sentences, i.e., a lexical verb. For example:
I know him.
So, to define a lexical verb, I would say it describes the action (run, read, rest...) and an auxiliary verb is used:
a) to form the tenses. Here are a few examples:
I read much (no auxiliary, a regular action).
I am reading now (a progressive action).
I have read this book (an action that has already taken place but is somehow related to the present moment).
I have been reading this book for a few days (a progressive action taking place till the moment).
b) to express some modality, i.e., our attitude to what we say or what goes on (modal auxiliaries). Examples:
I can read (it means my ability to read, I am not illiteral).
You should read more (means I recommend you to read more).
I have to say in such predicates the second word (read) is a lexical verb.
Are my explanations clear enough? If they are not, Tanya will explain again when we are back home in a week or so as we are resting in Europe now.
Are you sure about a "lexical verb"? You see, any word we use speaking any language is lexic. Will you give us any example, please? Maybe, you mean phrasal verbs like CALL OFF, PUT ON, etc.
Replies
Dear Danny,
Thank you for your nice explanation.
I got my answers well.
A- So, we can say helping verbs, auxiliary verbs and model verbs (10 ) are the same.
But, we cannot use the model verbs (10 ) as an alone verb.
They must have a lexical verb (notional verb) after themselves.
But, we can use "be, have and do" as an alone verb.
Your explanation was very interesting for me.
B- I only have a request, please:
May you give us (the students) a few examples about "be, do, have" that the next verbs are not the lexical verbs?
Thanks in advance,
Dear Bijan! Let me start answering your questions and Tanya will join us some later. Well, I will numerate my answers for you to be easier to react, OK?
1. Helping and auxiliary verbs. Yes, you are right, they are the same verbs, just different terms.
2. The modal verbs (there are 10 such verbs) are called modal auxiliaries. First, let me explain, what modality is. Modality is our attitude to what we say and to what goes on. In fact, they define different nuances of our feelings. The modal verbs are very special, imperfect, they have different grammar, have no tenses. That is why we usually say there are 3 auxiliary verbs (be, do and have) which are used to form tenses and moods and 10 modal auxiliaries used to express modality.
3. Like in No1, lexical and notional verbs are the same verbs and Tanya is right calling them "notional" as it makes more sense. I don't know how to explain it, but here is an example:
I don't know her.
Don't know is a compound predicate. DON"T is an auxiliary, it means nothing but negation in the simple tense while KNOW is a verb defining my state. Is it clear? It is impossible to tell you WHY we call them lexical/notional. With the same result you can ask why we call our planet the Earth.
4. Well, a modal verb must be followed by one more notional verb if it is not a shorten answer. Otherwise, a sentence will be senseless. I can't say just "I can" as I will be asked immediately what I mean. But if I am asked, for example:
Can you swim?
I will answer
Yes, I can.
Sure, the modal auxiliaries can be followed by be, do and have:
I can do it.
I can be there.
In this case, be, do and have are used as notional verbs.
5. I think you should realize that be, do and have are the same verbs as others (except modals). They mean what you know:
to be - to exist, to stay,.....
to do - to undertake some acton;
to have - to own.
And we often use them as notional verbs. For example:
I have a car.
I do my work well.
On the other hand, when we use these verbs as auxiliaries forming tenses/moods, they lose such meanings and only show us what tense we mean. For example:
I have just returned.
Here, HAVE is an auxiliary. It only defines the tense, present perfect. And the verb RETURN defines what I have done.
Well, I am not an English teacher and my explanations may sound like baby-talk, but I hope I've made myself clear enough. If you still have some questions, we both will be online today
Hi, dear Tanya!
Nice to meet you too!
I am very happy, because I can see myself in a nice website with kind teachers and friends.
You have said that there are three auxiliary verbs: be, do and have and 10 model auxiliaries.
I guess, "helping verbs" and "auxiliary verbs" are the same.
Please tell me, if this is correct.
Here are my questions:
First, what is the difference between three auxiliary verbs and 10 model auxiliaries?
Or, why do we say "model auxiliaries"?
Second, I understood that all verbs except helping verbs, are lexical verbs.
But, why do we name them "lexical verbs"?
Third, it looks like "lexical verbs" and "notional verbs" are the same.
Sorry.
Why do we name them "notional verbs"?
Or
What does "notional verbs" mean?
Fourth, you have said that any verb (except be, do and have) after a model auxiliary is a lexical verb.
Why except (be, do and have)?
Because, they will not have the meaning?
May you give us (the students) a few examples about "be, do, have" that the next verbs are not the lexical verbs?
Sixth, you have said that we cannot use modals (auxiliary) themselves, they must be followed by some other verbs...an auxiliary can be followed by be, do or have...I can be there, I can do it.
Do they mean my below examples?
I will.
I may.
I do.
I be.
I can.
Sorry.
I cannot get it.
Seventh, I can be there, I can do it.
What does "be, do and have" as notional verbs mean?
Forgive me for disturbing you.
If I am disturb you, please tell me.
Please, feel fee to disregard my questions.
I don't know how to thank you.
Have a nice weekend.
Best wishes,
Bijan
Hi, dear Bijan! Nice to meet you! I see, Danny tried to answer your question, but he didn't make himself clear enough. So, let me explain it in a few words.
There are three auxiliary verbs: be, do and have and 10 modal auxiliaries. All the rest verbs are lexical, both action and state. I am used to say "notional verbs" as it makes more sense for students. I think, I have answered your first question. As to the second question. Yes, any verb (except be, do and have) after a modal auxiliary is a lexical verb. We can't use modals themselves, they must be followed by some other verbs. On the other hand, an auxiliary can be followed by be, do or have. For example:
I can be there.
I can do it.
In this case, be, do and have are used as notional verbs.
OK, I will be online today. So, you can ask me your questions.
Dear Danny,
Thank you for spending your time for the students.
First, because of your above sentence (...to define a lexical verb, I would say it describes the action" run, read, rest..."...), and also, English grammar divides verbs:
A- Action verbs.
B- State verbs.
So, can we say "lexical verbs" are the same of "action verbs"?
Second, can we say any verb that is used after helping verbs, are lexical verbs?
Your examples:
I can read.
You should read more.
Thanks in advance,
Dear Bijan! Now I see what you mean. You have to know I am not an English teacher, I am a native speaker who teaches natural science. My wife is an English teacher, but she doesn't use this term, either. OK, I can explain now.
An auxiliary verb is a verb used in forming the tenses, moods, and voices of other verbs. The primary auxiliary verbs in English are be, do, and have; the modal auxiliaries are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, and would. For example:
I am resting.
The predicate is underlined, but RESTING is not a verb, it is a participle. So, to make a predicate a verb, we add an auxiliary (am, i.e, the verb TO BE). As you should know, in most of tenses a predicate is either a compoud (two words like in the example given above) or a complex (three or more words) and only the first word in any predicate is a verb. It is only the simple prestent and past tenses that contain a simple predicate in affirmative sentences, i.e., a lexical verb. For example:
I know him.
So, to define a lexical verb, I would say it describes the action (run, read, rest...) and an auxiliary verb is used:
a) to form the tenses. Here are a few examples:
I read much (no auxiliary, a regular action).
I am reading now (a progressive action).
I have read this book (an action that has already taken place but is somehow related to the present moment).
I have been reading this book for a few days (a progressive action taking place till the moment).
b) to express some modality, i.e., our attitude to what we say or what goes on (modal auxiliaries). Examples:
I can read (it means my ability to read, I am not illiteral).
You should read more (means I recommend you to read more).
I have to say in such predicates the second word (read) is a lexical verb.
Are my explanations clear enough? If they are not, Tanya will explain again when we are back home in a week or so as we are resting in Europe now.
Hi dear Danny,
Nice to meet you too.
Yes. I am sure about "lexical verb".
I saw it for the first time on EC, the day before yesterday.
But, I have forgotten the page of EC that has said it, sorry.
The sentence has said that verbs can also divide to two sections:
Lexical verbs, and auxiliary verbs.
Action verbs, and also being state.
Thanks in advance for helping me,
Bijan
Hi, dear Bijan! Nice to meet you!
Are you sure about a "lexical verb"? You see, any word we use speaking any language is lexic. Will you give us any example, please? Maybe, you mean phrasal verbs like CALL OFF, PUT ON, etc.