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All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals. Unlike
other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot
act alone as the main verb in a sentence.
Be, do, and have also differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also
serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.
The modal verbs are:CAN / COULD / MAY / MIGHT / MUST / SHALL / SHOULD /
OUGHT TO / WILL / WOULD
!Note The modal auxiliary verbs are always followed by the base form.
MODAL VERBS
Structure of Can
subject + can + main verb
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
can
play
tennis.
He
cannot
play
tennis.
play
tennis?
can't
?
Can
you
MODAL VERBS
Use of Can
Can: Possibility and Ability
We use can to talk about what is possible, what we are able or free to do:
She can drive a car.
John can speak Spanish.
I cannot hear you. (I can't hear you.)
Can you hear me?
MODAL VERBS
Normally, we use can for the present. But it is possible to use can when
we make present decisions about future ability.
A: Can you help me with my homework? (present)
B: Sorry. I'm busy today. But I can help you tomorrow. (future)
MODAL VERBS
Can: Permission
We sometimes use can to ask or give permission for something:
Can I smoke in this room?
You can't smoke here, but you can smoke in the garden.
(Note that we also use could, may, might for permission. The use of can for
permission is informal.)
Could
Could is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use could to:
talk about past possibility or ability
make requests
Structure of Could
MODAL VERBS
auxiliary verb
main verb
My grandmother
could
swim.
She
could not
walk.
couldn't
?
Could
your
grandmother
swim?
MODAL VERBS
Use of Could
Could: Past Possibility or Ability
We use could to talk about what was possible in the past, what we were able
or free to do:
We use could (positive) and couldn't (negative) for general ability in the
past. But when we talk about one special occasion in the past, we use be
able to (positive) and couldn't (negative).
Look at these examples:
MODAL VERBS
Past
+
-
General
Specific Occasion
My grandmother could
speak Spanish.
Could: Requests
We often use could in a question to ask somebody to do something. The
use of could in this way is fairly polite (formal):
Could you tell me where the bank is, please?
Could you send me a catalogue, please?
MODAL VERBS
Be able to
Structure of Be able to
The structure of be able to is: subject + be + able + infinitive
subject
be
main verb
able
adjective
infinitive
am
able
to drive.
She
is not
able
to drive.
able
to drive?
isn't
?
Are
you
MODAL VERBS
Notice that be able to is possible in all tenses, for example:
I was able to drive...
I will be able to drive...
I have been able to drive...
Notice too that be able to has an infinitive form:
I would like to be able to speak Chinese.
Use of Be able to
Be able to: ability
We use be able to to express ability. "Able" is an adjective meaning:
having the power, skill or means to do something. If we say "I am able
to swim", it is like saying "I can swim". We sometimes use "be able to"
instead of "can" or "could" for ability.
MODAL VERBS
"Be able to" is possible in all tenses - but "can" is possible only in the
present and "could" is possible only in the past for ability. In addition,
"can" and "could" have no infinitive form. So we use "be able to" when we
want to use other tenses or the infinitive.
Look at these examples:
I have been able to swim since I was five. (present perfect)
You will be able to speak perfect English very soon. (future simple)
I would like to be able to fly an airplane. (infinitive)
Exercises (SENTENCES).
Could he understand what you were talking about?
I could walk when I was less than a year old.
Could you tell me what time it is, please?
My grandfather was able to walk without any help last night
I would like to be able to play the piano.
How long have you been able to drive?
MODAL VERBS
Structure of Have to
Have to is often grouped with modal auxiliary verbs for convenience, but
in fact it is not a modal verb. It is not even an auxiliary verb. In the have to
structure, "have" is a main verb.
MODAL VERBS
The structure is:
subject + auxiliary verb + have + infinitive (with to)
Look at these examples in the simple tense:
subject
auxiliary
verb
main verb
have
infinitive
(with to)
has
to work.
She
do not
have
to see
the doctor.
Did
you
have
to go
to school?
MODAL VERBS
Use of Have to
infinitive
past simple
had
to work
yesterday.
present simple
have
to work
today.
MODAL VERBS
subject
auxiliary
verb
main verb
have
infinitive
future simple
will
have
to work
present
continuous
She
is
having
to wait.
present
perfect
We
have
had
to change
the time.
modal (may)
They
may
have
to do
it again.
tomorrow.
MODAL VERBS
Structure of Must
Must is a modal auxiliary verb. It is followed by a main verb.
The structure is:
subject + must + main verb
The main verb is the base verb (infinitive without "to").
Look at these examples:
subject
auxiliary must
main verb
must
go
home.
You
must
visit
us.
We
must
stop
now.
Use of Must
MODAL VERBS
MODAL VERBS
Must not, Mustn't (prohibition)
We use must not to say that something is not permitted or allowed, for
example:
Passengers must not talk to the driver.
main verb
mustn't
forget
my keys.
You
mustn't
disturb
him.
Students
must not
be
late.
MODAL VERBS
Use of Must not
Must not expresses prohibition - something that is not permitted, not
allowed. The prohibition can be subjective (the speaker's opinion) or
objective (a real law or rule). Look at these examples:
MODAL VERBS
We cannot use must not to talk about the past. We use other structures to
talk about the past, for example:
We were not allowed to enter.
I couldn't park outside the shop.
Exercises (Sentences)
Yesterday I had to finish my Geography project.
She will have to wait in line like everyone else.
All employees must be on time for work.
We mustnt forget to take the chicken out of the freezer.
If you are under 13 you have to get your parents' permission.
Your daughter may have to try on a few different sizes.
The doctor must get here as soon as he can.
Do you have to work next weekend?
MODAL VERBS
Person
Verb
Example
Contraction
shall
I shall be in tomorrow.
I'll
you
will
You'll
he, she, it
will
He'll
MODAL VERBS
1st Conjugation (objective, simple statement of fact)
Plural
Person
Verb
Example
Contraction
we
shall
We shan't
you
will
You'll
they
will
They'll
Person
Verb
Example
Contraction
will
I will do everything
possible to help.
I'll
you
shall
You'll
he, she, it
shall
It shall be done.
It'll
MODAL VERBS
2nd Conjugation (subjective, strong assertion, promise or command)
Plural
Person
Verb
Example
Contraction
we
will
We won't
you
shall
You'll
they
shall
They'll
Should
MODAL VERBS
Structure of Should
subject + should + main verb
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
MODAL VERBS
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
He
should
go.
He
should not
go.
shouldn't
?
Should
he
Notice that:
Should is invariable. There is only one form of should.
The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
go?
MODAL VERBS
Use of Should
Should: Giving advice, opinions
We often use should when offering advice or opinions (similar to ought to):
TIP: People often say "They should..." Usually, the "they" is anonymous and
means the government, or the company, or somebody else - but not us!
You should see the new James Bond movie. It's great!
You should try to lose weight.
John should get a haircut.
He shouldn't smoke. And he should stop drinking too.
What should I wear?
They should make that illegal.
There should be a law against that.
People should worry more about global warming.
MODAL VERBS
Should: Obligation, duty, correctness
Another use of should (also similar to ought to) is to indicate a kind of
obligation, duty or correctness, often when criticizing another person:
You should be wearing your seat belt. (obligation)
I should be at work now. (duty)
You shouldn't have said that to her. (correctness)
He should have been more careful.
Should you be driving so fast?
MODAL VERBS
Should: Conditionals
We sometimes use should (instead of would) for the first person singular
(I) and first person plural (we) of some conditionals:
If I lost my job I should have no money.
(If he lost his job he would have no money.)
We should be grateful if you could send us your latest catalogue.
MODAL VERBS
MODAL VERBS
Here are some more examples:
Subjunctive
typically American English
Using should
typically British English
MODAL VERBS
Should: Why should..? | How should..?
If we don't understand (or agree with) something, we may use "Why
should..?":
Why should it be illegal to commit suicide? It's your life.
"Why should..?" and "How should..?" can also indicate anger or irritation:
"Help me with this." | "Why should I?"
"Where are my keys?" | "How should I know?"
EXERCISES (SENTENCES)
People should understand that the world has changed. (Understanding,
understand, to understand)
Those children should be at school. (They should, should to, should)
If I were you I shouldnt complain. (Shouldnt, should not to, should to not)
Get me a drink | Why Should I? Get your own! (How should, Why should,
Shouldnt)
MODAL VERBS
Would
Would is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use would mainly
to:
talk about the past
talk about the future in the past
express the conditional mood
We also use would for other functions, such as:
Expressing desire, polite requests and questions, opinion or hope,
wish and regret...
Structure of Would
subject + would + main verb
The main verb is always the bare infinitive (infinitive without "to").
MODAL VERBS
+
subject
auxiliary verb
main verb
She
would
like
tea.
like
whisky.
like
coffee?
'd
-
She
would not
wouldn't
Would
she
Notice that:
Would is never conjugated. It is always would or 'd (short form).
The main verb is always the bare infinitive.
Be careful! Would and had have the same short form 'd:
He'd finished. (He had finished.)
He'd like coffee. (He would like coffee.)
Use of Would
MODAL VERBS
MODAL VERBS
We sometimes use would (rather like used to) when talking about habitual past
behavior:
Every weekday my father would come home from work at 6pm and
watch TV.
Every summer we'd go to the seaside.
Sometimes she'd phone me in the middle of the night.
We would always argue. We could never agree.
MODAL VERBS
Would: Conditionals
We often use would to express the so-called second and third
conditionals:
If he lost his job he would have no money.
If I had won the lottery I would have bought a car.
Using the same conditional structure, we often use would when giving
advice:
I wouldn't eat that if I were you.
If I were in your place I'd refuse.
MODAL VERBS
Would: Polite requests and questions
Would you open the door, please? (more polite than: Open the door,
please.)
Would you go with me? (more polite than: Will you go with me?)
Would you know the answer? (more polite than: Do you know the
answer?)
What would the capital of Nigeria be? (more polite than: What is the
capital of Nigeria?)
Would: Wish
MODAL VERBS
I wish you would stay. (I really want you to stay. I hope you will stay.)
They don't like me. I'm sure they wish I'd resign.
Would: Uncertainty
He would seem to be getting better. (less certain than: He seems to be
getting better.)
It would appear that I was wrong. (less certain than: It appears that I
was wrong.)
MODAL VERBS
Would: Derogatory
They would say that, wouldn't they?
John said he didn't steal the money. | Well, he would, wouldn't he?
EXERCISES (SENTENCES)
I knew he would be famous one day. (To be, be, will).
He said that hed help me. (Hed, he would to, he woulded).
I asked him to walk faster but he wouldnt. (Would, wouldnt, d)
As children we would play together every day. (Playing, play, to play)
Nobody knew that one day he would be rich. (Will, would, would to)
If you asked me, Id say you were crazy. (Would I, Id, Id would)
Would you like to go? (To like, like, liked)
Do you think he'd help? | I'm sure he would. (He help, hed, he would)
He would seem to be improving. (Seems, seem, seemd)
MODAL VERBS
Modal
May
Example
Uses
Future possibility
Might
Possibility of being
true
Present possibility
Future possibility
Strong possibility
May
MODAL VERBS
May is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use may mainly to:
ask for permission / polite requests
suggest something is possible
express future possibility
We can use 'may' to ask for permission. However this is rather formal
and not used very often in modern spoken English
May I borrow your pen?
May we think about it?
May I go now?
We use 'may' to suggest something is possible
It may rain later today.
I may not have time to do it today.
Pete may come with us
MODAL VERBS
In informal English, can is often used with the meaning to be allowed to.
e.g.
He says I can take the day off.
Can I have some more soup?
However, in formal English, it is considered more correct to use the
auxiliary may in such situations., for example:
He says I may take the day off.
May I have some more soup?
Might
Might is an auxiliary verb, a modal auxiliary verb. We use might mainly to:
express present and future possibility
ask for permission / polite requests
talk about past possibility
MODAL VERBS
Might
We use 'might' to suggest a possibility of something. Often we read that
'might' suggests a smaller possibility that 'may', there is in fact little
difference and 'might is more usual than 'may' in spoken English.
She might be at home by now but it's not sure at all.
It might rain this afternoon.
I might not have time to go to the shops for you.
I might not go.
For the past, we use 'might have'.
He might have tried to call while I was out.
I might have dropped it in the street.
MODAL VERBS
Like could and would, might can be used in polite requests and
suggestions. The auxiliaries could, would and might can be used to
express differing degrees of politeness:
Degree of Politeness
Auxiliary
could
Quite polite
would
Very polite
might
Auxiliary
may, might
must
MODAL VERBS
For instance, may and might are often used in the Simple conjugation to
express the idea that an event is somewhat probable. For example:
You might be right.
It may snow later this afternoon.
Similarly, must can be used in the Simple conjugation to express the idea
that an event is highly probable.
e.g.
He must be mistaken.
In the following examples, the Perfect conjugations with may, might and
must are used to express differing degrees of probability relating to past
events.
Rupert might have taken the money, but it seems unlikely.
It is possible he may have called while we were out.
It must have rained last night, because the streets are wet.
MODAL VERBS