MODAL AUXILIARIES

An auxiliary verb is one which:

1. Help to form tenses:
a. She is reading
b. He has gone out
2. Help to make passive forms:
a. The gate is opened.
b. My pen was lost.
3. Express permission, possibility, ability etc.
a. You may come in
b. It might rain tonight
c. He can speak five languages.
Types of auxiliaries :
1. Primary auxiliaries: Be: is , am, are, was, were
Do : does, did
Have: has , had
2. Modal auxiliaries : Will, would, shall, should can, could may, might, must..

Note: The following Auxiliary verbs are also called Defective verbs, because they cannot
be used in all the tenses.

Be With V3 to form the passive voice:

He was killed in the war.
With V1-ing to form continuous tenses:
I am writing, He was studying
With to+ V I to express duty, necessity, arrangement intention, purpose,
Possibility…….
I am to send this report today.
They are to be married
Have, has , had:
Used with V3 to form perfect tense.
I have finished my work.
With to + V1 to indicate obligation and advice or recommendation:
I have to type all these letters.
Do, Does. Did :
Used in front of the Principal Verb to form negative sentences and questions:
They didn’t go to Paris.
Does she speak French?

To make tag questions:

You live in London, don’t you?
She doesn’t work, does she?
To emphasize an affirmative statement:
 2

He does look tired.

Do shut up.
Shall:
Used with second and third person.
You shall be punished for your misconduct
Used in interrogatives:
Shall I have his reply soon?
Used in offers, suggestions and requests for orders or advice.
Shall I carry your bags?
Shall we go out this evening?
Should:
Used to express duty, obligation or necessity:
You shout obey your parents
He should work harder.
Should + have+ past participle is used for a past obligation that not fulfilled.
You should have driven carefully
Used for probability.
We should arrive before dark
A supposition as:
I should go if I were you
If it should rain, they will not come.
Will
Often used to make requests:
Will you open the window please?
Used in invitations.
Will you come with me to town?
Used to express probability.
That will be the postman
Would
Used to indicate a request:
Would you tell me the time?
Conclusion of a condition:
He would pass if he worked hard.
Used in invitation:
Would you come to dinner tomorrow night?
Can
Power or ability:
She can dance well
Permission.
Possibility or probability
It can happen to any one.
The present continuous tense:
I can hear people singing;
 -3-
Could
Permission
The conclusion of a condition
I could buy a shirt if I had money.
A request .
Could you tell me the time?
Possibility:

May:
Permission, Possibility ,A wish, A purpose
Might:
Possibility or probability, Permission
Must.
Necessity or obligation.
Advice – You must consult a good doctor
Fixed determination: I must have my way in this matter.
Duty: A judge must be upright.
Certainty of belief in some facts. He must be mad.
Used in affirmative and interrogative sent. E.g. Must she come tomorrow?
Need to:
To say that there is no necessity to do something
You need not go there
In interrogatives excepting a positive answer.
Need I come with you?
Have to:
To express an obligation E.g. I have to go to Meerut
Dare:
In negative sentence He dare not fight with me.
In interrogative sentence . Dare he come to my house?
In sentences expressing some doubt. I wonder whether he dare try.
In sentences with hardly, never, no one , nobody .
Ought to:
Used to denote:
Moral duty You ought to respect your elders.
Possibility Mohn ought to win the race this time
Desirability He ought to build a new house now.

Your passion will define your limit….. strive for more

Mr. L.Mathew M.A.(Eng,Lit) M.Ed
lalimathew@yahoo.co
9810312549 27492907