English

Modal Auxiliary Verbs : Expressing Attitudes

 Use Of Can

1. We use ‘Can’ to say that someone has an ability to do something.

 Examples:-

(1) Birds can fly but we can’t.

(2) Bhavya can paly the violin.
(3) Can you drive a car?
(4) I can’t move this sofa seat alone because it is
too heavy.
2. We use ‘can’ to ask for the permission and to give permission.

(1) Can I use your mobile, please?

(2) The meeting is over. Now you can go home.
(3) Can I go with my friends to see a movie, papa?
 (3). We use ‘can’ to express possibility of an action or event.

 Examples:-

(1) We can buy a new car next month.

(2). A cyclone can hit Gujarat in next 24 hours.
(3).It can rain tonight.
(4). The police inspector said, "can it be a murder
case?”
 (4). We use ‘can’ to express capacity.
 Examples:-

(1). This tanker can hold 4000 litres of oil.

(2). This stadium can accommodate 25 thousand spectators.
 (5). We use ‘can’ to express someone’s power to do something.

 Examples:-

(1). A traffic policeman can fine you for violating traffic rules.
(2). A magistrate can send an accused behind the bars.
 (6).we use ‘can’ for an office.

(1). Can you give me a

 Examples:-
lift?
(2). I can lend you money without interest. Don’t worry.
 (7). ‘can’ is used for a suggestion.

 Examples:-

(1). Amitabh said, “you can use a lifeline.

(2). You can stay in hotel Ashoka at mount Abu.
 (8). We use can cannot/ can’t for prohibition.

 Examples:-

(1). The gatekeeper said, you cannot go to inside”.

(2). You can’t write in red ink in the answer book.
 (9). We use ‘can’ to make a request in an interrogative sentence.

 Examples:-

(1). Can you help me?

 (10). Can be/can’t be is used for assumption.

 Examples:-

1). There is smoke going up in the sky. It can be a fire somewhere.

2). He cannot be Tushar because Tushar is a tall man.
 USE OF ‘COULD’
‘Could’ is the past tense from of ‘can’

(1). ‘Could’ is used to express ability or capacity to do in the past.

 Examples:-
1). I could climb trees when I was a student.
2). My father could read without glasses till he turned 40.
 (2).‘Could’ is used to make a polite request.
 Examples:-

1). Could you lend me your camera for a day?

2). Could I have a word with you?
 (3)(A). Could not=couldn’t
Could not=was/were not able to
Couldn’t is used to express non-performance of an action in the past.

 Examples:-

1). My son could not pass the examination at the fist attempt.
2). I ran fast but couldn’t catch the bus.
3). We couldn’t reach there in time because of heavy rain.
 (3)(B).‘Could’ is used to express inability for doing an action in the past.

 Examples:-
1). We couldn’t attend our nephew’s birthday party because of inevitable circumstances.
2). The doctors couldn’t save the patient’s life.
 Use of ‘may’
May is used
(a) To express permission and request.
 Examples:-
1).You may come in.
2). May I ask you a question?
 (b). To denote possibility, conjecture or likelihood.

 Examples:-

(1). It may rain tonight.

3).They may arrive late at night.
4). I may not be at home in the evening.
5). Rahul Gandhi said, ‘I may also be killed one day like Rajiv and Indira Gandhi.
 (c). To express purpose in a ‘that clause.’

 Examples:-

1). We eat that we may live.

2). He flatters his boss so that he may win his favour.
 (d). To express a wish.

 Examples:-

1). May his soul rest in peace!

2). May you live long!
3). May you recover soon!
 May be + ‘ing’
 Examples:-
1). He may be sleeping in his room now.
OR

Perhaps he is sleeping in his room.

2). My son may be doing his homework now.
 Use of ‘might’
(a). ‘Might’ is used denote a less possibility.

 Examples:-
(1). Renuka might pass.
2). The doctor said, “The patient might recover.”
3). You might not believe it.
 (c). ‘Might’ is used to express extreme
politeness.
 Examples:-

1). Might I come with you?

2). Might I use your mobile phone?
 Use of ‘should’

(a). To denote duty or obligation.

 Examples:-

1). We should love our neighbours.

2). You should take care of your old parents.
3). You shouldn’t travel without a ticket.
 (b). To denote a condition, supposition, possibility.

 Examples:-

1). If it should rain heavily, we shall have a holiday.

2). Mummy, if Piyush should come, ask him to wait.
 (C). When giving and seeking advice.

 Examples:-

1). You should control your temper.

2). You should forgive those who hurt your feelings.
3). You should help the blind.
4). What should I do now?
 (d). After ‘lest’ to express a negative purpose.

 Examples:-

1). The road is slippery. Walk carefully lest you should fall.
2). Please note down lest you should forget.
 (d). To disapprove something that was done in the past.

 Examples:-

1). I should not have insulted him.

2). Ranjan should not have taken such drastic step.
e). Shouldn’t + past participial is used to express an idea that
something wrong or undesirable was done in the past.
 Examples:-

1). Ranjan shouldn’t have betrayed his friend

2). You shouldn’t have wasted your time.
(f). Should + past participle is used to express an assumption about a
past action.

 Examples:-

1). Since my father stared early today, he should have caught the
first train.
2). He should have reached Nagpur.
 (g).‘Should’ means ‘in case’.

 Examples:-

1). Take an umbrella with you should it rain in the evening.

2). Keep this medicine with you should you need it.
3). Should you need my help, please call me anytime.
 ‘Use of must’
(a). To say emphatically that it is necessary to do something. It also conveys the
sense of order to some extent.

 Examples:-

1). You must finish the work in time.

(b). To express necessity, compulsion or a strong moral obligation.

 Examples:-

1). We must be loyal to our country.

 (c). To express moral duty.

 Examples:-

1). “You must pay your school fees on time”, said my class teacher.
2). An employee must be loyal to his employer.
 (d). To express fixed determination.

 Examples:-

1). I must go abroad.

2). I must resign now.
 (e). To express inevitability.

 Examples:-
1). As your health doesn’t
support you, you must retire
now.
 (f). To express likelihood.

 Examples:-

1). She must have finished cooking by 9 am.

2). As the train was cancelled many passengers must have been
stranded.
3). He must have reached there by this time.
 (f). To express prohibition command.

 Examples:-

1). Passengers mustn’t smoke in the bus.

2). “You must stay at home,” said my father.
 (g). To express assumption.

 Examples:-

1). He is preparing food. He must be the cook.

2). You haven’t eaten anything since morning. You must be
hungry.
 (h). When giving response.
 Examples:-

1). Must I see him today?

Positive response

Yes, you must.

Negative response.

No, you need not.

 2). Must he seek your permission?

Positive response:

Yes, he must.

Negative response:

No he need not.
 Use of ‘would’
(1). ‘would’ is the past from of will. When reporting what somebody has said, we
use ‘would’ in place of will in indirect narration.

 Examples:-
1). Hemant said that he would call his friend at night.
2). Ashok told Asha that he would not go to see a film.
 (2). To express a wish.
 Examples:-

1). I would like to buy this nokia mobile.

2). He would like to become a doctor.
3). Ajay would like to have a cup of tea.
 (3). To express frequent past actions.

 Examples:-

1). After lunch my father would have a short nap/siesta.

2). My friend would help me whenever I needed.
 (4). To ask somebody a question in a polite way.

 Examples:-

1). Would you explain this point to me, please?

2). Would you call me after ten minutes? I am busy on the other
line now.
3). Would you mind helping me to filing in this form?
4). Would you mind leaving me alone for a few minutes?
5). Would you mind switching the fan on?
 (5). To denote condition.

 Examples:-

1). Had he met me, I would have told him everything.

2). If I were in your please, I would have accepted the offer.
 (6). To denote preference or liking.

 Examples:-

(6). I would go by train.

2). We would go to see a film.
3). I would have a cup of coffee.
 (7). ‘Would’ is usually used with I to make s request/ advice/
suggestion/ opinion.

 Examples:-

1). I would request you to grant me a week’s leave.

2). The doctor said to me, “I would advice you to have patience”.
3). I wouldn’t suggest a job to him.
4). What’s your opinion of Mr. Deven Desai? Would say he is
honest and diligent.
 Use of ‘have to’ / ‘have got to’
‘Have to’/ ‘Have got to’ express obligation / necessary in the present so it has
the same meaning as ‘must’.

 Examples:-
1). We have to/have got to defend our motherland.
2). I have to go to Surat now.
2). Have I to pay anything for it?
3). You have not to pay anything for it.
5). We have to look after our kids.
 Have to had to

 Examples:-

1). I had to finish my work before 6 pm.

2). He had not to go there for that reason.
3). I had to travel by bus because I missed the train.
 Have to future tense will have to.

 Examples:-
1). They are late. They will have to sit in the last row.
 Use of ‘ought to’

‘Ought to’ is more emphatic than ‘should’.

It is used with the bare from of a verb.

‘Ought to’ is used

To denote emphatic advice.

‘Ought to’ is used
(1).To denote emphatic advice.
 Examples:-
1). You ought to get up early.
2). We ought to obey the traffic rules.
3). You ought not to make a noise in the hospital.
 (2). To say what is the right thing to do.

 Examples:-

1). They ought to apologize.

2). You ought to reply him urgently.
3). You ought not to allow him to busy such a costly mobile.
 Use of ‘used to’
‘Used to’ is used to express a past habit or state.
 Examples:-

1). I used to play cricket at school.

2). My father used to ride a horse in this youth.
3). My daughter’s hair used to be curly in her childhood.
4). There used to be a pond here.
(but now it doesn’t exist.)
 Use of ‘need’
To types of ‘need’
(a). As a principal verb
 Examples:-
1). I need some help from you.
2). Do you need an umbrella?
3). No, I don’t need an umbrella.
4). He will need a car in near future.
5). My friend needed some money to buy a car and I gave him
a loan without interest.
 (b). As a modal auxiliary verb.

As an auxiliary verb, it expresses necessity or obligation and

is used only in the present tense. It is used only in interrogative
and negative sentences.
 (a). In interrogative sentences.

 Examples:-

1). Need you go there today?

2). Need he drive the car faster?
3). Need I attend the meeting today?
 (b). In negative sentences.

 Examples:-

1). He need not seek my permission.

2). You need not worry. I am there to help you.
Need as a modal auxiliary verb doesn’t have past from.
The past is expressed with ‘need have + past participle in questions and
‘needn’t have + past participle’ in negative sentences.

 Examples:-
a). Need the mill workers have gone on strike?
(But they did go on strike.)
b). You needn’t have bought this second-hand car at such a high
price.
Needn’t of place don’t/doesn’t need

(1). We needn’t hurry.

(OR)
We don’t need to hurry.
2). I needn’t do it. (without to)
(OR)
I needn’t need to do it.
 Use of ‘dare’
(A). As a principal verb.

 Dare means to challenge / ‘to have the courage’.

 Examples:-

1). The here dared the tortoise to run the race.

2). Sachin dares other batsmen to break his records.
3). I have a problem but I don’t dare to say it to anyone.
4). We dare (to) climb the mountain Girnar.
5). Sardar Patel dared to call a spade a spade.
 (b). As a modal auxiliary verb.

Dare= to have enough courage.

• The negative from daren’t mans to lack courage.
 Interrogative sentences:

 Examples:-

1). How dare you say such words?

2). Dare she go there alone?
3). Dare you say that he is a liar?
4). Dare he copy in the exam?
 Negative sentences:

 Examples:-

1). I dare not (daren’t) smoke in the presence of my father.

2). He daren’t travel without a ticket.
Note :- daren’t is always in the plural from.
He/She/They daren’t utter a word in the staff meeting.