Modals

Modals
Nam-
Mob. :-
Definition:- Modal verb is a type of auxiliary verb that is used to indicate
modality – that is - likelihood, ability, permission, and obligation. Modals are
special verbs which behave very irregularly in English.
Common Modal Verbs
Shall, Should, Can, Could, Will, Would, May, Might, Must, Ought to, Used to, Dare & Need. 3
USAGES
May – It’s the most common modal for expressing possibility or seeking permission in
present.
Use
Possibility
Permission to do sth. in the present (substitute
form: to be allowed to)
Polite suggestion
Examples
It may rain today.
May I go to the cinema?
May I help you?
Should - We use should mainly to give advice or make recommendations, talk about
obligation or talk about probability and expectation.
Would - We use would mainly to talk about the past, talk about the future in the past and
express the conditional mood.
Use
wish, request (more polite than will)
habits in the past
Examples
Would you shut the door, please?
Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.
Can – Can is used to express ability/inability, possibility/impossibility, asking for permission
(informal) & request.
Use
Ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form:
to be able to)
Permission to do sth. in the present (substitute
form: to be allowed to)
Request
Offer
Suggestion
Possibility
Examples
I can speak English.
Can I go to the cinema?
Can you wait a moment, please?
I can lend you my car till tomorrow.
Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?
It can get very hot in Gwalior.
Prof. Akash Sharma, Kakda Abhinav Homes, Near S.I.R.T. Ayodhya Bypass Road , Bhopal - 462041
E-mail – akashindianwisdom@gmail.com , Mobile: – 9 0 3 9 – 2 2 4 – 2 2 4
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Modals
Nam-
Mob. :-
Could - Could is the past form of can. Besides, Could is used as a substitute of can and it is
considered softer/more polite than can.
Use
Ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to
be able to)
Permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form:
to be allowed to)
Polite question
Polite request
Polite offer
Polite suggestion
Possibility
Examples
I could speak English.
I could go to the cinema.
Could I go to the cinema, please?
Could you wait a moment, please?
I could lend you my car till tomorrow.
Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?
It could get very hot in Morena.
Must – We use must for intense obligation & forceful advice. Its negative form is used to
mention prohibitions.
USE
Force, necessity
Possibility
Advice, recommendation
EXAMPLES
I must go to the
supermarket today.
You must be tired.
You must see the new film
with Brad Pitt.
Prohibition
You must not work on dad’s computer.
Used to – This modal is used to express habitual actions or customs.
Use
Examples
Past habits
I used to commute between Vidisha and
Bhopal.
Present hardened habits
I am used to waking up at 4 am every day.
Need – This auxiliary verb is used to mention necessity of doing sth., it is mostly used in
negative sentences. USE
Necessity
Not necessary
EXAMPLES
Need I say more?
I needn't take lunch, I have taken brunch.
Might -
Use
Possibility (less possible than may)
Hesitant offer
Examples
It might rain today
Might I help you?
Ought to Use
Advice
Examples
You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.
Prof. Akash Sharma, Kakda Abhinav Homes, Near S.I.R.T. Ayodhya Bypass Road , Bhopal - 462041
E-mail – akashindianwisdom@gmail.com , Mobile: – 9 0 3 9 – 2 2 4 – 2 2 4
– (0755) 4 - 2 2 4 - 2 2 4
4
Modals
NamObligation
Mob. :You ought to switch off the light when you leave the
room.
5
Prof. Akash Sharma, Kakda Abhinav Homes, Near S.I.R.T. Ayodhya Bypass Road , Bhopal - 462041
E-mail – akashindianwisdom@gmail.com , Mobile: – 9 0 3 9 – 2 2 4 – 2 2 4
– (0755) 4 - 2 2 4 - 2 2 4