MODAL AUXILIARIES

AND RELATED
STRUCTURES

Chapter three
What do you know about the following words

1. Auxiliary
2. Request and Permission
3. Ability
4. Expectation
5. Preference
6. Advice
7. Need and Obligation
8. Lack of Need
9. Possibility , Impossibility, and Probability
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Can
Could
May
Might
Must
Ought to
Shall
Should
Will
Would
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

I should open a saving account. Simple form

follows.
He can speak English.

He should not or shouldn’t have a late night.

Should he have a late night?

Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Types of questions: e.g.

May I help you? Yes, you can.

There won’t be a service charge, will there? No,

there won’t.

When should we go there?

Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Request Action (you) : (please)

Would: Would you help me please?

Could: Could you help me please?

Will: Will you help me please?

Can: Can you help me please?
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Requesting and Giving Permission, (I, We):

May I, we sit here? No, you may not.

Could I use your pencil? Yes, you can.

Can I take this chair? Of course you can.

Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Making Requests: Borrow and Lend

(May, Could, Can) I, We borrow this from you?

(Would, Could, Will, Can) you lend me this

pen?
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Ability.

Can, Could, Be able to

Can Vs. Can’t
Pronunciation:
Weak Vs. Strong
e.g.
I can open a checking account.
I can’t get a job.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Expectations:

Should, Ought to
i.e.
Expect to, will probably
e.g.
We’ll go to the station at 9:00. The train should/
ought to be in by then.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Ought to

seldom occurs in questions and negative

statements.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Examples:
I expect to receive a letter from my parents soon.
I should / ought to receive a letter from my
parents soon.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Preferences:
Would like, Would Rather
i.e.
Would like: expresses desires for things that
haven’t happened yet.
e.g.
I’d like to visit Egypt. I wouldn’t like to live
there, though.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Preferences:
Would like, Would Rather
i.e.
Would rather: expresses preferences or choices.
Than + verb often follows it.
Not comes after rather in negative.
e.g.
I’d rather travel than spend a lot of money on
clothes.
He would rather not take a quiz.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Giving Advice:
Should, Ought to (not in Q or N), Had better (stronger & doesn’t appear in
affirmative Q)
i.e.
Used to give advice
e.g.
You should/ought to attend class regularly.
Should you take an early class?
You shouldn’t be absent.
You’d better hurry or you’ll be late.
Hadn’t you better hurry?
You’d better not stay here.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Need or Obligation:

Must (not), Have to, Had to
i.e.
In affirmatives, must expresses need or obligation.
e.g.
You must pass grammar 1 to study grammar 2.
i.e.
In negatives, it expresses prohibition. See the
footnote p.121.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

e.g.
You must not drive without a license.
The opposite is: You may/ can
Have to
i.e.
Expresses present need, future need or obligation.
e.g.
You have to take many quizzes.
You’ll have to take many quizzes.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Had to
i.e.
Expresses a past need or obligation.
e.g.
I had to take the driving license test twice.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing lack of Need:

Not have to
i.e.
Expresses that something isn’t, wasn’t, will not be
necessary. It is the opposite of must and have to.
e.g.
You don’t have to take the test if you don’t want
to.
I didn’t have to study hard to pass.
I won’t have to stay late tonight.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Possibility:
May, Might, Could, May/Might Not

May
i.e.
In affirmatives, may, might, and could are similar
in meaning. They mean:

Maybe, Perhaps, It’s possible

Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Impossibility or Disbelief:

Can’t / Couldn’t
i.e.
They show surprise or shock
e.g.
It can’t be five o’clock.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Expressing Probability:
Must / Must not
i.e.
Probably
e.g.
John walks five miles a day. He must enjoy it.
Or
He must not have enough time/money to ride the
bus.
Auxiliaries: (not main verb, OK?)

Unfortunately

The book hasn’t introduced the past tense.

Practice Modal Auxiliaries
Identify the kind of modal auxiliary used in each
sentence. Write a, b, or c in each blank.

a. Expressing ability
b. Expressing expectations
c. Expressing preferences
Practice Modal Auxiliaries
Identify the kind of modal auxiliary used in each
sentence. Write a, b, or c in each blank.
a. Expressing ability
b. Expressing expectations
c. Expressing preferences
The train ought to be in by 9:00. ...........
How long should it take us to get to the station?.......
Most working people can get a credit card. .........
Last year I could speak English. The year before
couldn't. ...........
Practice Modal Auxiliaries
Identify the kind of modal auxiliary used in each
sentence. Write a, b, or c in each blank.
a. Expressing ability
b. Expressing expectations
c. Expressing preferences
I'd like to visit New York City. ........
I would rather travel in the United States than spend a
lot of money on clothes. .........
A permanent resident is able to work. ........
Practice Modal Auxiliaries
Identify the kind of modal auxiliary used in each
sentence. Write a, b, or c in each blank.
a. Giving advice
b. Expressing need or obligation
c. Expressing lack of need
You'd better hurry or you'll be late to class. ............
You must have a driver's license in order to drive. .........
You should not be absent. .........
You don't have to take the English test if you don't want to. .........
I didn't have to study very hard to pass. ............
You will have to pass a driving test. ............
You ought to attend class regularly. .............
I won't have to study late tonight. .............
Practice Modal Auxiliaries
Identify the kind of modal auxiliary used in each
sentence. Write a, b, or c in each blank.
a. Giving advice
b. Expressing need or obligation
c. Expressing lack of need
You must have a license in order to drive. ............
I had to take the written test twice. ...........
Practice Modal Auxiliaries
Choose the correct modal auxiliary from the
parentheses.

It's possible that it (could / must)  rain tomorrow.

I don't believe it! It (might not / can't)  be five o'clock already!
John walks five miles a day. He (must / might)  enjoy walking.
Ali walks to school. He (couldn't / must not)  have enough money to ride the
bus.
That (couldn't / may not)  be Irene! She's out of town.
I (couldn't / might not)  see you tomorrow.