semi modal auxiliary verbs

Semi modal auxiliary verbs

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Semi-modal auxiliary verbs are verbs that sometimes behave like modal auxiliary verbs. Like the “proper” modal verbs, they are used with the base form of verbs (the infinitive without to) to create a unique meaning.

Would like

Would like

“Would like” is a polite way to say “I want” in English.

Would like

• “Would like” is followed by an infinitive verb or a noun.

• Because “would” is a modal verb, it doesn’t change for he / she “third-person singular”.

• You can abbreviate the “would” to ‘d. = "I'd like"

• Don’t abbreviate from “would” to “‘d” in the question or negative forms. = “I wouldn’t like” (not “I’dn’t like”.)

Would like

I would like to book a double room for Saturday. I'd like a single room for Saturday. Would you like a cup of tea? Which restaurant would you like to go this weekend?

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Would rather

Would rather

"Would rather" is used when we talk about what we would prefer to do.

Would rather

• It is followed by the infinitive (without 'to') when its subject is the same as the subject of the next verb.

• It is followed by a past subjunctive when its subject is different than the subject of the following verb.

• When comparing an activity to another it is necessary to use "than". = I'd rather walk than run.

Would rather

I would rather (or I'd rather) stay with you. What would you rather do instead? I'd rather (that) you came another time. She would rather (that) he weren't so angry.

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Would prefer

Would prefer

"Would prefer" is used to talk about present and future preferences.

Would prefer

• It is followed by a to-infinitive or a noun.

• When we want to say that we would like to do one thing more than another, we can introduce the second thing with "rather than", followed by an infinitive without to.

• When we are talking about our preferences for the actions of another person, we can use would prefer + object pronoun + to-infinitive or would prefer it if + past simple.

Would prefer

I’d prefer to go by myself. I’d prefer to go skiing this year rather than go on a beach holiday. They’d prefer us to come later. (or They’d prefer it if we came later.)

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Would sooner

SOONER

Would sooner

"Would sooner" is used when we talk about what we would prefer to do. It is approximately the same as would rather.

Would sooner

• It is followed by the infinitive (without 'to') when its subject is the same as the subject of the next verb.

• It is followed by a past subjunctive when its subject is different than the subject of the following verb.

• When comparing an activity to another it is necessary to use "than". = I'd sooner walk than run.

Would sooner

I'd sooner not talk about it. I'd sooner he didn't know till I've talked to Pete. I would sooner give up sleep than miss my evening class. I'd sooner not, if you don't mind.

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Dare

Dare

It means “to be brave, reckless, or rude enough to do or try something.”

Dare

• It does not conjugate for person or tense.

• It more often takes not to form a negative statement (very rarely contracted as daren’t), or is inverted with the subject to form an interrogative sentence.

• With the exception of the now idiomatic phrase “How dare (someone),” the use of dare as a modal verb has become rare in modern English.

Dare

I dare not press the issue any further. How dare she talk to me like that? Dare he meddle with the laws of nature? They daren’t give him a reason to be angry.

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Need

Need

It is used mostly in the negative form to indicate that there is no obligation or necessity to do something.

Need

• There is almost always a negative word (no one, nobody, nothing) or phrase in the clause, even if the verb phrase is affirmative.

• We form the negative by adding not after need. Need not can be contracted to needn’t. We don’t use don’t/doesn’t/didn’t with the semi-modal verb need.

• The subject and need change position to form questions. We don’t use do/does/did.

Need

Not a thing need change on this page. You need not spend a lot of money on presents. No one need think that we are doing this every week. Need we write this down?

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