This question already outlines what the syntactic differences between “need not” and “do not need to” are. However, a discussion unfolded below this answer about the following quote from this document: […] In order to cause [the] preprocessor to be invoked, it is necessary that the very first line of the program begin with #. … Read more
Yesterday i was texting my grandma, and one of the things I said was: Nothing much going on down here. Were (supposed to) getting lobster rolls from Masons since its National Lobster Day. Now, my question is would I say get or getting in the sentence. Saying "Were getting lobster" is right, and saying were … Read more
Provided “should” and “had better” are near synonyms (stronger advice in “had better” than in “should” or in more formal “ought to”), I know I can say You shouldn’t have done this! But how about You had better not have done this! ? Answer as Peter Shor points out, you can say either of them, … Read more
All normal verbs can be conjugated in the future tense. e.g. I know, I will know. I do, I will do. But I have noticed that we cannot conjugate the modal verb can in the future tense. can, I will can? Although we are able to conjugate the phrase be able (that has approximately the … Read more
Speaking of a company’s age requirement, a) To apply for the job, the candidate must have been born on or before 1st Jan. 2000. b) To apply for the job, the candidate has to have been born on or before 1st Jan. 2000. c) To apply for the job, the candidate had to have been … Read more
Michael Vince in "English Grammar in Context" explains in his examples "You must be careful" is a speaker’s personal opinion" while "You have to be careful" an outside opinion or rule" but with the first person there is little difference sometimes between "I have to go" and "I must go". So either can be used. … Read more
As I understand it, all the sentences are fine. I can’t understand why in the second sentence we don’t say "need only to do", but in the third we do (only need to do). Could you explain it, please? It needs (that) good people to do nothing. (need=require (an ordinary verb)) For it, good people … Read more
Would a native BrE speaker use "may/might/could/can" when talking about both personal experience and general possibility in these examples? "Earthquakes can/could/may/might be frequent/dangerous. (Generally) "Earthquakes can/could/might (not "may") be frequent/dangerous here." According to "English Grammar in Context" by Michael Vince "can" is the only option when talking about a general possibility as in sentence 1. … Read more
This exercise is from Raymond Murphy’s "English Grammar in Use". It’s about the use of "could have done." "Read this information about Ken: Ken didn’t do anything on Saturday evening. Ken doesn’t know anything about machines. Ken was free on Monday afternoon. Ken was short of money last week. Ken’s car was stolen on Monday. … Read more
I am trying to understand the grammar of the first sentence. Only the first sentence is correct but I don’t understand why the other sentences are not. "If he didn’t say "Hello", he couldn’t have seen you". "If he didn’t say "Hello", he couldn’t see you." "If he hadn’t said "Hello", he couldn’t have seen … Read more
