The B-theory of time is the name given to one of two positions regarding philosophy of time. B-theorists argue that the flow of time is an illusion, that the past, present and future are equally real, and that time is tenseless. This would mean that temporal becoming is not an objective feature of reality. B-theory is often drawn upon in theoretical physics, and in theories such as eternalism. == Origin == The labels, A-theory and B-theory, are derived from the analysis of time and change developed by Cambridge philosopher J. M. E. McTaggart in "The Unreality of Time" (1908), in which events are...

A nominal or tenseless sentence consists of two different types: (1) a sentence with a copular auxiliary and a predicative expression For example: “Mary is a student” which includes the copula "to be" and the predicate "a student"Or (2) a sentence without a finite verb. For example: “Ladies and gentlemen, my dear brother, Tom” where the verb "to be" is missing, as opposed to “Ladies and gentlemen, this is my dear brother, Tom”. The following entry will expand on definition (2), specifically what allows them to omit finite verbs yet still be grammatical, to the point where a whole discourse can...

The modal verbs of English are a small class of auxiliary verbs used mostly to express modality (properties such as possibility, obligation, etc.). They can be distinguished from other verbs by their defectiveness (they do not have participle or infinitive forms) and by the fact that they do not take the ending -(e)s in the third-person singular. The principal English modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will and would. Certain other verbs are sometimes, but not always, classed as modals; these include ought, had better, and (in certain uses) dare and need. Verbs which share...