MODALS

(Helping Verbs)
 INTRODUCTION

● There are 24 auxiliary verbs in English language.

● They are divided to 2 groups according to their functions in a sentence.

 TYPES OF HELPING VERBS
1) Principal Auxiliaries (11 in number)

1. Am 2. Is 3. Are
4. Was 5. Were 6. Have
7. Has 8. Had 9. Do
10. Does 11. Did

2) Modal Auxiliaries (13 in number)

1. Shall 2. Should 3. Will 4. Would
5. Can 6. Could 7. May 8. Might
9. Must 10. Need 11. Dare 12. Ought to
13. Used to
 What is a Modal?

A modal is a verb used with another verb (main Verb) to express the mood
or attitude of the speaker. Modals are called Modal auxiliaries. Their
function is to help the main verb to show the mood.
 Examples:
1. I shall finish this work tomorrow.
2. We should consult a doctor immediately.
3. He will visit Delhi next week.
4. She would fly to Mumbai if she were a bird.
5. My father can lift this box.
6. Her uncle could do this job easily.
7. You may leave now.
8. It might rain today.
9. We must perform this music program.
10. You need not go there.
11. She dare not oppose me.
12. They ought to obey the order.
13. I used to walk a lot during my childhood days.
 1. Shall

1 I shall be forty tomorrow. Future

2 We shall fight and we shall win. Determination (Sometimes)

3 Shall I open the door? Request

4 You shall go at once. Command

5 You shall get your salary on time. Promise

6 Do it or you shall be fined. Threat

 2. Should
1 We should respect our parents. Duty/Obligation
People should not tell lies.
2 You should take regular exercise. Advice
He should not jump out of a running train.
3 India should win the match. Possibility / Probability
She should be here by now- she left home at
nine.
4 If I were you, I should accept the post. Imaginary condition
I should not worry if I were you.
5 If he had called her, she should have gone. Impossible condition

6 Work hard lest you should fail. Used in the next clause after
Walk carefully lest you should fall. ‘lest’
 3. WILL
1 1) I will attend the meeting. Promise
2) From Delhi, we will go to Kashmir. Intention
3) All right. I will come with you. Willingness
4) We will teach you a lesson. Threat
2 1) You will go there tomorrow. Simple futurity
2) The wedding will take place in July.
3 1) Will you close the window, please? Polite Request
2) Will you type this letter for me?
4 1) Accidents will happen. Natural Happenings
2) Boys will be boys.
3) Oil will float on water.
5 1) The silly dog will chase all cyclists. Present habit
2) A good teacher will never send his students away.
6 1) If you step on a snake, it will bite you. Probability (Present)
2) That will be the post man at the door now.
7 1) He will have posted the letter. Probability (Past)
2) They will have done the work.
 4. WOULD
1 1. Would you please lend me your pen? Polite Request (Soft)
2. Would you mind closing the window?
2 1. She would be sixteen. Guess/Probability
2. That would be her mother.
3 1. Every morning he would go for a log walk. Past habit
2. On many days he would come home very tired.
4 1. He would have his own way. Determination
2.I would try my best to help him. Willingness
5 1. I would like to ask you something. Likeness /Wish
2. He says he would like to go with you.
6 1.He would rather start now. Preference
2.I would rather read than talk.
7 1. I wish you would write to me more often. Use of ‘would’ after the verb
2. I wish they would settle the issue very soon. ‘wish’
8 1. If a tiger came to your house, what would you do? Unreal Condition/ Imaginary
2. If I were a king, I would make you my queen. condition
9 1. If he had written to me, I would have helped him. Impossible / Past Condition
2. If I had gone to Agra, I would have seen The Taj
Mahal
 5. CAN=am/is/are able to
1 1. Birds can fly. Ability
2. I can write French. Power
3. Can you lift this box? Capability
4. She can sing and dance.
2 1. He cannot see you. Absence of power / Ability
2. The blind cannot see.
3 1. You can go now. Permission
2. He can take the car.
3. Can I speak for a minute?
4 1. Passangers cannot smoke inside the plane. Prohibition
2. You cannot travel the first class with a second class ticket.
5 1. Can you pass the salt? Request
2. Can you spare me some time tomorrow?
6 1. Can I carry your bags? Offer
2. Can I make tea for you?
7 1. When you have finished cooking, you can clean the kitchen. Order
8 1. Accidents can happen to anyone. Possibility
2. Measles can be quite dangerous.
9 1. He can have heard the news. Past Possibility / Uncertainty
2. He can have overheard the conversation.
 6. Could=was/were able to

1 1.When he was young, He could sing very well. Power/ ability/ capacity of
2.She could read without glasses until 8 months the past
ago.
2 1.That could be my car. Possibility
2.She could be in the library.
3 1.Could I rest here for an hour? Permission
2.Could I borrow the book for three days?
4 1.Could you show me the way? Polite request (Extreme
2.Could you tell me the time? way)
5 1.You could have told me about it. Use of ‘could have’ + ‘Past
2. We could have worked much harder. participle’
 7. may

1 1. May I come in? Permission

2. May I use your car?
2 1. He may buy a scooter. Possibility
2. It may rain tonight.
3 1. He may not succeed Less possibility
2. The report may not be true.
4 1. May God bless you! Wish / Desire
2. May you live long!
5 1. He may have gone Possibility / Uncertainty
2. She may have told me about this.
6 1. She works hard so that she may pass the exam Use of ‘may’ in ‘so that’
2. You should go by car so that you may not miss clause
the train.
 8. might

1 1. He said that he might run. Might as a simple past tense

2. He said he might hire a car. in indirect speech
2 1. He might come today. Remote possibility
2. It might rain today.
3 1. Might I use you pen? Permission
2. Might I say a word?
4 1. He might have missed the train Past uncertainty
2. He might have gone there.
5 1. You might talk a little less loudly Suggestion / Request
2. You might do me a favour tomorrow.
 9. must=have to/has to
1 1. I must do my duty Duty / obligation
2. You must help the needy
2 1. Candidates must answer all the questions. Instruction / Advice / Order
2. Passengers must use the over bridge.

3 1. It is raining; so I must go in. Compulsion

2. The train is due in 10 minutes; so I must be leaving
now
4 1. I must finish the work today. Necessity
2. We must do as we are told.
5 1. He must be mad to do that. Probability
2. He must be an idiot.
6 1. You must not tell a lie. Prohibition
2. You must not drive fast.
7 1. Rajiv must have passed. He had worked very hard. Deduction / Guess
2. I must have dropped my pencil somewhere. I
cannot find it in my bag.
 10. need

1 1. Need I see you? Necessity

2. Need we go soon?

2 1. I need not go there. No compulsion

2. You need not leave his house

3 1. He need not have stood in a queue. Use of need not have +past
2. You need not have bought this expensive car. participle
 11. dare

1 1. How dare he complain? Shock / anger

2. How dare you do such a thing?

2 1. Dare he oppose me? To show courage in the form

2. Dare he speak to the principal? of question

3 1. He dare not say so. In the negative

2. She dare not oppose me.
 12. Ought to

1 1. We ought to help the poor. Moral/ Social obligation

2. You ought to respect your teacher.

2 1. We ought to walk every morning. Advice

2. Coffee ought to be drunk while it is hot.

3 1. Ram ought to be here now. Probability / Guess

2. He ought to return soon - He left home early.

4 1. He ought not to watch T.V. for so long. Social obligation in the

2. You ought not to talk to your teacher like that. negative
 13. Used to

1 1. I used to play cricket. Past habit

2. He used to live in Mumbai.
EXERCISE
 1. Fill in the blank with appropriate modals.

Shopkeeper : (i) ______________________ I help you?

Customer : Yes, (ii) ___________ you show me Tee shirts, XX-L please?

Shopkeeper : All right, Sir, I (iii) ________ show you several designs and with different shades.

Customer : That (IV) ________ be the one Thomas told me about. (v) _______ you please tell
me its price?

Shopkeeper : It costs only Rs. 599/-

Customer; OK. I (VI) ________ take two of them. The blue one and the white one

Shopkeeper : OK, Sir.

 2. Fill in the blank with ‘Shall’ or ‘Will’.

1.___________ I make a cup of coffee for you?

2._________ you please open the door?

3. They _________ be talking all the time without doing anything.

4.You________ not harass your friends.

5.You___________ get a prize if you do not make a mistake.

 3. Fill in the blank with ‘Should’ or ‘Would’,
‘May’ or ‘Might’, ’Can’ or ‘Could’ or ‘Ought’.

1. Children _________ obey their teachers.

2. He said that he ______________ not come for the party.
3. We __________ to honour our parents.
4. James __________ swim across the river when he was young.
5. They________ come any moment.
6. I _________ very much like to see my old school again
7. “you ___________try once again”.
8. “I ___________ do it,” said the student.
9. The student said that he ___________ do it.
10. He ____________ lift that heavy box.
 4. Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals:

1. We…………………. obey our teachers, (have to, must)

2. She…………………….. pass this time, (ought to, has to)
3. He………………..not buy a car. (has to, need)
4. He works hard lest he…………………. fail. (should, must)
5. Do you……………… cook your own meal? ( should, have to)
6. The villagers……………………. use kerosene lamps a few years ago. (must, had to)
7. The old lady……………. take a bath every day before taking meals. (ought to, should)
8. She…………………. finish this work before I go. (has to, must)
9. Ramesh said that they…………… report for duty on Monday, (should, ought to)
10. We…………………….. prepare our lessons well before examination, (ought to, must)
Exercise 5 Fill in the blanks with correct modals from
the options.

1. Raj______ certainly attend the conference

a) will b) would c) could d)
ought

2. If you step on a dog, it ___________ bite you.

a) will b) must c) ought d)
would

3. ________you please lend me your novel?

a) could b) must c) ought d)
would

4. Every morning Salman Khan_________ go for a long walk.

a) could b) must c) ought d)
would

5. I wish you _________write to me more often.

a) could b) must c) ought d)
 6. I______ get back to my work.
a) could b) must c) ought d) would

7. Students________ answer all the questions.

a) will b) must c) ought d) would

8. We_______ to help the poor.

a) will b) would c) could d) ought

9. He _____________not to sing song for so long.

a) will b) would c) could d) ought

10. I _______ lend you the book today.

a) will b) may c) could d) ought
 11. I hardly _____ say how much grateful I am to you.
a) will b) need c) ought d) would

12. I ______to know the knowledge of spirituality.

a) will b) need c) ought d) would

13. ___________I have a word with you.

a) could b)must c) ought d) would

14. I wish you_________ get well soon.

a) could b)must c) ought d) would

15. He_________ to go there regularly.

a) could b) must c) used d) would
16. Walk fast lest you __________be late.
a) should b) must c) used d) ought to

17.He ________not come before me.

a) could b) dare c) ought d) would

18. ________I leave tomorrow?

a) Must b) Might c) Ought d) Would

19. He _____ to live there when I was a young.

a) must b) could c) used d) would

20. If I had worked hard, I__________ have passed.

a) could b) must c) ought d) would
THANKYOU