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