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Modals

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22 views6 pages

Modals

Uploaded by

manar.diseny
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© © All Rights Reserved
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PRESIDIUM

INDIRA
PURAM
ENGLIS
Handout for reference H
MODALS AND AUXILIARIES
Auxiliary is a helping verb. In a sentence an auxiliary is always used with another verb. There are
two types of auxiliary verbs
Primary auxiliary: word ‘be’, ‘have’ and ‘do’ are called primary auxiliaries.

● The forms of ‘be’ are ‘is’, ‘am’, ‘was’, ‘were’.

● The forms of ‘have’ are ‘have’, ‘has’, ‘had’.

● The forms of ‘do’ are ‘do’, ‘does’ and did.

Modal auxiliary: The word ‘can’, ‘could’, ‘may’, ‘might’, ‘shall’, ‘should’, ‘must’, ‘will’,
‘would’, ‘used’, ‘need’, ‘dare’, ‘ought to’ express attitudes like permission, possibility etc. Modal
auxiliaries are also called modals. They do not change forms.
CAN
• Usually suggests present potential or ability
Ramesh can speak several languages.
She can swim like a fish.
• Used to indicate permission, request
You can come with me today.
Can we go home now?
Can you carry my luggage?

COULD
• Used to indicate ability in past
He could sing well once upon a time.
• Used to ask a polite question, permission
Could you help me solve the sum?

• Used as past tense of can in indirect speech


Tanu said, ‘I can help you.’
Tanu said that she could help me.

MAY
• usually used to request permission formally
May I use your camera?
• used to express a wish
May God bless you!
• suggests a high possibility
You may have to come to school this Saturday.

MIGHT
Suggests a very weak possibility in the future
• We might return sooner than expected.

SHALL, SHOULD, WILL, WOULD


Shall is usually used

• in first person for formal situations


• in second and third person to express a command, a promise or even a threat.
• in interrogative sentences with the first person to indicate an offer or a
suggestion.
I shall be pleased to visit you.
He shall not work here again.
You shall be rewarded.
Shall I carry these books for you?
Will is used

● to show a future possibility

● to express a decision

● to indicate a habit

● in interrogative sentences to suggest an invitation

You will agree with me.


I will do baking today.
He will go swimming as usual.
Will you go to the party with me?
If it should rain, the match will be called off.
Should is used

● to ask for and give suggestions or advice, to talk about duty and obligation, and to say
what is right or good
● in clauses starting with ‘if’. It is used to express supposition that may or may not be
true.
You should respect your elders.
How much money should I carry with me on the trip?
Would

● is used to talk about the past

● is used to make polite requests.


● is used for hypothetical situations/ conditional sentence

Even as boy he knew, he would succeed in life.

Would you mind repeating what you just said?


Would you speak a bit slowly?
I would like a glass of water, please.
If I had won the lottery I would have bought a car.

MUST AND OUGHT TO


Must expresses

● necessity or obligation.

● fixed determination

● certainty and strong possibility

It’s a hospital you must not smoke.


I must have an opportunity to do what I wish.
He must have forgotten about the invitation.
Ought to is used to express

● moral obligation or desirability.


We ought to respect our elders.
We ought to strike a deal.
USED, NEED, DARE
Used indicates discontinued habit of the past
She used to learn Kathak.
Need denotes necessity or obligation. It is commonly used in negatives and interrogatives. It
can also denote requirement or desire.
She need not give up dance. Need I help him?
I do not need your help.
Dare as a modal means ‘be bold enough’.
It is commonly used in interrogative and negative sentences. Dare can also be used to indicate
a challenge.
How dare she say it?
I dare you to eat all the food on the table.
Few more points to remember
❖ Can, may and could are used for asking permission.

Can is direct and informal, friendly (used among friends, close relations) May is very formal,
friendly (used by people in a subordinate position)
Could is less direct more polite than can (often used for strangers, or people not intimately
known)

❖ May, might, could all indicate possibility. May suggests a good possibility

Might suggests a weak possibility


Could suggests a still weaker possibility.

❖ ‘Must’, ‘have to’ both express necessity or compulsion. In ‘must’ the authority comes from the
speaker.
In ‘have to’ the authority comes from outside the speaker like a rule or law.
You must be in your seat for takeoff.
You have to be in your seat for takeoff. (That is a rule)
I must go and see the doctor. (necessity)
I have to see my doctor this evening. (There is an appointment)

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