Modals

Modals:

● What are modals?

● What do we mean by modalities?
● What are different modalities?
● List of all modal verbs.

*What are modals:

● Modals are special type of verbs.

● Modals are used to indicate modality or mood.
● They give additional information about the function of the main verb that
comes after it.
● Modals combine with the main verb to indicate the mood or the tense.

What do we mean of modalities:

● Modality means the type of behavior i.e., the attitude or the way the writer or
speaker is feeling at a particular time.
● A speaker or writer can express certainty, possibility, willingness, ability etc
by using modal verbs.

What are different modalities:

Modalities Meaning in English

Ability Skill to do something
Permission Allowing someone to do a particular thing
advice Guidance
obligation A duty
necessity Something necessary
posibility Something that is possible
suggestion An idea put forward
Strong belief Unshakable belief in something faith in
something
offer Presenting something to be accepted or rejected
request An act of asking politely for something
order Give an instruction

List of Modal verbs:

Modal verbs
Can Shall Ought to
Could Should Might
May Will Have to
might would

Rules of modal verbs:

1) Modals are never used alone in a sentence. They are always used with principal
verb(main verb)

Ex: 1. You should the name on your notebook. X

You should write the name on your notebook.

2. I can the stars. X

I can see the stars.

3. You may the cricket. X

You may play the cricket.

2)Modals are always followed by infinitive i.e., base form of verb without to.

Ex: 1.He can to swim. X

He can swim.
 2. You may to leave. X

You may leave.

3.You should to study. X

You should study.

3) A modal is not followed by another modal.

Ex: 1. They may should go to market.

They may go to the market.

They should go to the market.

2. I can should work hard.

I can work hard.

I should work hard.

4)Modals are same for all the pronouns.

Pronoun modals
singular plural Can, shall, must

I we Could, should, ought to

You you May, will, have to
He, she, it they Might , would

Ex: I can sing.

we can sing.

You can sing

 He can sing.

She can sing.

They can sing.

It can rain today.

5)Use the modal verb as it is. We don’t add ‘es’, ‘s’ or ing to modal verbs to
change it into present, past or future tense.

Ex: 1. She mights go the market

She might go to the market. X

2.I cans sing the song.X

I can sing the song.

3. They shoulds eat an apple every day. X

They should eat an apple everyday.

6) To use modals in negative form, add ‘not’ after the modal verb.

We do not add words like don’t, isn’t, aren’t, wasn’t, doesn’t after modal verbs.

Ex: 1. She can swim.

She can does not swim.

She cannot swim.

2. They should take a break.

They should do not take a break.

They should not take a break.

7) Modal verbs come before the subject in questions.

Ex: 1. She cam swim.

Can she swim?

2.They should take a break.

Should they take a break?

3. You can bring me some money.

Can you bring me some money?

1. Can:

● Can is one of the most commonly used modal verbs.

● Can is used to express:
1. Ability or lack of ability
2. Possibility or impossibility
3. To give or ask for informal permission
4. Informal request
5. Informal offer
6. Suggestion

1. Ability or lack of Ability:

● Can is used in sentences that express that something is able to do something

or not.

Ex: 1. Reema can swim

2.I cannot dance.

3.Birds can fly.

2.Possibility:
 ● Can is used in sentences that express that something is possible.

Ex: 1. You can score good marks in maths.

2.I can come to your house tomorrow.

3. It can rain today.

3.Informal permission:

● Can is used in sentences that express giving or taking permission.

Ex: 1. Can I use your pen?

2.You can come with us

3. You can go home now.

4. Informal request:

● Can is used in the sentences in which some one is requesting for something.

Ex: 1.Can you make me a coffee?

2. Can you teach me how to dance?

3. Can you hand me the book?

5.Informal offer:

● Can is used in sentences that express a help to someone.

Ex: 1.Can I get you something?

2. Can we meet tomorrow?

3. Can I help you with your bags?

6. Suggestion:

● Can is used in sentences that express a suggestion to someone

Ex: 1. You can buy this house.

 2. She can call a taxi.

3. You can take this medicine.

2) Could:

● Could is the past form of can and also a modal verb.

● Could is used to express:
1. Ability/ inability in past
2. Ask a polite permission
3. Polite request
4. Suggestion
5. Possibility
6. Conditional situation

1.Ability/inability in past:

● Could is used to express ability or inability that was possessed by an

individual in past.

Ex: 1. I could sing when I was younger.

2. I could speak French when I was in France.

3. I couldn’t sleep last week properly due to headache.

2.Ask a polite permission:

● Could is used to ask for permission in a polite manner.

Ex: 1.could I use your pencil?

2.could we go home now?

3. could I use your car today?

3. Polite request:
 ● Could is used to request in a polite manner.

Ex: 1.could you pass me the salt please?

2.could you drop me?

3.could you teach me dance?

4.Suggestion:

● Could is used to give suggestion

Ex: 1. I could help you with English

2. we could go to the park if you want.

3. You could call me for any help.

5.Possibility:

● Could is used to indicate a possibility.

Ex: 1. He could be the one who stole the money.

2. You could become a doctor.

3. A lot of crime could be prevented.

6.Conditional situation:

● Could is used to show the situations that are based on condition.

Ex: 1. I could visit London if I had enough money.

2. If I had some apples I could make apple juice.

3. I could have filled the form if I knew the language.

3) May:

● May is used for formal situations.

 ● May is used to express:
1. Possibility (but formally)
2. Formal permission
3. Polite offer
4. Wishes or desire for someone.

1.Posssibility:

● May is used to express possibility of something that will happen or occur in

the near future, especially when that possibility is uncertain.

Ex: 1.He may go out later .

2. You may miss your train.

3. I may not come to visit you in my winter vacation.

2. Formal Permission:

● May is used to give or ask for permission to do something.

● May is a formal modal verb.

Ex: 1.May I leave now?

2.May I come in sir?

3.May I sit here please?

3.Polite offer:

● May is used to offer something for someone else, in a polite and formal
manner.

Ex: 1. May I help you sir?

2. May I get you a glass of water mam?

3. May we be of assistance in anyway?

4. Expressing wishes for future:

 ● May is used to express a wish or desire that something will be the case in the
future.

Ex: 1.May you have a long life.

2. May God bless you.

3. May you have a prosperous new year.

4.Might:

● Might is used as past of may and as a modal verb.

● Might is used to express:

1. Past of may

2.Possibility

3.suggestion

4. request

5. conditional sentences

1.Past of may:

● May is used to express the past of may.

Ex: 1. He said that he might be late.

2.I thought I might go to the party.

3.He might have got late as he missed his exam.

2.Possibility:

● Might is used to express a possibility but it’s possibility chances are less than
may.
Ex: 1. It might go for dinner tonight.

2. I might call you.

3. They might come to visit us.

3. Suggestion:

● Might is used to give a suggestion.

Ex: 1. You might catch a taxi.

2. You might go to the mall.

3. You might buy a new house in the new colony.

4. Request:

● Might is used to request for something in a very polite and formal way.

Ex: 1.Might I have a cup of Tea?

2.Might I join the meeting?

3.Might I borrow your pen?

5. Conditional sentences:

● Might is used to indicate situations based on a condition.

Ex: 1.If I participate I might win in the competition.

2. If I get late I might not get the entry.

3. If I win the lottery, I might buy a boat.

5.Shall:

● Shall is used to indicate future action and as a modal verb.

● The short form of shall is ‘ll.
● Shall adds an additional degree of politeness or formality to the sentence.
● Shall is used with I and we, but this changes in certain conditions.
 First I, we
person

Second you

third He, she, it,

they

Shall is used with conditions

I and we ● Future actions

● Taking
suggestions
● Offers
● promise

You, he, she, it, ● command

they ● Threat
● Formal obligation

● Shall is used to express:

1. Future actions
2. Taking suggestions
3. Offers
4. Promise
5. Threat
6. Formal obligations

1.Future actions:

● Shall is used with I and we to indicate the actions that will take place in
future.
Ex: 1. I shall go to the market.

2. We shall sing tomorrow.

3. I shall study tomorrow.

2.Taking suggestion:

● Shall is used with I and we to take suggestions.

Ex: 1. Shall we dance?

2.Shall I stay or leave.

3.What shall we do this Sunday?

3.offers:

● Shall is used with I and we to offer something politely.

Ex: 1.Shall I get you something to eat?

2. Shall I help you?

3. Shall I wash the clothes?

4. Promise:

● Shall is used with I and we to promise something.

Ex: 1. We shall pay the fine.

2. I shall never forget where I came from.

3. We shall never forget you.

5. Orders:

● Shall is used with second and third person to give orders.

Ex: 1. She shall obey my orders.

2.You shall not get in.

 3. He shall be there at 5 p.m

6. Threat:

● Shall is used to give a threat to someone.

Ex: 1.She shall regret this.

2.You shall pay for this.

3. They shall be punished for this.

7. Formal Obligations:

● Shall is used to indicate obligations in formal situations.

Ex: 1. Visitors shall not enter here.

2. You shall obey the rules.

3. They shall not click photographs here.

6. Will:

● Will is used to future actions and as a modal verb.

● Will is used to express:
1. Voluntary actions
2. Predictions
3. Promise
4. Offers
5. Informal requests
6. Threat
7. Strong determination
8. Commands

1.Voluntary actions:

● Will is used to indicate instant actions/decisions.

Ex: 1. She will make the dinner.

 2.We will clean the house.

3. I will stand in the election.

2. Predictions:

● Will is used to indicate predictions.

Ex: 1.It will rain tomorrow.

2. The boss will be changed next month.

3. She will not attend the party.

3. Promise:

● Will is used to make a promise(informally).

Ex: 1.I will call you daily.

2. She will never lie to us.

3.I will go for dinner tonight with you.

4. Offers:

● Will is used to offer something informally.

Ex: 1.Will you have a cup of coffee?

2.Will you listen to him?

3. Will you play the song again?

5.Informal requests:

● Will is used to requests for something informally.

Ex: 1.Will you stay out of it?

2. Will she stop talking rubbish?

3. Will he talk politely with her?

6. Threat:

● Will is used with I and we to threaten someone.

Ex: 1. I will tell mom that you are lying.

2. I will tell mom that you are lying.

3. We will tell the teacher that you are cheating.

7. Strong determination:

● Will is used to express strong determination with I and we.

Ex: I will pass y English test.

2. We will solve this matter.

3.We will learn French in 6 months.

8. Commands: (order-informally)

● Will is used to give orders with feeling of forcefulness.

Ex: 1. You will not go to the party.

2. You will stay quiet now.

3.This room will not be used for party.

7. Would:

● Would is used as past of will and as a modal verb

● Would is used to express.
1. Past of will
2. Habitual past behavior
3. Imaginary situations / unreal situations
4. Preference
5. Polite requests
6. Conditionals
1. Past of will:

● Would is used as past of will to express the actions that happened in the past.

Ex: 1.She said that she would get late.

2. He said he would not visit shimla in vacation.

3. They promised they would help the poor.

2. Habitual past behavior:

● Would is used to indicate the actions that happened regularly in the past.

Ex: 1.I would go to the temple daily when I was in Delhi.

2.My mother would buy groceries every Wednesday when she was living in
the ABC Society.

3. Imaginary situations:

● Would is used to express the imaginary situation of a person.

Ex: 1.I would not like the movie.

2.I would do it myself but I am busy.

3.She would get bored in the party.

4. Preference:

● Would is used to indicate the preference.

Ex: 1. I would ro to the cinema today.

2.I would like to have tea not coffee.

3.She would go for the black color of carpet rather blue.

5. Polite requests:

● Would is used to request politely.

Ex: 1.Would you mind sharing the book? (politely)

will you mind sharing the book (difference)

2. Would you like if I join you all?

3. Would you answer the call please?

6. Conditionals:

● Would is used for situations based on conditions.

Ex: 1. If I were you would opt for science.

2.You would like him after you meet.

3.If you ask me I would tell you to reject the proposal.

8.Ought to:

● Ought modal verb is an exception to the rule of modal verbs.

● It uses ‘to’ after it
● So Ought is written as ought to”
● Ought to is used to express:
1. Moral obligation
2. Desire for something to happen
3. Advice

1.Moral Obligation:

● Ought to is used to express moral duty or responsibility.

Ex: 1. We ought to respect our parents.

2. Every citizen ought to follow the rules.

3. We ought not to waste food.

2. Desire for something to happen:

● Ought to is used to indicate the what is desired from someone.

Ex: 1. They ought to have more parking, space in the society.

2. We ought to eat lots of fruits and vegetables every day.

3. She Ought to have studied science.

3) Advice:

● Ought to issued to give advice.

Ex: 1. You ought to exercise daily.

2. She ought to book the tickets in advance.

Should can be used at the place of ought to?

● Ought to and should have similar meaning.

● Should can be used in the place of ought to.
● Should is more commonly used than ought to.
● Should is more formal than ought to.

Ex: 1.There Ought to be more parking space in this area.

There should be more parking space in this area.

2.I ought to exercise more.

I should exercise more.

3.She ought to respect her parents.

She should respect her parents.

9.Should:

● Should is used to:

1. Make recommendations
2. Give advice
3. Express obligation (formal)
4. Expectation
 5. Express the conditional mood

1.Make recommendations:

● Should is used to recommend something to someone.

Ex: 1.You should see the Abc dental clinic for your tooth issues.

2.You should watch this movie it is really interesting.

2. Advice:

● Should is used to give advice for someone.

Ex: 1.I think you should study for the test to score good marks.

2.You should get a hair cut.

3. He should start sleeping early.

3. Obligation:

● Should is used to express obligation politely.

Ex: 1. You should never lie to your parents.

2.You should pay more attention in class.

3. You should be present at work before 10 a.m.

4. Expectation:

● Should is used to indicate what is expected from someone.

Ex: 1.She should be here by now.

2. They should visit me on Monday as she is leaving on Tuesday.

5. Express the conditional mood/conditional sentences.

● Should is used in certain situations based on conditions.

Ex: 1.If I were you, I should complain to the manager.

2.If I lost my job I should have no money.

3. If I were you, I shouldn’t think about it.

10.Must:

● Must is used to express:

1. Strong obligation
2. Prohibition (strictly prohibited)
3. Deduction (outcomes, result, conclusion)
4. Recommendation

1. Strong obligation:

● Must is used to express strong obligations.

Ex: 1.Passsengers must switch off their phones in the aeroplane.

2. Everyone must maintain silence in the library.

3. We must start the interviews.

2. Prohibition:

● Must is used to indicate something that is not allowed.

Ex: 1. Everyone must not break traffic rules.

2.You must not disobey your parents.

3. Deduction:

● Must is used to make deductions or conclusions.

Ex: 1. He must not be more than 3 years old.

2. He owns a bungalow, he must be very rich.

3. He talks very less, he must be shy.

4. Recommendation:

● Must is used to make strong recommendations.

Ex: 1. You must watch this movie.

2. She must read this book it’s very interesting.

3. We must plan for a get together.

11. Have to:

● Has to/ have to is used in the present time.

● It is used to express impersonal obligation.

Ex: 1. I have to go now.

2. She has to attend the party/.

3. They have to make the project.

● Have to/Has to is used to express:

1. Something is necessary
2. Something is desired
3. Something is true or likely to happen.

1. Something is necessary:

● Have to is used to show that something is necessary to be done.

Ex: 1. You have to follow the rules.

2. We have to solve this issue as soon as possible.

3. I have to remember his birthday.

4. I have to leave by seven.

2.Something is desired.

● Have to is used to express what is desired.

Ex: 1. She has to read this book.

2. You have to come to visit us soon.

3. He has to start searching for a new job.

3. Something is true or likely to happen.

● Have to is used to say that something is true or will happen.

Ex: 1. He has to have a lot of knowledge as he cleared all the competitive exams.

2. There has to be some mistake.

3. They have to be surprised by my new look.

Difference between must and have to:

● Must and have to are used to express obligations or necessity, but there are
some small difference

Must Have to Examples

Must expresses the Have to expresses an ● You must go
speaker’s feelings impersonal idea ● You have to go

Must is used for specific Have to expresses ● I must score good

obligations general obligations marks in school.
● I have to go to school

Must not expresses Do/Does not have to ● You must not disobey
prohibition expresses absence of your parents.
obligation ● You do not have to
apologize