To show degrees of ability, we can use modal verbs. These show: 1. ability or opportunity in the present She can play the piano. She is able to play the piano. 2. ability or opportunity in the past She could play the piano. She was able to play the piano. […]
Continue ReadingModal Verbs in English
Modal verbs are used to express ideas such as ability, necessity, permission, and possibility. There are not many modal verbs: can, could, dare*, need*, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would. There are also modal constructions: be able to, ought to, be allowed to. Modals always come first in a […]
Continue ReadingLinking Verbs or Copulas
A linking verb links the subject of the sentence to more information about that subject (the predicate). A linking verb is also known as a copula (plural copulas or copulae.) In English most verbs describe an action. For example: Sofia directs her new film The verb here tells us what […]
Continue ReadingLexical Verbs in English Grammar
Lexical Verbs are basically the main verb in a sentence. They carry some kind of real-world meaning and are sometimes actually known as the main verb: You laughed. I ran. They are basically an open-class of verbs; in other words, we can add new verbs to this class. In recent […]
Continue ReadingIrregular Adverbs in English Grammar
An adverb modifies a word, phrase, or sentence. It tells us more about them and changes the meaning slightly. Often we say it tells us how something happens: He paints. He paints wildly. In this example wildly is an adverb which tells us how he paints. Regular Adverbs In most […]
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