Apuverbien tehtävä on auttaa Apuverbit toimivat rakennuspalikoina erilaisissa verbirakenteissa. I must stay at home tonight. I don’t want to upset my parents any further. Niiden paikka lauseessa ilmaisee, onko kyseessä kysymys vai väite. Do you get along with your parents? Is your Dad angry with you? Not-sanan lyhenne n’t liitetään aina apuverbiin

Kahdenlaisia apuverbejä Taipumattomat (=modaaliset) apuverbit esiintyvät verbirakenteissa vain pääverbin kanssa. I can’t call you because Mom may hear me. BE, HAVE ja DO taipuvat persoonissa ja aikamuodoissa. Ne voivat toimia myös pääverbinä. I am very upset! I once had a dog.

Modaalisilla apuverbeillä ei ole kaikkia muotoja will would shall should ought to can could may might must

Be ja have taipuvat kaikissa aikamuodoissa ja persoonissa am, are, is was, were has been, have been had been will be would be would have been should be … has, have had has had, have had had had will have would have would have had should have …

Kiertoilmaisut Koska can ja may verbeillä on vain kaksi muotoa (could ja might) ja must verbillä vain yksi muoto, on muut muodot ilmaistava muilla keinoin. Be able to (=kyetä, pystyä, osata) Myös: manage to, know how to ym. Be allowed to (=saada lupa) Myös: be permitted to Have to (=pitää, täytyä) Myös: need to, be forced to, be compelled to, be obliged to

CAN eri merkityksiä: Osata, voida, kyetä, pystyä I can’t call you until I get my new mobile.  I won’t be able to call you… 2) Saada lupa I can’t go out tonight, because I’m grounded.  I’m not allowed to go out… 3) Olla mahdollista You can’t be serious!

MAY eri merkityksiä: Saada lupa May I answer the phone, please? (lupa läsnäolijoilta) Is it allowed to use a mobile here? (yleiset säännöt) 2) Saattaa, ehkä I may be a bit late. I might pop in for a while. Huom! Maybe = ehkä (may + be yhteen!)

MUST eri merkityksiä Pitää, täytyä, olla pakko I must go now. I have to be back by eight. Varmaankin You must be fed up with your parents! Huom! Mustn’t = ei saa Don’t have to = ei tarvitse

Be able to / Be allowed to + verbin perusmuoto BE taipuu, muut osat pysyvät samoina am/are/is was/were have been / has been + ALLOWED TO / had been ABLE TO + infinitiivi will be… I haven’t been able to sleep lately. I will be allowed to stay out until eleven on Fridays.

Have to HAVE taipuu, to + verbin perusmuoto pysyy samana. have / has had have had / has had + TO + infinitiivi had had will have… Did you have to please your elders when you were young? I had to buy another ticket for my little sister.