Auxiliary Verbs - Modals, Tense Markers, Aspect Markers
Grammatical Properties
1. Auxiliary verbs precede the main verb.
2. Auxiliary verb tags precede the copy-subject-pronoun tag.
3. Auxiliary verbs can appear in both locations.
EVERY-MORNING MAN IX MUST DRINK COFFEE MUST HE
Auxiliary Verbs - Modals, Tense Markers, Aspect Markers
Modals
CAN
SHOULD
MUST
MAYBE
CAN’T
REFUSE
WILL
WON’T
Aspect Markers
FINISH
NOT-YET
Tense Markers
PAST
RECENT
FORMERLY
UP-TO-NOW
NOW
FUTURE
Practice signing sentences with auxiliary verbs in both locations.
Auxiliary Verbs - Modals, Tense Markers, Aspect Markers
Modals
CAN
SHOULD
MUST
MAYBE
CAN’T
REFUSE
WILL
WON’T
Possibility - e.g. MAYBE
Prediction - e.g. WILL
Permission - e.g. CAN
Ability - e.g. CAN’T
Modals indicate the attitude (modality) of the signer to the event described in the main verb.
These are in contrast to simple assertions.
Why are there different categories of auxiliary verbs?
Auxiliary Verbs - Modals, Tense Markers, Aspect Markers
Tense markers are similar to time indicators in production but they are restricted in their production and their location in a sentence.
Can you notice the difference in these two related signs in the following sentences?
Why are there different categories of auxiliary verbs?
Tense Markers
PAST
RECENT
FORMERLY
UP-TO-NOW
NOW
FUTURE
Auxiliary Verbs - Modals, Tense Markers, Aspect Markers
Aspect Markers indicate whether an event is viewed as being completed or not.
Aspect markers can stand alone, or come last if combined with other auxiliary verbs or negatives.
Example:
Why are there different categories of auxiliary verbs?
Aspect Markers
FINISH
NOT-YET
J-O-H-N MAYBE PAST NOT FINISH READ BOOK MAYBE HE
“Perhaps John had not finished reading the book.”
Auxiliary Verbs - Modals, Tense Markers, Aspect Markers
Modals
CAN
SHOULD
MUST
MAYBE
CAN’T
REFUSE
WILL
WON’T
Modals
ALWAYS
OFTEN
SOMETIMES
#RARE
NEVER
Aspect
FINISH
NOT-YET
Auxiliary
PREFER
TRY
WANT
WAIT
DESIRE
ENJOY
DON’T-WANT
Tense
PAST
RECENT
FORMERLY
UP-TO-NOW
NOW
FUTURE
Discuss in more detail for the next level.