Modal Auxiliaries (Modals)
Points
to remember :
·
Modals are special verbs used as helping verbs.
·
They are used with main/principal verb
as helping verbs (Modals + V1)
·
They don’t change form according to
tenses, persons of pronouns and number and gender of noun.
·
For past reference there are different
modal auxiliaries.
·
They express various moods and attitudes.
S. No.
|
Modals
|
Expressions /
Moods / Attitudes
|
1.
|
Can
|
Ability, capacity, possibility
|
2.
|
Could
|
hopeful possibility, request, suggestion
|
3.
|
Will
|
strong possibility, assurance, determination
|
4.
|
Shall
|
Polite offer of help, wish, hope, formal expression
|
5.
|
Would
|
Formal and polite request, want,
desire
|
6.
|
Should
|
Duty, obligation, advice
|
7.
|
May
|
Permission, possibility (less likely than will)
|
8.
|
Might
|
Least possibility, probability, doubt
|
9.
|
Must
|
Necessity, strong obligation
|
10.
|
Used to
|
Habitual action
|
11.
|
Need
|
Urgency, necessity
|
12.
|
Dare
|
Show courage
|
13.
|
Prefer
|
Choose option
|
14.
|
Ought to
|
Obligation with desirability
|
15.
|
Have to
|
compulsion
|
Compound
Modal Auxiliaries – could have, would have, should have,
will have, shall have, must have express similar moods in perfect tense.
Examples
:
1.
Can (Ability, capacity, possibility)
I can do
it. (ability)
He can
solve this sum in a minute. (ability)
Can
you lift this heavy bag? (capacity)
It cannot be true. (possibility)
2.
Could (past equivalent of can, hopeful possibility, request,
suggestion)
She could
have been little more polite? (suggestion)
You could
help your friend. (possibility)
Could you pass me the dish? (request)
3.
Will (Certainty, strong
possibility, assurance, determination)
They will
visit a hilly station in summer. (certainty/decision)
I will
score above 90% marks in the examinations. (assurance)
It will
rain next week. (strong possibility)
4.
Would (Formal and polite request, want,
desire)
I would
like to have coffee. (formal and polite form of want)
He would
never ask for his help. (strong possibility)
Would
you please answer my query. (formal and polite request)
5.
Shall (Polite offer of help, wish, hope)
When shall
we see you again? (wish/formal expression)
Shall
I do it for you? (polite offer of help)
We shall overcome. (hope)
6.
Should (duty, obligation, advice)
We should obey
our teachers. (obligation)
You should
never tell lies. (advice)
7.
May (Permission, possibility (less likely than will))
You may
sit wherever you want. (giving permission)
May
I go now? (seeking permission)
It may
rain today. (possibility)
8.
Might (Least possibility, probability, expression of doubt)
I might
come for dinner tonight. (least possibility)
He might
be at home now. (probability)
9.
Must (Necessity, strong obligation)
We must
follow traffic rules. (strong obligation)
You must
practise hard for the examinations. (necessity)
10.
Used to (Habitual action)
I used to
walk a mile to go to school. (habitual action)
I used to play marbles when I was a child. (habitual
action)
11.
Need (Urgency, necessity)
We need
to perform our duties sincerely. (Urgency)
You need
to work hard to pass the test. (necessity)
12.
Dare (Show courage)
How dare
you contradict me? (Show courage)
He doesn’t
dare speak to me. (Show courage)
13.
Ought to (Obligation with
desirability)
We ought
to love our neighbour. (Obligation with desirability)
We ought
to help the needy. (Obligation with desirability)
14.
Have to (compulsion)
You have to complete this work before you leave.
(compulsion)
I have to reach home by 9 p.m. (compulsion)
15.
Prefer (Choose option)
I prefer
to live in plains. (Choose option)
I prefer
coffee to tea. (Choose option)
Video on will or shall
Exercises
:
Fill
in the blanks appropriately.
a. I _____________ swim when I was young.
b. ___________ we go to some other place?
c. Arjun _______ eat with us tonight.
d. __________ you like to have a sandwich?
e. People _______ exercise regularly.
f. ______ you wait till I come?
g. He _______ come tomorrow.
h. You ________ take complete bedrest.
i. Rohan _________ improve his spelling.
j. We ________ help the poor.
Video on Integrated Grammar
Answers :
a. Used to b.
Shall c. may d. would e. should f. will
g. may h.
must i. needs to j. ought to
He
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