Thread: auxiliary
View Single Post
  #6 (permalink)  
Old 21-May-2008, 18:36
Clark Clark is offline
Senior Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2008
Country: Russian Federation
Posts: 942
Current Location: Moscow
First Language: Russian
Member Type: Academic
Thanks: 183
Thanked 228 Times in 209 Posts
Clark has a spectacular aura aboutClark has a spectacular aura aboutClark has a spectacular aura about
Default Re: auxiliary

I think it depends upon which criterion you are using to single out modal verbs - formal or semantic. In terms of form 'have to' is a regular verb since it has a whole paradigm of finite forms, but in terms of meaning it is definitely a modal verb as it expresses a speaker's attitude to an event.
Reply With Quote