Modal Auxiliary Verbs Are Used to Moderate the Main Verb

8/12/2019 Modal Auxiliary Verbs Are Used to Moderate the Main Verb

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Modal auxiliary verbs are used to moderate the main verb, that is to enhance or restrict the verb

to a certain context.

The most common modal auxiliaries in English are:

can

could

may

should

might

will

must

would

Notice the usage of modals in the following sentences:

I pay my taxes. General declaration of fact. Paying taxes is

something I normally do.

I can pay my taxes. Expresses ability. I have the means (funds) to

pay.

I might pay my taxes. Expresses possibility, but not certainty.Maybe I will pay; maybe I won't.

I will pay my taxes. Expresses future intent. I resolve to do it atsome later time.

I should pay my taxes. Expresses mild obligation. It is required, and

I expect to comply.

I could pay my taxes. Expresses possibility. If I have nothing else

to do with the money, I might pay taxes.

I would pay my taxes. (In this case), expresses reservation. If I had

the money (but I don't). . .

I must pay my taxes. Expresses strong obligation. I am required

and have to comply.

Modals are followed by only the base formof the verb and are not used aloneunless there is a

clear connection to a main verb.

He must to finish his homework.

He must finish his homework.

Jack could heard the bell.

WRONG

RIGHT

WRONG


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Jack could hear the bell.

Penny will going to the movie.

Penny will go to the movie.

RIGHT

WRONG

RIGHT

There are many ways to make requests in English. The most common involves using theimperative and modals. See the examples below:

Using the Imperati ve

The imperative is the simple form of the verb. The

subject of an imperative sentence is understood as "you" although it is usually not spoken.

Open the door.

Will you help me?

Pick up your toys.

Please help me.

(You) open the door.

Yes, I will (help you).

(You) pick up your toys.

(You) please help me.

The imperative is often used by persons of authority when speaking to subordinates, e.g. parent

to child.

Using Modals

To show respect and politeness, most people use modal

expressions when making requests. For example:

Will you...?

Would you...?

Would you please...?

Could you (please)...?

Could you possibly...?

Would you kindly...?

Will you open the door for me?

Would you open the door for me?

Would you please open the door (for me)?

Could you (please)...? Could you (please) open the door?

Could you possibly open the door?

Would you kindly open the door?


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Would you mind (Ving )...?

Would you be so kind as to...?

Would you mind opening the door?

Would you be so kind as to open the door?

Common Problems with Modals

1. Using "to" unnecessarily:

Incorrect

They going to meet us at the theater.

He should to eat his dinner.

I had better to go now.

You must not to use that pencil.

Correct

They are going to meet us at the theater.

He should eat his dinner.

I had better go now.

You must not use that pencil.

2. Using anything but the base form after a modal:John could heard the bell.

Penny will going to the movie.

John could hear the bell.

Penny will go to the movie.

3. Using double modals:

You should ought to speak English.

She might can help me.

You ought to speak English. /should speak

She might be able to help me.

4. Omitting "be" in certain modal expressions:

They going to meet us at the theater.

Jack supposed to take his medicine.

They are going to meet us at the theater.

Jack is supposed to take his medicine.5. Using wrong word order in questions:

How I can help you?

Where I should go for the meeting?

How can I help you?

Where should I go for the meeting?

Degrees of Certainty

Will /

Might

Will / Might: expressing degrees

of certainty

will may might

Polar bears will perish. (100%

certain)
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could it is possible that

They might not survive in the arctic.(< 50% certainty)

IntentFuture & Past

Will /

Would

Will / Would: expressing intent or

refusal

will / would intent won't / wouldn't refusal

I will win this singing contest!I thought that I would win that contest.

The judges won't vote for me. They

refuse.

The judges wouldn't vote for me. They

refused.

Be going /Will

Be going / Will : expressing intent vs.prediction

will be going [to + verb]

I am going to text Brad thenews.

I will call Jill tomorrow to see

how she is.

We are going to go to the

movies.We are going to come home.

Scheduled ActivitiesPresent & Future

Scheduled Scheduled Events: indicating planned Calendar On Thursday, I assist the
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Events acitivites and events

presentstatingreocurring or habitialactivities

present continous

statingnear future personal plans

futurestating predictions,information, estimations or

calculations

Activities librarian at the PublicLibrary. (routine)

I am working at the preschoolon Wednesday. (near future,

personal plan)

I will get there around noon.

(scheduled/ estimated)

Preference and Request

Would

Would: stating preference, request, habit or

excuse

would you rather have X or Y(preference)

would you like (preference) would (used to) would you(request) would have(make an excuse) would rather have (past

preference)

Would you like some coffee?Would you rather have tea or coffee?

On Sundays, we would visit our

relatives

I would have stopped smoking, but itwas too difficult.

I would rather have found an easy way

out, but I didn't.

Expectation

Should

Should & Should have: expressing

expectation, convention or advice

should (expectation) will (expectation) are supposed to (social

The movie should be available nextweek.

The movie will be available next

week. (expectation)

Should we wear black pants to work?

(convention)
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convention)

ought to (option or advice) should have (expectation

not met)

would have (excuse)

Are we supposed to wear black pantsto work?(convention)

You should try ordering your moviesonline.(suggestion)

She ought not to talk on her cell phonewhen she's with you. (advice)

Options & Advice

Could /

ShouldCould / Should: offering options

and advice

could should

You could try using a hammer.

(option, another choice)

You should be careful. (advice)

Degrees of Advisability

Should/

Must

Should/ Must: expressing advisability

and necessity

advisability advice necessity not required

Students should be honest aboutdownloading copyrighted music.

They must not download copyrightedmusic.

They have to respect artists' rights toearn fair profits.

The Recording Industry doesn'thaveto price their CDs so high.

Conclusions & Inferences
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Must

have

Must have: making guesses,

inferences and conclusions

might might have must must have

She's sad. She might miss her family orshe might be disappointed.

Also, she is alone. She has nothing but a

half-empty glass.

She must be depressed.

Ability

Can/

could

Can/ Could: expressing physical, mental and

potential ability

physical ability mental ability potential manage to

I can lift a car.

I can change a tire.

Driving drunk can cause a fatal

accident.

I was able to pass my driving

test. (single event)

Permission

May /

Can

May/ Can: requesting permission and offering

suggestions

permission request invitation / suggestion

You may leave early.

You can leave early.

informalMay I see your arm?

Shall we dance?

Let's dance

Would you like to dance ?
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Mixed Time Frames

ModalAgreement

Modals Agreement: in mixed

time frames

so that which that because

Apple said that it would introduce morefunctionality with the newer software.

Future

Perfect

Future Perfect: making predictions

presentstatement of intent future perfect statement of

prediction

Also see "by the time"

By 5 o'clock, we will have

inished our meeting.

Review

Modal

Review

Modal Review: meanings in present

and past tense

Do these modals mean the same

in present and past tense?

willwouldwouldhave

cancouldcould have maymight might

have

musthad to - musthave

I will cut the hedge.

I would have cut the

I can drive there. (ability)

I could drive

there. (permission / ability /

potential)

Shall we go inthere? (invitation)

Should we go inthere? (warning)
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and more hedge.You must eat this. (necessity)

You must have eaten this.

(conclusion)

Modal Practice

Modal Practice: Means the Same!

possibility

expectation advice permission necessity conclusion

He ____ be crazy to do that.

may might could can must

ModalQuiz

Modal Quiz: auto-correcting quiz

Finding an apartment in San Francisco ____be very difficult.

Modals

in

Context

Modals in Context: identify

modals and tense use in the

context of an article

identifying modalsin a paragraph

identifying tenseuse

It might put Napster out of business, and if

you're a devoted Napster user, this is

certainly sad news. But Metallica's actions

could bring the controversy closer to

home. The fact that Metallica was able toobtain the screen names of these users

should concern those who post and

download files on Napster.
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Related Pages

Could/Should

have

Should / Could have: considering

options and advice in the past

If ...then past + participle could have, might have,

should have

Passengers could have taken

other smaller trans-atlantic

ships.

The captain could have chosena more southern trans-atlantic

route.

The owners should have

supplied enough lifeboats foreveryone .

PastUnreal2

Past Unreal Situations 2:

analyzing an accident

If ...then

past + participle could have, might

have, should have

If the night watchmen had had

binoculars, they would have been

able to spot the iceberg earlier.The captain could have steered

directly into the iceberg causing lessdamage.The Titanic should have had more

lifeboats.

By theTime

Predicting that something will be

completed before another event or time

by the time vs. whenLocated inAdverb Summary

By the time I leave work, thesun will be setting. (ongoing)By the time I leave work, the

sun will have set. (completed)

Omitting-If

Omitting if: giving advice in hypothetical situations

omitting if
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were I you had I been you should you

Modals - English Grammar

1) can

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to

be able to)I can speak English.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute

form: to be allowed to) Can I go to the cinema?

request Can you wait a moment, please?

offer I can lend you my car till tomorrow.

suggestion Can we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility It can get very hot in Arizona.

2) could

Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be

able to)I could speak English.

permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form:

to be allowed to)I could go to the cinema.

polite question * Could I go to the cinema, please?

polite request * Could you wait a moment, please?

polite offer * I could lend you my car till tomorrow.

polite suggestion * Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?


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possibility * It could get very hot in Montana.

3) may

Use Examples

possibility It may rain today.

permission to do sth. in the present (substitute

form: to be allowed to)May I go to the cinema?

polite suggestion May I help you?

4) might

Use Examples

possibility (less possible than may) *It might rain today.

hesitant offer * Might I help you?

5) must

Use Examples

force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.

possibility You must be tired.

advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6) must not/may not

Use Examples

prohibitionYou mustn't work on dad's computer.

You may not work on dad's computer.

7) need not

Use Examples

not necessaryI needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the

restaurant tonight.


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8) ought to

Use Examples

advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.

obligationYou ought to switch off the light when you leave

the room.

9) shall

instead of will in the 1st person

Use Examples

suggestion Shall I carry your bag?

10) should

Use Examples

advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.

obligationYou should switch off the light when you leave the

room.

11) will

Use Examples

wish, request, demand, order (less polite than

would)Will you please shut the door?

prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.

promise I will stop smoking.

spontaneous decision Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will.

habits She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.


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12) would

Use Examples

wish, request (more polite than will) Would you shut the door, please?

habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

* no past forms - future forms

Modal Auxiliary Verbs Are Used to Moderate the Main Verb

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