Part 6: Identifying Grammar Errors

Grammar: Auxiliary Verbs / Modals

Auxiliary verbs are helping verbs, that is they appear with other verbs and indicate state, time or type of action. In some languages, verbs undergo many inflections to indicate such states. In English this is done less so, and these verbs play an important role in indicating the fine shade of meaning which the writer or speaker intends.

The main verbs are:	and their various forms are:
be	am, are, been, being, is, was, were
can	could
do	did
have	had
may	might
must	.
shall	should
will	would

---

The basic rule to remember is that the modal in the subordinate clause must agree with the tense of the main verb:

Wrong:

The Internal Revenue Service is announcing that effective immediately taxpayers could take advantage of the new law.

Right:

The Internal Revenue Service is announcing that effective immediately taxpayers can take advantage of the new law.

Wrong:

Because my break pads are worn out, I had to get them replaced soon.

Right:

Because my break pads are worn out, I must get them replaced soon.

See notes for information on navigating, links, copyright (my own as well as any possible inadvertant infringement on my part) and photo usage, etc.

TOEIC is the registered trademark of Educational Testing Service.