Introduzione ai verbi ausiliari in inglese
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Introduzione ai verbi ausiliari
Esistono due categorie fondamentali di verbi: i verbi ordinari e i verbi ausiliari.
I verbi ausiliari consentono di:
• coniugare i verbi in tempi diversi dal presente e il passato remoto (es.: will per il futuro, would e should per il condizionale);
• esprimere l'idea di possibilità, obbligo, probabilità, ripetizione, etc. (es.: can, must, may, etc.);
• esprimere la diatesi passiva (es.: 'The apple was eaten').
Fai attenzione alla differenza tra:
• verbi ausiliari irregolari be, have e do, che possono essere usati anche come verbi ordinari ('be', 'have' e 'do');
• verbi ausiliari modali: must, can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, ought to, etc.
I verbi ausiliari consentono di:
• coniugare i verbi in tempi diversi dal presente e il passato remoto (es.: will per il futuro, would e should per il condizionale);
• esprimere l'idea di possibilità, obbligo, probabilità, ripetizione, etc. (es.: can, must, may, etc.);
• esprimere la diatesi passiva (es.: 'The apple was eaten').
Fai attenzione alla differenza tra:
• verbi ausiliari irregolari be, have e do, che possono essere usati anche come verbi ordinari ('be', 'have' e 'do');
• verbi ausiliari modali: must, can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, ought to, etc.
Alcune caratteristiche importanti:
• Per costruire la forma negativa, dobbiamo solo aggiungere not dopo il verbo ausiliare (con questi verbi, non si usa la coostruzione do not/doesn't/didn't, come con i verbi non ausiliari):
• Per costruire la forma negativa, dobbiamo solo aggiungere not dopo il verbo ausiliare (con questi verbi, non si usa la coostruzione do not/doesn't/didn't, come con i verbi non ausiliari):
I will not come. [o won't: forma contratta] Non verrò.
She cannot read his handwriting. [o can't: forma contratta] Non riesce a leggere la sua scrittura.
You mustn't believe everything he tells you. [o must not: forma non contratta] Non devi credere a tutto quello che ti dice.
Verbo non ausiliare:
I do not want to come. [o don't: forma contratta] Non voglio venire.
• Nella lingua parlata, la negazione si costruisce con la forma contratta -n't invece di not:
| is not | = | isn't |
| have not | = | haven't |
| cannot | = | can't |
| must not | = | mustn't |
| will not | = | won't |
| do not | = | don't |
• I verbi ausiliari modali sono seguiti da un verbo all'infinito senza to:
I must leave. Devo partire.
He should come. Dovrebbe venire.
Esercizio 1
Hello friend. I buy you a drink sometime? I'd like to try to convert you to a different religion than your current one.
Hello friend. Can I buy you a drink sometime? I'd like to try to convert you to a different religion than your current one.
Can: 'Can' correctly poses the question in this construction. In this question, the speaker asks for permission, using the verb 'can', which agrees with the subject 'I'.
Does: 'Does' cannot be used with the subject 'I, which follows the auxiliary in this construction. We might ask however 'Do I look okay?' or 'Do I have something on my face?'. Or 'Does he know what he is doing?'
Need to: 'Need to' does not usually precede the subject of a sentence. Also, it does not make sense here. Occasionally 'Need I...?' is used to pose a question, but it expresses a question of necessity and not permission.
Am: 'Am' is a form of the verb 'to be'. It is never used to ask questions about capacity or permission. It can be used to pose other questions, for example: Am I speaking too loudly? or Am I bothering you? Using it in this construction is grammatically correct.
Esercizio 2
Philip: you see the suit Bruno was wearing yesterday? It was beautiful. Really suited his shoulders.
Kevin: I didn't see Bruno yesterday. I was watching the rugby. You like sports, you?
Philip: I like squash and wrestling. Basically I am a fan of any sport with balls or close physical contact.
Kevin: you? I tell.
Kevin: I didn't see Bruno yesterday. I was watching the rugby. You like sports, you?
Philip: I like squash and wrestling. Basically I am a fan of any sport with balls or close physical contact.
Kevin: you? I tell.
Philip: Did 1 you see the suit Bruno was wearing yesterday? It was beautiful. Really suited his shoulders.
Kevin: I didn't see Bruno yesterday. I was watching the rugby. You like sports, don't 2 you?
Philip: I like squash and wrestling. Basically I am a fan of any sport with balls or close physical contact.
Kevin: Are 3 you? I couldn't 4 tell.
Kevin: I didn't see Bruno yesterday. I was watching the rugby. You like sports, don't 2 you?
Philip: I like squash and wrestling. Basically I am a fan of any sport with balls or close physical contact.
Kevin: Are 3 you? I couldn't 4 tell.
1 Did: Because Philip is asking about 'yesterday', we use the past tense auxiliary 'did' to form the interrogative construction in the past tense.
1 Have: 'Have' does not agree with the past tense construction of the sentence. However, we might say 'have you seen the suit Bruno is wearing today?'.
1 Can: 'Can' does not agree with the past tense (preterit) construction of the sentence. The present tense auxiliary 'can' is generally used to ask questions about capacity (Can you tell me how to get to the market?) or permission (Can you help me with this report?).
1 Does: 'Does' is the correct verb, but does not agree with the past tense (preterit) construction of the sentence. Also, 'does' cannot be used with the second person subject 'you'. However, we might say 'Does he cook and clean?'.
2 don't: We must use the negative form of the auxiliary to express surprise in this type of construction. 'Don't you' asks a question which supposes a positive reply. Because the sentence is in the affirmative voice, we use the negative auxiliary 'don't' to properly complete the interrogative construction.
2 do: Because the construction of the phrase is affirmative, we cannot use the affirmative auxiliary 'do' to construct a response. To express surprise, we use the negative form of the auxiliary.
2 can: 'Can' is used either to ask permission, or to ask if someone is able to do something. It does not make sense to use it here.
2 will: The future auxiliary 'will' has no place in this construction. Using it here is grammatically incorrect.
3 Are: We use the affirmative construction 'are you' to formulate the question. This question is the reply to Philip's previous statement 'I am a fan of any sport...'. Because Philip uses the verb 'to be' in his statement, Kevin's reply uses the same verb to respond.
3 Aren't: There is no need to use the negative form of the auxiliary verb here. We use the negative auxiliary 'don't' when asking questions which suppose a positive reply. Example: You have a dog, don't you?
3 Is: 'Is' is grammatically incorrect. We must use a form of the auxiliary 'to be', however the subject 'you' requires the second person form of the verb (are).
3 Will: As an auxiliary, 'will' is used to ask someone to do something or to express the future tense. It has no place in this construction.
4 couldn't: 'I couldn't tell' is the correct way to form this sentence. Here it expresses Kevin's (ironic) incapacity to see that Philip appreciates certain sports. 'I couldn't tell' expresses that Kevin is already aware of Philip's affection for certain sports.
4 wouldn't: The auxiliary 'would' (and 'wouldn't') expresses a willingness or desire. It does not make sense here as this construction requires the term 'couldn't', which express 'incapacity'.
4 shouldn't: The auxiliary 'should' (and 'shouldn't') expresses this idea of obligation or near-necessity. It does not make sense here as this construction requires the term 'couldn't', which express 'incapacity'.
4 can't: 'Can't' is the contracted form of 'cannot'. Although using it here is not grammatically incorrect, it doesn't express the past tense sense of Kevin's statement.
Esercizio 3
Use the words from this list to fill in the blanks below.
Some of the terms may be used more than once and some of the terms not at all. However, you should not leave any of the blanks empty!
may | may be | possible | possibly
'Did you hear that their company might go bankrupt?'
'I know. I read that the CEO even be charged with bank fraud! , the CEO's wife is involved too. These days, anything is .'
Some of the terms may be used more than once and some of the terms not at all. However, you should not leave any of the blanks empty!
may | may be | possible | possibly
'Did you hear that their company might go bankrupt?'
'I know. I read that the CEO even be charged with bank fraud! , the CEO's wife is involved too. These days, anything is .'
Use the words from this list to fill in the blanks below.
Some of the terms may be used more than once and some of the terms not at all. However, you should not leave any of the blanks empty!
may | may be | possible | possibly
'Did you hear that their company might possibly 1 go bankrupt?'
'I know. I read that the CEO may 2 even be charged with bank fraud! Possibly 3, the CEO's wife is involved too. These days, anything is possible 4.'
Some of the terms may be used more than once and some of the terms not at all. However, you should not leave any of the blanks empty!
may | may be | possible | possibly
'Did you hear that their company might possibly 1 go bankrupt?'
'I know. I read that the CEO may 2 even be charged with bank fraud! Possibly 3, the CEO's wife is involved too. These days, anything is possible 4.'
1 possibly: 'Possibly' is the best choice here because it is the only choice which can follow the auxiliary 'might'.
2 may: 'May' is the only choice which expresses probability and fits this sentence's construction. In this phrase, 'may' is an auxiliary, which expresses possibility. It precedes the main verb 'to charge', which is used in the passive voice here.
3 Possibly: 'Possibly' expresses probability here. It is the only choice which correctly fits the sentence's construction.
4 possible: 'Possible' is the best choice because it expresses probability and fits the sentence's construction. 'Anything is possible' is a common English idiom meaning that 'nothing is impossible'.
Esercizio 4
Bob: Hi, Susie. I had a pretty crazy weekend. I lost three hundred dollars in a card game.
Susie: ? That very smart. I didn't know you gambled.
Bob: No, ! My wife says that I .
Susie: But you just told me that you lost your money playing cards.
Bob: Yeah. Someone stole my wallet while I was playing 'solitaire' on my phone.
Susie: ? That very smart. I didn't know you gambled.
Bob: No, ! My wife says that I .
Susie: But you just told me that you lost your money playing cards.
Bob: Yeah. Someone stole my wallet while I was playing 'solitaire' on my phone.
Bob: Hi, Susie. I had a pretty crazy weekend. I lost three hundred dollars in a card game.
Susie: You did 1? That wasn't 2 very smart. I didn't know you gambled.
Bob: No, I don't 3! My wife says that I can't 4.
Susie: But you just told me that you lost your money playing cards.
Bob: Yeah. Someone stole my wallet while I was playing 'solitaire' on my phone.
Susie: You did 1? That wasn't 2 very smart. I didn't know you gambled.
Bob: No, I don't 3! My wife says that I can't 4.
Susie: But you just told me that you lost your money playing cards.
Bob: Yeah. Someone stole my wallet while I was playing 'solitaire' on my phone.
1 You did: This is the best choice here. The auxiliary of surprise is always formed with the subject of the former statement and the auxiliary conjugated in the simple past tense (you did). Because no auxiliary is specified in the original statement, we know that we must use 'do'. Example: -I gave all my money to that homeless woman. -You did?
1 You lost: When responding to a statement with an expression of surprise, we use an auxiliary, and not a regular verb, such as 'lost'.
1 You have: 'You have' is incorrect because 'have' is not used as an auxiliary in the original statement (I lost three hundred dollars), and when an auxiliary is not specified, we usually use 'do'.
1 You are: 'You are' is incorrect because 'are' is not used as an auxiliary in the original statement (I lost three hundred dollars), and when an auxiliary is not specified, we usually use 'do'.
2 wasn't: This is the best choice here. The sentence requires a conjugated form of the verb 'to be', in the negative. To form the contraction of 'was not', we remove the letter 'o' from 'not' and replace it with an apostrophe. Example: Pressing that red button wasn't the smartest thing to do.
2 can't: 'That can't very smart' is grammatically incorrect.
2 weren't: Because Susie uses the singular pronoun 'that', we cannot use the plural contraction 'weren't' as an auxiliary. 'That weren't' is grammatically incorrect. Example: "Those weren't the same cats as before".
2 shouldn't: 'That shouldn't be very smart' is grammatically incorrect.
3 I don't: This is the best choice here. 'Yes or No' responses often follow the format of 'subject' + 'auxiliary' (I + do, in this case), and we always use whichever auxiliary has been used in the previous question. If an auxiliary has not been used, we typically use 'do'. Example: -I didn't know you had blonde hair. -I don't!
3 I go not: When responding to simple 'yes or no' questions, we use an auxiliary, rather than the main verb (go).
3 Don't I: 'Don't I' is the inverted form, and is usually used to ask a question, not to respond to one.
3 Go not I: 'Go not I' is grammatically incorrect.
4 can't: This is the best choice here. 'Can' is used to express capability or permission. Bob is saying that his wife does 'not allow him' to go to the casino. Example: My stepmother says I can't go to the ball tonight.
4 am not: 'I am not' does not make sense here.
4 go not: 'Go not' is grammatically incorrect. Negation is formed with an auxiliary when using verbs such as 'go'.
4 am not can: 'Am not can' is grammatically incorrect. We cannot use two auxiliaries ('am' and 'can') in a construction like this.
Esercizio 5
Conjugate the verbs in the blanks below with the correct form of the verb:
Yesterday, Philip Cheeter suddenly hungry. It was almost 2:00 in the afternoon, and it seemed to him that he hadn't anything in days. He to feel that if he did not eat something soon, he was going to faint. He Kevin in his office and asked him if he wanted to go to lunch. 'No, I my wallet this morning, so I can't go,' Kevin. 'Oh, that's too bad,' Philip. 'But, if you want to pay for me, I can you the money tomorrow,' Kevin. Philip long and hard. He that Kevin would never pay him the money. But he did not like to eat alone. 'Ok,' Philip finally , 'but you can't order the most expensive dish, like you the last time'. 'Sure, sure,' Kevin. And they .
Yesterday, Philip Cheeter suddenly hungry. It was almost 2:00 in the afternoon, and it seemed to him that he hadn't anything in days. He to feel that if he did not eat something soon, he was going to faint. He Kevin in his office and asked him if he wanted to go to lunch. 'No, I my wallet this morning, so I can't go,' Kevin. 'Oh, that's too bad,' Philip. 'But, if you want to pay for me, I can you the money tomorrow,' Kevin. Philip long and hard. He that Kevin would never pay him the money. But he did not like to eat alone. 'Ok,' Philip finally , 'but you can't order the most expensive dish, like you the last time'. 'Sure, sure,' Kevin. And they .
Conjugate the verbs in the blanks below with the correct form of the verb:
Yesterday, Philip Cheeter suddenly [not done] felt 1 hungry. It was almost 2:00 in the afternoon, and it seemed to him that he hadn't [not done] eaten 2 anything in days. He [not done] began 3 to feel that if he did not eat something soon, he was going to faint. He [not done] found 4 Kevin in his office and asked him if he wanted to go to lunch. 'No, I [not done] forgot 5 my wallet this morning, so I can't go,' [not done] said 6 Kevin. 'Oh, that's too bad,' [not done] answered 7 Philip. 'But, if you want to pay for me, I can [not done] give 8 you the money tomorrow,' [not done] declared 9 Kevin. Philip [not done] thought 10 long and hard. He [not done] knew 11 that Kevin would never pay him the money. But he did not like to eat alone. 'Ok,' Philip finally [not done] responded 12, 'but you can't order the most expensive dish, like you [not done] did 13 the last time'. 'Sure, sure,' [not done] said 14 Kevin. And they [not done] left 15.
Yesterday, Philip Cheeter suddenly [not done] felt 1 hungry. It was almost 2:00 in the afternoon, and it seemed to him that he hadn't [not done] eaten 2 anything in days. He [not done] began 3 to feel that if he did not eat something soon, he was going to faint. He [not done] found 4 Kevin in his office and asked him if he wanted to go to lunch. 'No, I [not done] forgot 5 my wallet this morning, so I can't go,' [not done] said 6 Kevin. 'Oh, that's too bad,' [not done] answered 7 Philip. 'But, if you want to pay for me, I can [not done] give 8 you the money tomorrow,' [not done] declared 9 Kevin. Philip [not done] thought 10 long and hard. He [not done] knew 11 that Kevin would never pay him the money. But he did not like to eat alone. 'Ok,' Philip finally [not done] responded 12, 'but you can't order the most expensive dish, like you [not done] did 13 the last time'. 'Sure, sure,' [not done] said 14 Kevin. And they [not done] left 15.
1 felt: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to feel' needs to be put in the past simple tense (preterit). To feel: I feel / I felt / I have felt.
2 eaten: Because it is preceded by 'hadn't', 'to eat' needs to be put in the past participle form. This forms the past perfect tense. To eat: I eat / I ate / I have eaten.
3 began: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to begin' needs to be put in the preterit tense. 'To begin' is an irregular verb: I begin / I began / I have begun.
4 found: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to find' needs to be put in the preterit tense. To find: I find / I found / I have found.
5 forgot: Because we are speaking of the past (this morning), 'to forget' needs to be put in the preterit tense. To forget: I forget/ I forgot/ I have forgotten.
6 said : Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to say' needs to be put in the preterit tense. To say: I say/ I said/ I have said.
7 answered: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to answer' needs to be put in the preterit tense. 'To answer' is a regular verb.
8 give: Because it is preceded by 'can', 'to give' needs to stay in the infinitive, but we remove the 'to'. This is what happens after modal verbs like 'can', 'could', 'should' or 'must'. Examples: Bob could help you; Polly should see a doctor about that rash.
9 declared: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to declare' needs to be put in the preterit tense. 'To declare' is a regular verb.
10 thought: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to think' needs to be in the preterit tense. To think: I think/ I thought/ I have thought.
11 knew: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to know' needs to be put in the preterit tense. To know: I know/ I knew/ I have known.
12 responded: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to respond' needs to be put in the simple past tense. 'To respond' is a regular verb.
13 did : The phrase 'the last time' indicates that Kevin ordered the most expensive dish once, in the past, requiring the simple past tense form of the verb. We use the auxiliary here to replace 'ordered'. To do: I do/ I did/ I have done.
14 said: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to say' needs to be put in the preterit tense. To say: I say/ I said/ I have said.
15 left: Because we are speaking of the past (Yesterday), 'to leave' needs to be put in the preterit tense. To leave: leave/left/I have left.
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