I am lost for a definitive answer to give my students as to when to use which of these verbs when forming questions, the texts I have access to are not clear enough... help.
Brian
is, do, or can???
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LarryLatham
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- Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2003 6:33 pm
- Location: Aguanga, California (near San Diego)
[i]Is, do or can[/i]
Hi Brian,
A thoughtful and helpful post on this subject would just take too much room, and probably be boring at that.
But I'll give you a reference that'll clear it up for you pretty well.
The English Verb
by
Michael Lewis
Pub LTP, London (about 1993, I think)
Absolutely the most revealing resource about verbs and how they actually work that I've ever come across. He does address your question in the section on the use of modals and in a special section on the use of "do". Good luck.
Larry Latham
A thoughtful and helpful post on this subject would just take too much room, and probably be boring at that.
But I'll give you a reference that'll clear it up for you pretty well.
The English Verb
by
Michael Lewis
Pub LTP, London (about 1993, I think)
Absolutely the most revealing resource about verbs and how they actually work that I've ever come across. He does address your question in the section on the use of modals and in a special section on the use of "do". Good luck.
Larry Latham
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john martin
- Posts: 43
- Joined: Mon Jan 20, 2003 11:12 am
is
The is part can be tricky, but at elementary level you could tell them it is used in questions with adjectives or to ask about current states. "Is it blue?". "Is it raining?"
For do you could say that it is used with verbs. "Do you walk to school?"
Can is used for requests or ability. "Can I go to the toilet?"
"Can you swim?"
These are by no means definitive exlanaitions, and I agree with Larry that you should look up Swan's book, or another of his titles, "Practical English Usage".
For do you could say that it is used with verbs. "Do you walk to school?"
Can is used for requests or ability. "Can I go to the toilet?"
"Can you swim?"
These are by no means definitive exlanaitions, and I agree with Larry that you should look up Swan's book, or another of his titles, "Practical English Usage".
A stupid question!
Hi ! I'm kind of confused about two questions . Are they grammatically right or wrong ? I think they're valid enough but one of my colleagues marked them wrong . Please enlighten me !
1. What are you going to do in the holiday ?
2. Where have you been to in the holiday ?
1. What are you going to do in the holiday ?
2. Where have you been to in the holiday ?
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LarryLatham
- Posts: 1195
- Joined: Thu Jan 16, 2003 6:33 pm
- Location: Aguanga, California (near San Diego)
Hello Faith,
Your question is certainly not stupid! In fact, no question about English use or grammar put here at Dave's ESL Cafe, if sincerely requested, can be stupid. It is easy enough for we native-speaker teachers to become confused, and quite understandable that other people will have questions of all sorts.
The sample sentences you submitted above are both correct in all respects, as far as I can tell, with regard to the rules of English grammar. However, there is a likely problem with both of them. The phrase "in the holiday" seems unusual to me. Now, I've been around long enough to know that just because something seems unusual to me, does not mean it is wrong or even unusual in the language. It merely means it is not commonly used where I am located. I have never encountered it before, used in this way. Perhaps other readers have.
Presumably, the sentences are meant to be regarded as spoken English, that is, somebody is supposed to say these sentences to another person. They are not, I am guessing, intended to be written. If that is the case, then I suspect most English speakers would refer to your holiday (meaning the listener's), rather than the holiday, as is written in your post. In addition, I also suspect most American speakers would say on your holiday (or even more likely: on your vacation) rather than in your holiday. British speakers, indeed perhaps most European speakers of English, might use the in your holiday phrase, but we should let them comment on that.
So, the first sentence would probably be rendered (by Americans) as:
1. What are you going to do on your vacation?
The other sentence, while not grammatically incorrect as it stands, is nevertheless likely to be regarded as awkward. Most likely, a native (American) speaker would say:
2. Where did you go on your vacation?
I hope this helps you, Faith. Perhaps you can see why your colleague marked them wrong, but can also see why you think they are OK. You are both right!
Larry Latham
Your question is certainly not stupid! In fact, no question about English use or grammar put here at Dave's ESL Cafe, if sincerely requested, can be stupid. It is easy enough for we native-speaker teachers to become confused, and quite understandable that other people will have questions of all sorts.
The sample sentences you submitted above are both correct in all respects, as far as I can tell, with regard to the rules of English grammar. However, there is a likely problem with both of them. The phrase "in the holiday" seems unusual to me. Now, I've been around long enough to know that just because something seems unusual to me, does not mean it is wrong or even unusual in the language. It merely means it is not commonly used where I am located. I have never encountered it before, used in this way. Perhaps other readers have.
Presumably, the sentences are meant to be regarded as spoken English, that is, somebody is supposed to say these sentences to another person. They are not, I am guessing, intended to be written. If that is the case, then I suspect most English speakers would refer to your holiday (meaning the listener's), rather than the holiday, as is written in your post. In addition, I also suspect most American speakers would say on your holiday (or even more likely: on your vacation) rather than in your holiday. British speakers, indeed perhaps most European speakers of English, might use the in your holiday phrase, but we should let them comment on that.
So, the first sentence would probably be rendered (by Americans) as:
1. What are you going to do on your vacation?
The other sentence, while not grammatically incorrect as it stands, is nevertheless likely to be regarded as awkward. Most likely, a native (American) speaker would say:
2. Where did you go on your vacation?
I hope this helps you, Faith. Perhaps you can see why your colleague marked them wrong, but can also see why you think they are OK. You are both right!
Larry Latham
holidays
A quick comment, then, from a speaker of British English..British speakers, indeed perhaps most European speakers of English, might use the in your holiday phrase, but we should let them comment on that.
You could say, "in the holidays" if you mean a period of several free days. If, on the other hand, you mean one free day (what we call a 'public holiday' or 'bank holiday' over here), you would have to say, "on the holiday", as in "on New Year's Day" or "on Monday", etc. Yet another variation: it is also common here to say, "on your holidays" or "on your holiday" to mean "on your vacation".
The use of the present perfect in the second sentence is still inappropriate though.
In regards to Is, do or can?
I work in Japan and as an introduction to young students when they first begin making questions I teach them there are 2 types of verbs, be verbs and do verbs. In the be verb column you have is, am, and are. In the do verb column you have everything else. When making a question with be verbs you change the subject /verb order. With do verbs, you place do in front of the subject. Then I just have the Ss find the verbs in sentences and put the verbs in the proper columns to start. Afterwards, we work with some sentences forming questions.
This is a very simplified explanation, because I work with elementary and JHS students that have not learned any of this terminology (subject, verb, noun, adjective, etc.) or grammar in their native language. I teach this from the very beginning and review it constantly. When we come to 'can,' I tell them that Can (and his friends Must, Could, Would, Should and gang) all like the be verb rules better. They have sort of a problem with Do. (Can you tell I teach a lot of children?)
Even when working with adults who are already completely lost and confused, this simple explanation will straighten them out for a bit.
I hope that helps.
- Mark Cox
www.mes-english.com
I work in Japan and as an introduction to young students when they first begin making questions I teach them there are 2 types of verbs, be verbs and do verbs. In the be verb column you have is, am, and are. In the do verb column you have everything else. When making a question with be verbs you change the subject /verb order. With do verbs, you place do in front of the subject. Then I just have the Ss find the verbs in sentences and put the verbs in the proper columns to start. Afterwards, we work with some sentences forming questions.
This is a very simplified explanation, because I work with elementary and JHS students that have not learned any of this terminology (subject, verb, noun, adjective, etc.) or grammar in their native language. I teach this from the very beginning and review it constantly. When we come to 'can,' I tell them that Can (and his friends Must, Could, Would, Should and gang) all like the be verb rules better. They have sort of a problem with Do. (Can you tell I teach a lot of children?)
Even when working with adults who are already completely lost and confused, this simple explanation will straighten them out for a bit.
I hope that helps.
- Mark Cox
www.mes-english.com
Not to bog you down in possibilities, but in English, anything you say could be said in amny other ways.
Another alternative for the 'holidays' question is:
What will you do during the holidays?
(Holidays denotes an extended period of time. During makes the time inclusive)
Where did you travel during teh holidays?
(same rules as above)
This is what we ask in my part of America.
Another alternative for the 'holidays' question is:
What will you do during the holidays?
(Holidays denotes an extended period of time. During makes the time inclusive)
Where did you travel during teh holidays?
(same rules as above)
This is what we ask in my part of America.
Not to bog you down in possibilities, but in English, anything you say could be said in amny other ways.
Another alternative for the 'holidays' question is:
What will you do during the holidays?
(Holidays denotes an extended period of time. During makes the time inclusive)
Where did you travel during teh holidays?
(same rules as above)
This is what we ask in my part of America.
Another alternative for the 'holidays' question is:
What will you do during the holidays?
(Holidays denotes an extended period of time. During makes the time inclusive)
Where did you travel during teh holidays?
(same rules as above)
This is what we ask in my part of America.