(This is the hard one to grasp. It is hard because it is such a simple idea. There is no specific activity to observe. It is just the act of existing, i.e., just being. It is important to understand this idea because "to be" is – by far – the most common verb.) Before we...
A modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb (helping verb) that expresses necessity, possibility, permission, or ability. The most common modal verbs includemust, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may,andmight. Modal verbs are generally followed by the root form (also called base form...
What verb tense uses "have"? What is the simple present tense of "be"? What is the present tense of had? What is the past perfect tense of seem? What is the past tense of "be"? What is the present tense of make? What is the present perfect tense of "become"?
Is Are Was Were Has been Any other form of the verb “be” Become Seem Linking Verb in a Sentence Heseemshappy to be at school today. Iamdisappointed with the test results. Linking verbs that are also physical verbs include any verb that describes the senses, such as sight, smell or ta...
The dog is playful. The subject complement comes after the verb. Subject complements always use linking verbs, like be or seem. Subject → verb → adverbial complement The dog ate hungrily. Like subject complements, adverbial complements come after the verb (if there are no objects). Be carefu...
A gerund is a verb form that functions as a noun. The present participle is a verb form used in continuous tenses or as an adjective. Here are more examples of the difference between gerunds and the present participle: Gerund vs. present participle examples Gerund Present participle She is ob...
' Say 'What make of car do you drive?' make Make is a very common verb which is used in many different ways. The past tense and -ed participle of make is made. 1. performing an action Make is most often used to say that someone performs an action. For example, if someone ...
Modal verbs of probability may seem like intimidating parts of language, but they’re actually verb structures that are found in everyday speech and writing. When you’re looking through the latest gossip magazine regarding George and Amal Clooney’s latest news and find yourself gasping, “That...
Noneof usknowsthe answer. (Not one of us knows the answer.) Noneof thespaghettiis left. (Not any of the spaghetti is left.) However, it is perfectly acceptable to usenonewith a plural verb if it is used to mean “no persons” or “no things.” For example, ...
I start out by reviewing the semantics of seem'. As seem' is a subject-raising verb, it seems' can be treated as a sentential operator. I look at the semantic and logical properties of it seems'. I argue that it seems' is a hyperintensional and contextually flexible operator. The ...