|
|
|
Links:
Gerund or Infinitive
Forming
and Using Verb Tenses
Participial
Phrase
Gerund Phrase
Infinitive Phrase
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Verb form, part 2
Confusion of active/passive with a
participial modifier
An easily-remembered rule that can
prevent many participle errors is that ing comes before people, while ed
comes before things.
Incorrect:
Spiderman IV was a bored movie. I was
really boring when I saw it.
Correct:
Spiderman IV was a boring movie. I was
really bored when I saw it.
The details, of course, are more
interesting.
Participial modifiersalso
called participlesusually look like verbs with the
endings -ed or ing. Traditionally, the ed
participles are called past participles,
and the ing participles are called present
participles. Note that past particples also come in irregular forms, like gone
or driven.
However, when they are used as
modifiers, the ed modifiers usually denote a passive
meaning, while the ing modifiers denote an active
meaning. In other words, a noun modified by an ing
modifier is probably the actor or cause of a change, while a noun modified
by an ed modifier is probably the thing or
person that is changed by the action.
Example: active
modifier
Some people
find the sound of a ticking clock helps them to fall asleep. (The
clock itself causes the sound.)
Example: passive
modifier
Few things
remind me of summer so much as the smell of a freshly mown lawn.
(The lawn did not cause itself to be mown; rather, somebody mowed it.)
Note that the verbs that we make
into passive participles are the transitive verbsthose
that have both a subject and a direct object in the sentence. Verbs that
can appear without a direct object, the intransitive verbs, are made
only into ing participles.
Example: intransitive modifier:
A gram of water
occupies one cubic centimeter (one milliliter) of volume if the water is at
the temperature of melting ice. (It does not matter whether or not
the ice causes itself to melt; it is enough that ice
melts is an acceptable intransitive sentence.)
|
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 167
Next
article
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Verb form, part 3
Wrong verb form
with an irregular verb
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 11-13
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 167
Links:
Irregular
Verb Dictionary
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Wrong verb form with a passive
construction
Incorrect
|
The cheese was eat by the dog
|
|
|
Incorrect
|
The cheese was eated by the dog
|
|
|
Incorrect
|
The cheese was eating by the dog
|
|
|
Correct
|
The cheese was eaten by the dog
|
What
is passive voice?
Passive
sentences have the same meaning as simple (active voice) sentences, but with
(1) a change the order of subject & object, (2) the addition of an
auxiliary, usually get or be, (3) a change in verb form, and
(4) the addition of by or another preposition before the agent
noun
or sometimes the omission of the agent.
Example
(Active):
|
The dog ate the cheese.
|
Example
(Passive):
|
The cheese was eaten by the dog.
|
Example
(Passive):
|
The cheese was eaten.
|
Links:
Active /
Passive Verb Forms
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43; 88-97
In Eye on Editing
2, see pages 37-40; 124
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 68-92; 169
Next
article
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Wrong verb form with a perfect tense
A perfect tense verb is formed by combining a form of have with
a past participle.
|
|
La
Caverna da Pedra Pintada (Painted Rock Cave) has draw
attention in archaeological circles.
|
|
|
La
Caverna da Pedra Pintada (Painted Rock Cave) has drawing
attention in archaeological circles.
|
|
|
La Caverna
da Pedra Pintada (Painted Rock Cave) has drawed attention in
archaeological circles.
|
|
|
La
Caverna da Pedra Pintada (Painted Rock Cave) has drawn
attention in archaeological circles.
|
Further
Reading:
In Writing Clearly:
An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 167
Next
article
Footnotes
Back
to top
Wrong
verb form with a verbal complement
Further
Reading:
In Writing Clearly:
An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 145-147
Links:
Gerund or Infinitive
Gerund Phrase
Infinitive Phrase
Next
article
Footnotes
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Wrong verb form
with a verbal modifier
Further
Reading:
In Writing Clearly:
An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 29-43
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 167
Next
article
Footnotes
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Verb
Tenses and Time Meanings
Most
of us are aware that the systems of verb tense and aspect are used to covey
time meanings, such as past, present, and future. However, many English
learners (and some native speakers) are unaware that there are many more time
meanings than just these three. And, in fact, over the centuries the system
has been stretched to convey many more meanings than just time.
The
result is that we have a system in which present tense does not always mean
present time, past tense often does not mean past time, and learners of
standard English may feel like throwing up their hands in frustration!
This
is the reason why I have chosen to organize the following verb chart
according to meanings, rather than forms.
If
you are trying to revise a verb tense error, look at the descriptions of
meaning or function (in the left column) and choose the one that most closely
matches the meaning you are trying to express.
|
|
Tense
|
|
Use the Present Continuous with Continuous Verbs to
express the idea that something is happening now
|
Present
Continuous
Why aren't you doing your homework?
|
|
Now
(Non-Continuous Verbs)
Sometimes speakers use the Simple Present to express
the idea that an action is happening or is not happening now. This can only
be done with Non-continuous Verbs
and certain Mixed Verbs.
It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs
cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous
meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses.
|
Simple Present
He needs help right now.
She is loving chocolate.
= Not Correct
She loves chocolate.
= Correct
|
|
The Simple Present can also indicate the speaker believes
that a fact was true before, is true now, and will be true in the future. It
is not important if the speaker is correct about the fact.
|
Simple
Present
New York is a small city. (It is not important
that this fact is untrue.)
|
|
Use the Simple Present to express the idea that an action
is repeated or usual. The action can be a habit, a hobby, a daily event, a
scheduled event or something that often happens.
|
Simple
Present
She always forgets her purse.
|
|
In English, now can mean "this second,"
"today," "this month," "this year,"
"this century" and so on. Sometimes we use the Present Continuous
to say that we are in the process of doing a longer action which is in
progress; however, we might not be doing it at this exact second.
|
Present
Continuous
Are you working on any special projects at work?
|
|
Repetition and
Irritation with "Always" (in the present)
The Present Continuous with words such as
"always" or "constantly" expresses the idea that
something irritating or shocking often happens. Notice that the meaning is
like Simple Present but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words
"always" or "constantly" between "be" and
"verb+ing."
|
Present
Continuous
He is constantly talking. I wish he would shut
up.
|
|
Repetition and Irritation with
"Always" (in the past)
The Past Continuous with words such as always or
constantly expresses the idea that something irritating or shocking often
happened in the past. The concept is very similar to the expression used to
but with negative emotion. Remember to put the words always or constantly
between "be" and "verb+ing."
|
Past
Continuous
I didn't like them because they were always
complaining.
|
|
Use the Simple Past to express the idea that an action
started and finished at a specific time in the past. Sometimes the speaker
may not actually mention the specific time, but they do have one specific
time in mind.
|
Simple
Past
Last year, I traveled to Japan.
|
|
We use the Simple Past to list a series of completed
actions in the past.
|
Simple
Past
I finished work, walked
to the beach, and found a nice place to swim.
|
|
The Simple Past can be used with a duration which
starts and stops in the past. A duration is a long action often used with
expressions like "for two years," "for five minutes,"
"all day" or "all year."
|
Simple Past
Shauna studied Japanese for five years.
|
|
The Simple Past can also be used to describe a habit
which stopped in the past. It can have the same meaning as "used
to".
|
Simple
Past
They never went to school; they always skipped.
|
|
Use the Past Continuous to indicate that a longer
action in the past was interrupted. The interruption is usually an action
in the Simple Past. Remember this can be a real interruption or just an
interruption in time.
|
Past Continuous
While John was sleeping last night, someone
stole his car.
|
|
In USE 1, described above, the Past Continuous is
interrupted by an action in the Simple Past. However, you can also use a
specific time as an interruption.
|
Past Continuous
At midnight, we were still driving
through the desert.
|
|
When you use the Past Continuous with two actions in
the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions were happening
at the same time.
|
Past
Continuous
While Ellen was reading, Tim was watching
television.
|
|
In English we often use a series of Parallel Actions to
describe atmosphere in the past.
|
Past
Continuous
When I walked into the office, the boss was yelling,
and customers were waiting to be helped.
|
|
In English we often use a series of parallel actions to
describe atmosphere in the future.
|
Future
Continuous
I am going to be studying while he is making
dinner.
|
|
It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs
cannot be used in any continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous
meanings for mixed verbs cannot be used in continuous tenses. To express
the idea of past continuous with these verbs, you must use simple past.
|
Do
Not Use Past Continuous
Jane was being at my house when you arrived.
= Not Correct
Jane was at my house when you arrived.
= Correct
|
|
Unspecified
Time Before Now
We use the Present Perfect to say that an action happened
at an unspecified time before now. The exact time is not important. We CAN
use the Present Perfect with expressions like "ever,"
"never," "once," "many times," "several
times," "before," "so far," "already"
and "yet."
|
Present
Perfect
I have seen that movie twenty times.
Has there ever been a war in the United States?
|
|
Specified Time
Before Now
You CANNOT use the Present Perfect with time
expressions such as "yesterday," "one year ago,"
"last week," "when I was a child," "when I lived in
Japan," "at that moment," "that day" or "one
day."
|
Do
Not Use Present Perfect
|
|
We use the Present Perfect Continuous to show that
something started in the past and has continued up until now. "For
five minutes", "for two weeks", and "since
Tuesday" are all durations which can be used with the Present Perfect
Continuous.
|
Present Perfect
Continuous
She has been working at that company for three
years.
|
|
You can use the Present Perfect Continuous WITHOUT a
duration such as "for five minutes", "for two weeks",
and "since Tuesday". Without the durations, the this tense gives
a more general meaning of "lately". We often use the words
"lately" or "recently" in the sentence to strengthen
this meaning.
|
Present Perfect
Continuous
Mary has been feeling a little depressed.
|
Non-Continuous Verbs/ Mixed Verbs
It is important to remember that non-continuous verbs cannot be used in any
continuous tenses. Also, certain non-continuous meanings for mixed verbs
cannot be used in continuous tenses. To express the idea of Present Perfect
Continuous with these exception verbs, you must use Present Perfect.
|
Present Perfect
Continuous
Sam has been having his car for two years. = Not
Correct
Sam has had his car for two years. = Correct
|
|
The Past Perfect expresses the idea that something
occurred before another action in the past. It can also show that something
happened before a specific time in the past.
|
Past
Perfect
I had never seen a truly beautiful beach
until I went to Kauai.
|
|
Duration Before
Something in the Past
(Non-continuous
Verbs)
With Non-continuous Verbs and some non-continuous uses
of Mixed Verbs, we use the Past Perfect to show that something started in
the past and continued up until another action in the past.
If the Past Perfect action did occur at a specific
time, the Simple Past can be used instead of the Past Perfect when before
or after is used in the sentence. The words before and after actually tell
you what happens first so the Past Perfect is optional. Both sentences
below are correct.
However: if the Past Perfect action did not happen at a
specific time, Past Perfect must be used.
|
Past Perfect
We had had that car for ten years before it
broke down.
We had that car for ten years before it broke
down.
She never saw a bear before she moved to Alaska.
= Not Correct
She had never seen a bear before she
moved to Alaska.
= Correct
|
|
We use the Past Perfect Continuous to show that
something started in the past and continued up until another time in the
past. "For five minutes" and "for two weeks" are both
durations which can be used with the Past Perfect Continuous. Notice that
this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous; however, the duration
does not continue until now.
|
Past Perfect
Continuous
She had been working at that company for three
years when it went out of business.
|
Using the Past Perfect Continuous before another action
in the past is a good way to show cause and effect.
|
Past
Perfect Continuous
Sam gained weight because he had been overeating.
|
|
Using the Future Perfect Continuous before another
action in the future is a good way to show cause and effect.
|
Future
Perfect Continuous
Jason will be tired when he gets home because he
will have been jogging for over an hour.
|
|
Sometimes, speakers use the Present Continuous to
indicate that something will or will not happen in the near future
|
Present
Continuous
I am meeting some friends after work.
|
|
Scheduled Time in the Future
|
Simple
Present
I have English class at 1:00.
|
|
Voluntary
Action in the future; a Promise
|
Will
I will never help him.
|
|
|
Be going to
He is going to meet Jane tonight.
|
|
|
Be going to
It looks like it is going to rain tonight.
|
|
Like all future forms, the Simple Future cannot be used
in clauses beginning with "when", "while",
"before", "after", "by the time," "as
soon as," "if" and "unless."
|
Do
Not
Use Future
As soon as I graduate, I am going to
spend a year in India.
|
|
Use the Future Continuous to indicate that a longer
action in the future will be interrupted.
|
Future
Continuous
While I am working, Steve will make dinner.
|
|
As described above, the Future Continuous is
interrupted by an action in the Simple Future. However, you can also use a
specific time as an interruption. atmosphere in the future.
|
Future
Continuous
At midnight tonight, we will still be driving
through the desert.
|
|
When you use the Future Continuous with two actions in
the same sentence, it expresses the idea that both actions will be
happening at the same time.
|
Future
Continuous
I am going to be studying while he is making
dinner.
.
|
The Future Perfect expresses the idea that something will occur
before another action in the future. It can also show that something will happen
before a specific time in the future.
|
Future Perfect
By the time he gets home, she is going to have cleaned
the entire house.
|
|
Duration Before Something in the Future (Non-continuous
Verbs)
With non-continuous verbs and some non-continuous uses
of mixed verbs, we use the Future Perfect to show that something will
continue up until another action in the future.
|
Future Perfect
I will have been in London for six months by the time I leave.
|
|
We use the Future Perfect Continuous to show that
something will continue up until a particular event or time in the future.
"For five minutes," "for two weeks" and "since
Friday" are all durations which can be used with the Future Perfect
Continuous. Notice that this is related to the Present Perfect Continuous
and the Past Perfect Continuous, however the duration stops in the future.
|
Future
Perfect Continuous
James will have been teaching at the University
for more than a year by the time he leaves for Asia.
|
Links:
Types & Tenses of
Verbs
Using
Verb Tenses
Past
Tenses in Sequence
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Verb tense, part 2
Modal in the
wrong tense
Modal verbs have present and past
forms. Note that the past forms of modals do not always mean past time.
However, it could be that you are using a modal in a way that inappropriately
shows the wrong time meaning. The chart of modals below shows their present
and past forms.
|
present
|
past
|
|
|
could
|
|
shall
|
should
|
|
will
|
would
|
|
may
|
might
|
Examples:
|
present
|
Jason tells
me that he can study with us tonight.
|
|
|
Jason told
me that he could study with us tonight.
|
Links:
Types & Tenses of
Verbs
Using
Verb Tenses
Past
Tenses in Sequence
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 54-55
In Read, Write,
Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 160
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 2-11
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article
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Verb tense, part 3
Wrong tense in a
conditional clause
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 76-80
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 115-121
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 72-75
Next
article
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Verb
tense, part 4
Wrong Verb Tense with a Quoted
or Paraphrased Source
Use the present tense to
make generalizations about your topic or the views of scholars:
Correct: The
two Indus artifacts provide insight
into ancient Hindu culture.
Correct:
Marxist historians argue that class conflict shapes political affairs.
Correct: At
the end of the chorus, the sopranos repeat the main theme.
Use the present tense to cite an
author or another source (except in science writing, where past tense is
used).
Correct: The
Universal Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 reflects the idealism of the
Second World War.
Correct: The
historian Donna Harsch states that "Social Democrats tried to prevent
the triumph of Nazism in order to save the republic and democracy" (3).
(Note: whether or not the author
is still living is not relevant to selection of tense.)
Use the past tense to
describe actions or states of being that occurred exclusively in the
past:
Correct:
Hemingway drew on his experiences in World War I in constructing the
character of Jake Barnes.
Correct: We completed
the interviews in January, 2001
Present and Past Tense Together
At times you will use both
present and past tense to show shifts between time relationships. Use
present tense for those ideas/observations that are considered timeless and
past tense for actions occurring in the past:
Correct: The Padshahnama is
an ancient manuscript owned by the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. This
manuscript details the history of Shah-Jahan, the Muslim ruler who commissioned
the building of the Taj Mahal. (Webb et al., 134)
Correct:
Flynn (1999) concluded that high school students are more
likely to smoke cigarettes if they have a parent who smokes.
Correct:
Simon (2000) observed that neutered cats spend less time
stalking their prey.
Writing about Literature
Use the present tense to describe
fictional events that occur in the text:
Correct: In Miltons
Paradise Lost, Satan tempts Eve in the form of a serpent.
Correct:
Voltaires Candide encounters numerous misfortunes throughout his
travels.
Also use the present
tense to report your interpretations and the interpretations of other
sources:
Correct:
Odysseus represents the archetypal epic hero.
Correct:
Flannagan suggests that Satan is the protagonist of Paradise
Lost.
Use the past tense to explain
historical context or elements of the author's life that occurred exclusively
in the past:
Correct:
Hemingway drew on his experiences in World War I in constructing the
character of Jake Barnes.
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 4-21
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Conditional, part 1
English
conditional sentences usually consist of a condition clause and a result
clause.
Example:
|
condition clause
|
result clause
|
|
If Nathan were
my boss...
|
...
this job would be intolerable.
|
We
use verb tenses and modals in special ways in condition clauses and result
clauses. In conditional sentences, these tenses and modals do not mean the
same thing as they would in an ordinary, non-conditional sentence. The rules for constructing conditional
sentences are not the same as for ordinary, non-conditional sentences.
There
are several types of conditional. Observe the following chart:
|
For
this meaning:
|
Use this tense:
|
True Facts, Generalizations, or Repeated Actions in a Condition
Clause (Present Real Conditional)
The
Present Real Conditional is used to talk about what you normally do in
real-life situations.
|
Simple Present
If I have time, I study English.
(Sometimes I have time.)
|
True Results of True Facts, Generalizations, or
Repeated Actions (Present Real Conditional)
|
Simple Present
If I have time, I study English.
(Sometimes I have time.)
|
|
True Past Habits or Completed Actions in a Condition
Clause (Past Real Conditional)
The
Past Real Conditional describes what you used to do in particular real life
situations. It suggests that your habits have changed and you do not
usually do these things today.
|
Simple Past
If I had time, I studied English.
(Sometimes I had time.)
|
|
True Results of True Past Habits or Completed
Actions (Past Real Conditional)
|
Simple Past
If I had time, I studied English.
(Sometimes I had time.)
|
|
True Future States or Actions in a Condition Clause (Future
Real Conditional)
The Future Real
Conditional describes what you think you will do in a specific situation in
the future. It is different from other real conditional forms because,
unlike the present or the past, you do not know what will happen in the
future. Although this form is called a real
conditional, you are usually imagining or guessing about the
future. It is called real because it is
still possible that the action might occur in the future.
|
Simple Present
If I have time, I will study English.
If I have time, I am going to study English.
(I dont know if I
will have time or not.)
|
|
Expected results of Expected Future
States or Actions (Future Real Conditional)
|
Simple Future
Will or Be going to
If I have time, I will study English.
If I have time, I am going to study English.
(I don't know if I will have time or not.)
|
|
Untrue Facts, Generalizations, or
Repeated Actions in a Condition Clause (Present Unreal Conditional)
The Present Unreal Conditional is used to talk about
what you would do in imaginary situations in general.
|
Simple Past
If I had time, I would study English.
(I don't have time.)
|
|
Were to
can be used in the present to emphasize that the Conditional form is extremely
unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form is only
used in the If Clause.
|
Were to + Base
If Nathan were to be my
boss, this job would be intolerable.
(Nathans being my boss is a horrible
concept.)
|
|
Untrue Factual, Habitual, or Repeated
Results of Untrue Facts, Generalizations, or Repeated Actions (Present Unreal
Conditional)
|
Would + Base
If I had time, I would study English.
(I don't have time.)
|
|
Untrue situations which could be happening now in a Condition
Clause
The Present Unreal Conditional + Continuous is used to
discuss imaginary situations which could be happening at this very moment.
|
Were
+ -ing Participle
If the wind were blowing, we would be
able to go sailing.
|
|
Untrue Past Habits or Completed Actions in a Condition
Clause (Past Unreal Conditional)
The Past Unreal Conditional is used to talk about
imaginary situations in the past. You can describe what you would have done
differently or how something could have happened differently if
circumstances had been different.
|
Past Perfect
If I had had time, I would have studied English.
(I didnt have time.)
|
|
Were to
can be used in the past to emphasize that the Conditional form is extremely
unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form is only
used in the If Clause.
|
If the fire were to have destroyed the building, it
would have been a tragic cultural loss.
|
|
Untrue Results of Untrue Past Habits or Completed Actions
(Past Unreal Conditional)
|
Would have + -t/d/n Participle
If I had had time, I would have studied English.
(I didnt have time.)
|
|
Untrue Future States or Actions in a Condition Clause
(Future Unreal Conditional)
The Future Unreal Conditional is used to talk about
imaginary situations in the future. It is not as common as the Future Real
Conditional because most English speakers leave open the possibility that
anything MIGHT happen in the future. It is only used when a speaker needs
to emphasize that something is impossible.
|
Simple Past
If I had time, I would study
English.
(I wont have time.)
|
|
Were to
can be used in the future to emphasize that the Conditional form is
extremely unlikely or unthinkably horrible. Notice that this special form
is only used in the If Clause
|
If I were to lose my job, I would probably not find a
new one quickly.
(Losing my job would be terrible.)
|
|
Untrue Future Plans/Predictions in a Condition Clause
(Future Unreal Conditional)
Use this form rather than the previous
form to emphasize that the Conditional form is a plan or prediction in the
same way Present Continuous or the Going To Future is used to indicate a
plan or prediction.
|
Were + -ing Participle or
Were going to + Base
If I were going to go to
Fiji next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with me.
If I were going to Fiji
next week, I would be taking my scuba diving gear with me.
|
|
Untrue Results of Untrue Future States or Actions
(Future Unreal Conditional)
|
Would + Base
If I had time, I would study English.
(I wont have time.)
|
|
Untrue parallel future actions in a Condition
Clause
Future Unreal
Conditional + Continuous can be used like the Future Continuous in imaginary
situations to emphasize interruptions or parallel actions in the future.
|
Were
+ -ing Participle
If I were waiting there next week when he gets off the
plane, he would be totally surprised.
(But I will not be waiting there, so he wont be surprised.)
|
|
Untrue actions happening over a period of past time in a Result
Clause
Past Unreal Conditional + Continuous is used to discuss
imaginary situations happening over a period of time in the past.
|
Would have been + -ing Participle
If you had gone to his house last night, he would
have been sitting on his couch in front of the TV.
|
|
Untrue parallel past actions in a Condition Clause
Past Unreal Conditional + Continuous is used to discuss
imaginary situations happening at a very specific time in the past in the
past.
|
Had been + -ing Participle
If he had been standing near the house when the wall
collapsed, it would have killed him.
|
Links:
The
English Conditional
The Five
Types of Conditional
Present
Conditional
Past
Conditional
Future
Conditional
Continuous
Conditional
Mixed
Conditional
Were to
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 76-80
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 115-121
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 72-75
Next
article
Footnotes
Back
to top
Modal, part 1
Try using a modal
here
Modal verbs are can,
could, will, would, shall, should, may, might and must. They often
express attitudes about frequency, probability, or urgency. If you are expressing
these meanings with adverbs or other words, your language could b made more
concise with modals.
Less effective:
It probably
will rain.
More effective:
It may
rain.
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 50-61
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 160, 168
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 2-11
Next
article
Footnotes
Back
to top
Modal, part 2
Wrong choice of modal
You may be using a modal in the wrong way, or choosing
the wrong modal. Use this reference chart to match each modal or modal-like
expression to its meaning. For more meanings and examples, click on a word or
expression.
|
modal
|
meaning or
function
|
|
can
|
ability
permission
requesting assistance
|
|
could
|
ability
requesting assistance
|
|
may
|
possibility
permission
|
|
might
|
possibility
|
|
must
|
probability
necessity
making inferences
|
|
must not
|
prohibition
|
|
shall
|
invitation
|
|
should
|
advisability
|
|
will
|
requesting
assistance
|
|
would
|
requesting assistance
|
|
modal-like
expression
|
meaning or
function
|
|
had better
|
advisability
|
|
have to
|
necessity
|
|
do not have to
|
lack of
necessity
|
|
have got to
|
necessity
|
|
let's
|
making
suggestions
|
|
why don't
|
making
suggestions
|
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 50-61
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 160
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 2-11
Next
article
Footnotes
Back
to top
Wrong modal in a
conditional clause
Further
Reading:
In Writing
Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 76-80
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see pages 115-121
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 72-75
Next
article
Footnotes
Back
to top
Wrong verb form
after a modal
The main verb
after a modal verbcan, could, will, would, shall,
should, may, might, or mustappears
only in the base form.
|
Incorrect:
|
Too much UV
exposure can to cause skin cancer.
|
|
|
|
|
Incorrect:
|
Too much UV
exposure can causing skin cancer.
|
|
|
|
|
Incorrect:
|
Too much UV
exposure can causes skin cancer.
|
|
|
|
|
Incorrect:
|
Too much UV
exposure can caused skin cancer.
|
|
|
|
|
Correct:
|
Too much UV
exposure can cause skin cancer.
|
Further
Reading:
In Writing Clearly: An Editing Guide (2nd edition), see pages 54-55
In Read,
Write, Edit: Grammar for College Writers, see page 167
In Eye on
Editing 2, see pages 2-11
Footnotes
Back
to top
|
|
Topics:
Agreement
Clauses
Coherence
Collocations
Format
Meaning
Mechanics
Nouns/Pronouns
Organizing
Parallelism
Passive
Prepositions
Quoting
Sentence
Verbs
Words
|
