The previous section has dealt with the choices at place x in the verbal group. In this section we consider what words can be chosen elsewhere, and in what order they appear.
First of all, very simple groups can be made with the choice of ằ only:
so that a is in place x, and there is no difference between the first and the last words in the group. Says, came, singing, hit are all examples. Towards the end of the last section there is a note about the extra choice among non- finite verbs when v and x coincide. With finite verbs there is more com- plexity: Consider these examples:
A. Polarity, Finite verbal groups choose from this system (Section 23) and the main exponent of negative is the morpheme n’t, But only verbs that we find as auxiliaries can be followed by n’f:
(1) He hasn’t come.
(2) *He sangn’t in the evening.
Sentence (2) is impossible because sang is not an auxiliary verb.
B. Interrogative. Finite verbal groups choose interrogative structures by placing an auxiliary verb in front of the subject.
(3) Has he come?
(4) *Sang he in the evening?
Sentence (4) is again impossible, since sang is not an auxiliary verb.
C. Emphasis. In English the normal way of emphasising a whole verbal group is to stress the first word, e.g. hasn’t in (5) and came in (7). Stressing other words in the group draws attention to those particular words.
(5) He dasn’t come.
(6) He hasn’t come.
(7) He came.
Sentence (7) cannot make the contrast shown in (5) versus (6).
The conclusion we must draw is that a main verb can only carry finite- ness when the group is positive and unemphatic, and the clause is declara- tive. In other cases the main verb is preceded by do, which then occupies place x in structure.
(8) He didn’t sing in the evening.
(9) Did he sing in the evening?
SECTION 24 1g!
(10) He did come.
(11) He came.
(12) He did’t come.
(13) He didn’t come.
In this usage, do is often called an auxiliary verb, and it has many of the characteristics of an auxiliary, or a modal verb. As well as the patterns shown in (8), (9) and (10), there is the important point that no word can go before do in the verbal group:
(14) He couldn’t come.
(is) *He couldn’t do come.
(16) He didn’t come.
And also that it cannot be non-finite in front ofa main verb.
(17) Having finished work, Bill went to the pub.
(18) *Doing finish work, Bill went to the pub.
(19) Finishing work, Bill went to the pub.
The only purpose of do is to occupy place x when the finite main verb is restricted in position.
This ‘special auxiliary’ do is quite different from the main verb do which is very common, and which occupies place a.
(20) I can’t do it.
(gt) John can’t tie the knot—will you do it?
(22) Ido that every morning.
Both verbs do can be compared in (23) He didn’t do it very well.
(24) *He didn’tit.
There is one major difference between the special auxiliary do and the other modal verbs: do cannot be followed by the auxiliaries have and be: it can only form verbal groups with a main verb.
(25) He hadn’t finished it.
(26) *We didn’t have finished it.
We recognise, then that do is a word which carries those grammatical systems that a simple main verb cannot carry, in verbal groups where only a main verb is chosen. So we describe do as a part of what occurs at place v in structure, not as one of the modals which occur at place m in structure.
192 VERBAL AND ADVERBIAL GROUP STRUCTURE
System at ; Function dispersal
Terms Structures Classes
f b f = finite form of do
separate
function do do = base-
form of amain verb
f f -
assimilated = a finite form of
function a main verb
v v
Exercise 24.1
Add the ‘special auxiliary’ do to as many as possible of the verbal groups in these sentences. Replace any auxiliary verb with do if you can. If you can not add do, give a reason why not.
SOO PWN
Exercise 24.2
. Madge eats an awful lot.
. Feeling a little tired, used to fall asleep, . Will you help make the beds?
. Mr Plumtree liked to run for his bus.
. These cups chip easily.
. It hasn’t been delivered this morning.
. That sort of work won’ do.
On the basis of this section so far, list the main structural characteristics of the ‘special modal’ do.
Medial Systems: Tense
So far we have seen the patterns and choices which occur at the beginning