Auxiliary and Modal Verbs

Introduction

• By now you might have an idea of what the auxiliary or modal verbs are
used for.
• If not, you will by the end of this.
• Auxiliary verbs are the helping verbs used in sentences along with the verbs
to set the mood, tense, tone of the sentence.
• We further divide the auxiliaries into two types- primary auxiliaries and
modal auxiliaries.
Primary Auxiliaries

• The words “be”, “have” and “do” are called primary auxiliaries.
• These are known as primary because they are the most frequently occurring
auxiliaries and are used in their different forms in the English language.
• Evidently, the forms of “be” are “is”, “am”, “are”, “was” and “were”.
• The forms of “have” are “have”, “has” and “had”.
• Lastly, the forms of “do” are “do”, “does” and “did”.
Using Primary Auxiliaries
1] Be
i) To form continuous tense:
• He is reading a book.
• We were reading a book.
• He has been reading a book.
ii) For passive voice:
• The work is done.
• The work is being done.
iii) To express feelings, age, size, weight, price, time etc.:
• Today is a warm day.
• I am happy today.
• My weight is 50 kgs.
Using Primary Auxiliaries
• 2] Have

i) To form perfect tense:

•He has read the book.

•We had done our household responsibilities.

ii) To form passive voice:

•The work has been done.

•The room had been cleaned.

iii) To express a compulsion:

•He has to go.

•You have to obey the law.

Using Primary Auxiliaries
The word 'do' can be written as: do, does, did.
• 'Do' is used in an emphatic case in a positive sentence.
• It also forms the interrogative of the Simple Present (one-word verb) and of the Simple Past (one-
word verb).
• 'Do' is used in order to make a request.
• 'Do, does and did' are used in simple present or simple past tenses in negative sentences. 

Example:
I do visit the library every Sunday.  ('do' is used in emphatic case)
I don't like sweets.  (used in negative sentences)
Do you have a pen? (used as an interrogative word)
Please  do come for the Diwali Part.  (used as an request)
Can and Could

• ‘Can’ state’s ability: I can walk to the hotel.

• ‘Could’ is used for a request: Could I go to the party tonight?

• It also indicates permission: You can go to the party tonight.

• It is used as the past tense of can in indirect speech: You said you could help me.
• Could is used to indicate ability in the past: He could dance well when I last met him.
• The negative form of could is couldn't in spoken English and could not in written
English.
May and Might

• May is used to ask for permission: May I come in?

• It is used to express a wish: May you have a good life ahead.

• We can also use ‘may’ to express possibility: There may be some hope.

• ‘May’ indicates a weak possibility whereas ‘might’ indicates a weaker possibility: I

may come today. She might come tomorrow.
Shall, Should, Will, Would
i) Shall is used in the first person and will in the second and third person:

• I shall not come today.

• You will work for me.

• He will not listen to you.

ii) We can also use shall in second or third person to express a threat, command or a promise:

• You shall be awarded suitably.

• He shall never show up here again.

iii) Shall can also be used in the first person to indicate an offer or suggestion:

• Shall I accompany you?

iv) Will is used to express a decision:

• I will not come today.

v) It can also be used to indicate a habit:

• He will drink a cup of coffee as usual.

vi) We can also use will for an invitation:

• Will you attend my cousin’s wedding?

Must and Ought to
Must is used to express necessity or obligation.
For example in sentences :
• You must Improve your spelling.
• We must get up early.
• Must is expressing a necessity.
Also, Must refers to the present or the near future. It is important to note that must has no past form.
Ought (to) expresses moral obligation or desirability; for example
• We ought to love our neighbours.
• We ought to help him.
• You ought to know better.
Ought (to) can also be used to express probability. For example
• Prices ought to come down soon.
• This book ought to be very useful.
Used

• It can indicate a discontinued habit: I used to go to the gym every evening.

Need

• ‘Need’ can be used to denote certainty: We need to win this.

• We can also use need to denote requirement: I need you to stay.

Dare

• Dare is a modal verb that indicates strong ability or being bold enough: How dare you argue with me?

• We can also use dare to strike a challenge: I dare you to cross the bridge in 30 seconds.