Re: Auxiliary verbs

>--- In conlang@yahoogroups.com, Yahya Abdal-Aziz <yahya@...> wrote:
>I further distinguish "must" and "need", as follows:
> - you must do = you are obliged to do
> - you need to do = you are required to do
I don't understand these two in the same way.  I don't see much of a
difference between "obliged" and "required."  "Required" may have
some nuance concerning the law.  "Need to" means to me that it is in
my best interest but there is nothing compulsory about it.  If I am
visiting France I may need to learn French, but am not required to do
so.

> - you want = you lack
> - you wish = you desire
Likewise with this pair.  This use of "want" is not connected to
the "wish, want" idea.  In my experience it is used with "for": they
wanted for one more player.  I hardly ever hear this expression in
the US.  The noun use is a bit more common: "For want of a horse, the
kingdom was lost."  This doesn't mean that he desired a horse
(although he probably did!), but that he lacked a horse.  Personally,
I see no difference between "want" & "wish" when talking about
desire.  "Wish" does carry, to me, something of the genii-in-the-
bottle nuance.

Charlie