Tough Writing Questions

Disneyguy
Sun, 04 May 2008 18:36:55 +0000

^ Are you serious?
I love you. (I know this is really superficial… but I really do if you’re correct!)

However, I have a question… you CAN put someone ‘needs’ not apply but you can’t put someone ‘cans’ or ‘mays’ not apply…
I’m confused now.



Haha, thanks. The confusing thing with the word “need” is that it functions sometimes as a main verb and sometimes as an auxiliary. For example:

“He needs a glass of water” is correct and “He needs not a glass of water” is not correct. In this case, “need” is the main verb.

In cases where “need” functions as the auxiliary verb, then “needs” will never be used, in the way that “cans” and “mays” also are never used. “Can” and “May” ALWAYS function as auxiliary verbs.