MULTIMEDIA-ENGLISH

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  Multiple Choice
English verbs: normal or special?
Focus Grammar
Description Special verbs and normal verbs have different sentence constructions. This easy activity will help you recognise which verbs are normal and which are special (= modals and auxiliaries)
Instructions Mark if these verbs are normal or special (= modals and auxiliaries) by clicking on the right option.
 
You [u][b]should[/b][/u] go to the doctor
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You don't [u][b]work[/b][/u] here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I am
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She [u][b]couldn't[/b][/u] help me
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
They are
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She [u][b]might[/b][/u] be late
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]ought to[/b][/u] finish it today
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Would you [u][b]like[/b][/u] a cake?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]must[/b][/u] wait here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]May[/b][/u] I come in?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You are
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Do[/b][/u] you like it?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I go to school
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]'ve[/b][/u] worked a lot
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I have a book
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I can [u][b]speak[/b][/u] Italian
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I will [u][b]go[/b][/u] to London tomorrow
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You must [u][b]wait[/b][/u] here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]have[/b][/u] lived in Rome
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]will[/b][/u] go to London tomorrow
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She gets up at 7
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
He is
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
It [u][b]may[/b][/u] rain tomorrow
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Shall[/b][/u] we go to the cinema?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Would[/b][/u] you like a cake?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]can[/b][/u] speak Italian
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Do you [u][b]live[/b][/u] in Dorset?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She lives near my house
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She [u][b]doesn't[/b][/u] live here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[b][u]Did[/b][/u] she go to Rome?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]might[/b][/u] get one
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She has a sister
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]work[/b][/u] on Tuesdays
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Sorry, I [u][b]must[/b][/u] go
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Did she [u][b]go[/b][/u] to Rome?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You should [u][b]go[/b][/u] to the doctor
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Could[/b][/u] you open the door?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]ought to[/b][/u] study more
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]'ve[/b][/u] got a car
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
They [u][b]don't[/b][/u] know you
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Total number of items: 40
This is an activity from Multimedia-English www.multimedia-english.com
 

SPECIAL VERBS They can build all the constructions of the English language.
NORMAL VERBS They can only make affirmative sentences in the present or imperative. For everything else, they need the special verb DO or another auxiliary.

Example:

special:

I can dance
I can't dance
Can you dance?

normal:

I love you
I don't love you
Do you love me?

 


There are only 13 special verbs, all the rest are normal verbs. The special verbs are:

auxiliaries: to be, have, do
modals: can/could, will/would, shall/should, may/might, must, ought to

Some special verbs (the three auxiliaries) have variations for the past, 3rd person, etc:  (to be:) am, are, is, was, were / (have:) have, has, had / (do:) do, does, did, done

Be careful with these verbs: Do, Have (special) & To do, To have (normal)

special (they don't mean anything, they only have a function):

- I don't live in London
- I have lived in Madrid

normal (the have a meaning):

- I do yoga in the morning
- I have a dog