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Jul 3, 2019 · In English grammar, defective verb is a traditional term for a verb that doesn't exhibit all the typical forms of a conventional verb. English modal verbs (can, could, may, might, must, ought, shall, should, will, and would) are defective in that they lack distinctive third-person singular and nonfinite forms.
- Richard Nordquist
By a "defective" verb, I mean a verb that lacks certain forms completely. For instance, the verb "to go" is irregular because some forms don't match the patterns for other English verbs, most notably the "went" form, which derives from a completely different verb.
May is a modal verb, so it is "defective" in that it does not have the usual infinitive with "to". Might is a past-tense form of may — though, as Wikipedia puts it, it has "acquired an independent, present tense meaning".
In linguistics, a defective verb is a verb that either lacks a conjugated form or entails incomplete conjugation, and thus cannot be conjugated for certain grammatical tenses, aspects, persons, genders, or moods that the majority of verbs or a "normal" or regular verb in a particular language can be conjugated for [citation needed]. That is to ...
Defective Verbs A Defective Verb is one that is not used in all the Moods and Tenses as, must, ought and quoth. Auxiliary Verbs = Helping Verbs An Auxiliary Verb is one which helps to form the Moods and Tenses of other verbs. The auxiliary verbs are - shall, may, can, must, be, do, have and will. Remarks on The Auxiliary Verbs 1. These are ...
English Grammar Modals vs Defective Verbs. Modals are also called Defective Verbs. The term Defective Verbs is used for those verbs which are defective in form. A defective Verb cannot be used in all the MOODS and TENSES. They can be used only in the Simple Present and Simple Past Tense. People also read:
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from English Grammar Today. May: forms. Affirmative (+) form. May comes first in the verb phrase (after the subject and before another verb): It may be possible for him to get home tonight. May can’t be used with another modal verb: This may hurt you. Not: This may could hurt you. or This could may hurt you. Negative (−) form.
