Auxiliary verbs
A word that determines the meaning of a verb,such as will (presumed) or can (possible),
and is placed before the original form of the verb.
should: should be ~
. (ought to: agreed with should, but a formal way of saying it)
will:~ would be.
can:~can be done.
The present perfect have is also an auxiliary verb.
When the action involving the auxiliary verbs will and can is in the past,
the auxiliary verb is made past tense and the verb remains in the original form. (would or could)
will→would
can→could
If the action over should and will is in the past, use present perfect tense.
should have done(should have done)
will have done(would have done)
.
would: contrast with present, past irregular habit (I used to do it - often.) would have done)
, can only be used with action verbs.
used to:regular habit in the past (I don't do it now, but I used to do it ~ often.)
used to: a regular habit in the past (not now, but used to ~ often),
can be used with both action and state verbs.
(Applied to: would often:I used to do ~ often. (I used to do it more often.)
The problem that two auxiliary verbs cannot be used at the same time
. The words will, shall, may, must, which are determined by the speaker's subjectivity (feelings),are called legal auxiliaries.
Words such as have to and be able to are called pseudo (modal) auxiliaries.
Two modal auxiliaries cannot be used at the same time.
A modal auxiliary verb and a pseudo auxiliary verb can be used at the same time.
For example: will have to (modal auxiliary will + pseudo auxiliary have to
or legal auxiliary verb + objective auxiliary verb (first auxiliary verb) is ok)
[be, do, have are said to be first auxiliaries and can be used with modal auxiliaries,
stating objective facts]
Bad example: will + must [law + law is not])
will be able to can be used (will+can is not allowed)
Small stuff
. First auxiliary verb: interrogative negative Emphasis do, perfective have,progressive passive be are also auxiliary verbs.
Legal auxiliaries: will,would,ought to,can,could,shall,should,may,might,must
Pseudo-legal auxiliaries: be going to,be able to,have to,used to,had better,ought to
Less well known is that should is the past tense of shall.
The classification of first auxiliaries, pseudo-(modal) auxiliaries,
and modal auxiliaries should be roughly understood,
but the words themselves are not tested in the entrance examinations.
Short Notes
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