Here s a set of basic but tough grammar questions posted in Jose Carillo s English Forum by an Iran-based member who goes by the cryptic username r_a: What are the differences between a helping verb, ...

Even if you know a lot about grammar, there’s always more to learn. And what better time than the start of a new year? Here are some language resolutions to consider for 2025. 1. Challenge a ...

Modal verbs are easy to spot because there are so few of them. In addition to must, shall, will, should, would, can, could, may and might, we can add ought to and have to. If we are told that we 'must ...

There are three basic kinds of verbs plus many subclasses. Here we cover only the three basic types. Initially, verbs are divided into main verbs and auxiliary verbs. Then auxiliary verbs are divided ...

T’was just weeks before Christmas 2021 when I heard a word I probably should have learned decades ago: “clitic.” It’s a language term. I’m supposed to know those. But this one has eluded me till now — ...

Christina Lamelas from Spain writes: I have some doubts dealing with appropriate use of the auxiliary particles do/does/did with need and dare. Sometimes I find need and dare used with these ...

Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea minima culpa: Michael Bulley (Letters, 10 May) is right to correct me – Latin does have the modal verbs he names, which cover possibility (possum), permission (licet) and ...

Anna Slavkova from Bulgaria asks: I would like to have your explanation of how to turn the modals must/need not/used to into reported speech. When we use reported speech to convey what someone has ...

Danilo Gomez Barbosa from Columbia writes: Could you please explain the difference between the modal auxiliary verbs should, could and would and how they are used? Thanks for your help. If he'd taken ...