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Modals are verbs like can, could, may, might, will etc that are used before ordinary verbs to express meanings like permission, possibility, certainty. Modals are defective verbs because they have no third person singular, present participle, or past tense forms. The document provides examples of different modals and their meanings.

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Ananya Shree
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21 views8 pages

Subject

Modals are verbs like can, could, may, might, will etc that are used before ordinary verbs to express meanings like permission, possibility, certainty. Modals are defective verbs because they have no third person singular, present participle, or past tense forms. The document provides examples of different modals and their meanings.

Uploaded by

Ananya Shree
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODALS

INDEX

1. MEANING
2. USAGE AND EXAMPLES
MEANING

The verbs like can, could, may, might, will etc are called Modal verbs or
modals.
They are used before the ordinary verbs and expresses meaning such as
permission, possibility, certainty etc

The Modals can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must and
ought are termed as ‘Defective verbs’ because some parts are wanting in
them.
They have no (s) in the third person singular; they also have no (ing)
and (ed) forms.
I can swim.
Ability, permission,
CAN possibility, request, offer
Can you lift this box?
He can work this .

I could swim across the river when I was young.


Ability, Permission,
He said I could go.
COULD Possibility, Request,
She wondered whether it could be true.
Offer

It may rain today.


Permission, Possibility, He may be at home.
MAY Desire, Wish May I go to the washroom?

I thought he might be at home.


Possibility, To show You might pay a little more attention to your
MIGHT courtesy studies.
He said I might go.
I expect that I should get a first class.
Obligation, Advice,
SHOULD Probability, Expectation
You should keep your promise.
Children should obey their parents.

When shall we see you again?


SHALL Intention, Supposition He shall not enter my house again.
You shall be punished for this.

We will need the money on 15th.


Wish, Desire, Confidence
WILL , For Future
I will be eighteen next week.
You will see that I am right.

She said she would carry my books.


Offer, Request, I would love to go there.
WOULD Conditional Would you be kind enough to lend me that
book?
You must improve your writing.
Necessity,
MUST obligation
She must have left early.
We must get up early.

OUGHT Moral obligation, We ought to help him.


desirability, express You ought to know better.
TO probability This book ought to be very useful.
USED There used to be a house here.
Discontinued habit
I used to live there when I was a boy.
(TO)

He need not go.


NEED Necessity, obligation Need I write to him?
I need hardly take his help.

I dare you to jump from here.


DARE Courage, boldness
He dar not look at me.
Thank you!

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