MODALS

CAN
Can is used to show the ability to do something.
I can speak Sanskrit very well.
He can drive a car.
She can solve this sum.
In these sentences, can means.
(i) be able to.
(ii) be capable of.
(iii) know how to.

The last example above can be rewritten as under.

She is able to solve this sum.
She is capable of solving this sum.
She knows how to solve this problem.

(b) Can is used to seek or grant permission in an

informal manner.
You can visit me whenever you like.
Can I smoke here?
Here can means be permitted or be allowed. The
said two sentences can be rewritten as under.

You are allowed to visit me whenever you like.

Am I allowed to smoke here?

Note: When permission is not granted, cannot is

used. In that case, cannot ex- presses prohibition.
You cannot travel without a ticket.
You cannot drink in public places.

(c) Can is used to express a possibility.

Anyone can make such mistake.
An accident can happen to anyone.
2
.COULD

(a) Could is used to express ability in the past.

He could speak English when he was seven.

This sentence can be rewritten as under.
He was able to speak English when he was seven.

She could not understand it because it was very

difficult.
 (b) Could is used to express possibility in
Conditional Sentences.
If I had money, I could buy a new car.
She could write in neat hand if she had.

(c) Could is used to seek permission or to make a

polite request in the form of a question.
Could I use your telephone?
Could I open the window?
Could you lend me your car for a day?

Note 1. The same idea can be expressed by using

can or may.
The use of could suggests that the permission is
sought in a polite and hesitant manner.
2. The word would can be used instead of could.
But could is a little more polite.
3.

MAY
(a) May is used to seek or grant permission in a
formal way.
May I come in, Sir?
May I leave now?
Note: Can can be used to seek or grant permission.
But the use of
‘May’ is more formal and polite.

(b) May is used to express a factual possibility. It

means the possibility of a
fact.
Light is dim. The match may be cancelled.
The sky is overcast with clouds. It may rain.

(c) May is used in the subordinate clauses to

express a purpose.
We eat that we may live.
She works very hard so that she may secure good
marks in the examination.

(d) May is used to express wish,curse.

May God bless you!
May you live long!
May her soul rest in peace!
May you prosper in life!
4.

MIGHT
(a) Might is used to express the past tense of may.
I was afraid that he might spurn my offer.

(b) Might is used to express excessive politeness

while seeking permission/
making a request.
Might I have a word with you?
Might I make a suggestion?

(c) Might is used to express a doubtful possibility.

She has not promised, but she might come.
Now you have got a job, you might be thinking of
marriage.
He might have applied for the job, but I am not
sure.

EXERCISE
Fill in each of the following blanks with the
suitable modals, choosing it from those given
below:
Can, Could, May, Might.
1. ……God give you courage to face it!
2. ……..you be happy!
3. ..... a horse swim?
4. If you had lost your pen, you…… have bought
another one.
 5. ..... I suggest a slight change in your plan?

6. He….. be successful, but I doubt it.

7. . I.....not come yesterday since I was too busy.
8. . ..... I go home after finishing my work sir?
9. The question paper..... be too difficult for
most of candidates.

WILL
(a) Will is used with the second person and the
third person to form future tense.
He will leave for Paris tomorrow.
He will be ten next month.
(b) Will is used with the first person to express
determination.
I will mend my ways.
I will fight till the last.
We will give him a warm reception.

(c) Will is used with the first person to express

promise.
I pledge that I will not take more than two hours.
We will agree to anything,it is our word.

(d) Will is used with the first person to express a

threat.
I will have you punished.
We will take some strong step to mend you.

(d) Will is used with the second person to

express a polite request.

Will you please close the door?

Will you post this letter for me, please?

(f) Will is used to inquire about the intention,

willingness and wish of the person spoken to.
Will he agree to my proposal?
Will you accompany me to the airport?
SHALL
(a) Shall is used with the first person to express
simple future.
I shall see you tomorrow.
We shall leave for U.S.A. this evening?
(b) Shall is used with the second person and the
third person to express a
Command,rules and regulations

He shall report for duty on the 8th instant. I say

you shall do it.
(c) Shall is used with the second person and the
third person to express a
threat.
He shall turn you out of the job.
He shall be punished for his misbehaviour.

WOULD
(a) Would is used to refer to the past form of will.
I was informed that he would preside over the
meeting.
She said that she would help me.
(b) Would is used in Conditional Sentences to
express the imagined result of
an imagined or supposed condition.
Had you worked hard, you would have passed.
If I were you, I would help him.
He would set up a school if he won a bumper
lottery.

(c) Would is used to express a suggestion or polite

request.
Would you close the door?
Would you lend me your book?

(d) Would is used to express actions or happenings

that were frequent or oc- curred from time to
time.(Habitual actions of past)
His grandfather would feed sparrows every
morning.
Every Friday,Ali would visit Cresent
.
(e) The expression would like to is used to express
a preference or wish.
I would like to ask you for a favour.
I would like to go with him.
Note: Would rather is also used to express a wish
or preference.
I would rather starve than beg.
I would rather have a cold drink than a cup of tea.

(f) Would is used to express an inquiry about

someone's wish.
Would you like to accompany me to the cinema?
Would you like to have a cup of hot coffee?

(g) Would is used after wish when the wish relates

to the future action of an-
other person.
I wish you would behave properly.
I wish you would leave me alone.

EXERCISE
Fill in each of the following blanks with the
suitable modal, choosing it from the
following three modals:
Shall, Will, Would,
1) i…..go on with the work, come what may.
2. I..... keep my promise to you.
3……… you mind passing me the teacup?
4. He has told me that he ..... not let me down.
5. Not a rupee you…….. get from me.
6. I..... never step into your home again.
7………you open the window, please?
8. You..... have the book tomorrow.
9. I..... lend you the book if you need it.
10. If I were you, I ..... not behave like that.

SHOULD
(a) Should is used for an advice, moral
obligation,suggestion.

A rich man should help the poor.

You should look into the matter yourself.
You should not meet him.
You should buy a new pen: this one leaks.

(c) Should is used to express a polite command.

Candidates should write on both sides of every
sheet of paper.

(d) Should is used to express a probable condition.

Should they play well, they will win.
Should he work hard, he will get good marks in
the examination.
e)SHOWS PURPOSE WHEN USED AFTER
‘LEST’
STUDY HARD LEST YOU SHOULD FAIL IN
THE EXAM.

OUGHT TO…
MUST
(a) Must is used to express duty, compulsion,
obligation and necessity.
You must devote some time to social service.
(obligation)
You must clear the dues by 12th April.
(compulsion)
We must hurry. We are very late. (necessity)
It is getting dark, I must leave for home. (duty)

(b) Must is used to express some strong

possibility.
Someone is knocking at the door. It must be the
postman.
There must be a mistake somewhere.
She must be at least thirty years old.
He must be mad to say so.
Note 1. Must not (mustn't) expresses prohibition.
Candidates must not write their names on the
answer-books.
You mustn't come here again.

2.The past tense of must (to express necessity) is

had to.
The candidates had to appear for an interview after
the written test.
 NEED
Need, as a modal, is used only in questions and
negative sentences.

(b) Need not is used to express the lack of

necessity or obligation to do some- thing. It is the
opposite of must.
You need not see him; just pen a letter.
We need not hurry, we have yet plenty of time
DARE
Dare as a modal, (used only in questions and
negative sentences) used to express challenge
AND COURAGE..
Fill in each of the following blanks with the
appropriate modal, choosing it from those given
below:
Should, Must, Ought to, Used to.
1. Society.....to look after the poor.
2. You..... go at once.
3. Gandhiji..... spin every morning.
4. I asked him what I ..... do.
5. You..... have asked me. Why did not you?
7. You..... have good manners.
8. He …….be a mad man if he talks ill of his
father.
9. You have a big house. It ..... have cost you a lot
to maintain it.
10. You..... not speak to your employer like that.
11. She has been absent for a week; she .....be ill.
IN THIS EXERCISE ,USE
ALL THE APPROPRIATE
MODALS YOU HAVE
LEARNT HERE.

1. I am sure she ..... pass the examinations. (might,

will, would)
2. We..... obey our elders. (could, should, would)
3. They..... finish this work yesterday. (could,
would, may)
4. He hoped that his son …….improve. (shall,
must, might)
5. A rat.....not eat a cat. (may, shall, can)
6.The doctor said that I ..... take rice. (shall, could,
would,)
7. you live long. (will, may, can)
8. No one knew whether she ………come or not.
(will, might, would)
9. I am sure we ..... succeed. (can, should, would)
10. You..... to have good manners. (may, ought,
should)
11. Be careful lest you fall (should, would, shall)
12. You..... to respect your elders. (will, would,
ought, used to)
13. ……..I speak to you for a minute? (would,
could, shall. should)
14. The sky is cloudy, it ..... rain soon. (can, may,
must, will)
15. You..... not enter my class, I forbid you. (shall,
will, can, must)
16…….. I come in? I am sorry to be late. (can,
might, should)
17. Had he met me, he……..have known me.
(may, shall, would)
18. It is almost time for my plane. I ..... leave now.
(should, must)
19. I thought he ..... be at home. (might, can, may)