In practice, a verb offers limited scope for agreeing with a different change of subjects in modern English (Palmer 24). For this reason, in an instance where the past tense of the verb work is used, it provides no variation to enable agreement on the subject; we/they/I/you/she/he/it worked. In English, however, the present tense of a verb to show an indication of a huge range of different subject agreement forms: I am/they are/ you/we/she/he/ it is. Traditionally, verbs have either been classified under auxiliary or main. The main verb considers operations based on the headwords or pivotal elements of a verbal phrase, for example, function, functioned is functioning, shall have been functioned. In fact, the verbal expression has in it more than a single verb word, and then the main verb is considered the rightmost element. Nevertheless, only a few auxiliary verbs are available such as do, have, be, shall, will, can and may. Evidently, auxiliary verbs characteristically co-occur together with the main verb, even though in a conversation, is possible to omit a repetition of the mentioned verb.
That said, auxiliary verbs “ought” and “used” are considered marginal modals. In that, ought to, can represent a contracted negative. For example, You oughtn’t to miss the opening, and as the section that ellipses replying the word ought can firmly standalone without the assistance of other infinitive particles, for instance, Ought to bring some food? Yes, you ought. Nevertheless, other cases, relate to people considering the infinitive particle in a rather regular and required with non-elapsed sentences such as You ought to accompany yourself with some food instead of You ought to bring some food. However, despite being used it provides an expression of the idea that one thing or the other was formerly the case –in the past, but in the present state is no longer, for example, she used to play very well. (She did play very well can express a similar meaning (provided appropriate intention) yet, to precisely do so, this should maybe be followed consequently with but not anymore.)
Different verbs have their symbols and meaning in a role akin to that of other auxiliaries but entails not merely the words and different categories as phrasal auxiliary or semi-auxiliary. In most cases, there should be the facility that enhances the combination with auxiliaries and with other semi-auxiliaries. The three verb do, be, have can accompany ought to and can also function as the main verb. When used, is considered the main verb, have and be can still be inverted with the subject to make up an interrogative. In the consideration of the ability to operate both auxiliary and main verbs together with that fact that provides a label for main and auxiliary, can be considered a functional position within a verbal phrase as a single current approach. Categorizing verb types, not as main verbs, primary auxiliary, and model auxiliary but instead, as a full verb, primary verb, and modal verbs also counts. In such circumstances, the main and auxiliary concepts are handled as structural elements within the verb phrase.
In conclusion, Standard English is a closed class of fundamental modal verbs with highly specific properties. These modal verbs trigger the implication of bare infinitives, shun the otherwise obligatory third person –s suffix, and poses no past tense forms. In addition to the class of central modals, various semi-modals have properties of both model verbs and main verbs in which, ought to and used to, are both introduced. Such modal verbs represent subgroups of a wider category of auxiliary verbs with which they share most properties.
Works Cited
Palmer, Frank Robert. Modality and the English modals. Routledge, 2014.
