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.
 
I [u][b]ought to[/b][/u] finish it today
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I can [u][b]speak[/b][/u] Italian
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Could[/b][/u] you open the door?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
They are
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Do[/b][/u] you like it?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She lives near my house
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You don't [u][b]work[/b][/u] here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You should [u][b]go[/b][/u] to the doctor
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Would you [u][b]like[/b][/u] a cake?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I am
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]should[/b][/u] go to the doctor
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
It [u][b]may[/b][/u] rain tomorrow
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]'ve[/b][/u] worked a lot
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]have[/b][/u] lived in Rome
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I have a book
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Would[/b][/u] you like a cake?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You are
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]might[/b][/u] get one
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I will [u][b]go[/b][/u] to London tomorrow
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Sorry, I [u][b]must[/b][/u] go
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]ought to[/b][/u] study more
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She [u][b]couldn't[/b][/u] help me
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]May[/b][/u] I come in?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]will[/b][/u] go to London tomorrow
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I go to school
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]work[/b][/u] on Tuesdays
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Do you [u][b]live[/b][/u] in Dorset?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She [u][b]doesn't[/b][/u] live here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She has a sister
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]must[/b][/u] wait here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She gets up at 7
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
They [u][b]don't[/b][/u] know you
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
I [u][b]can[/b][/u] speak Italian
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[b][u]Did[/b][/u] she go to Rome?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You [u][b]'ve[/b][/u] got a car
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
Did she [u][b]go[/b][/u] to Rome?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
[u][b]Shall[/b][/u] we go to the cinema?
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
You must [u][b]wait[/b][/u] here
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
She [u][b]might[/b][/u] be late
A- NORMAL
B- SPECIAL
He is
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