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Modal verbs

Modal verbs have no s in the third person singular.

Questions, negatives, tags and short answers are made without to.

After modal auxiliary verbs, we use the infinitive without to of other verbs. Ought is an

exception. Progressive, perfect and passive infinitives are also possible. Ex: I may not

be working tomorrow.; She was so angry she could have killed him.; The kitchen

ought to be painted one of these days.

Modal verbs do not have infinitives or participles and they do not normally have past

forms. Other expressions are used when necessary. Ex: Id like to be able to skate.

People really had to work hard in those days.

However, certain past ideas can be expressed by a modal verb followed by a perfect

infinitive (have + past participle). Ex: You should have told me you were coming.

Modal verbs have contracted negative sentences (cant, wont, etc.) which are used in

an informal style. However, shant and maynt are only used in British English; and,

maynt is very rare.

Can / Could

Could is sometimes used as the past of can. However, it can also be used as a lessdefinite or conditional form of can, referring to the present or future.

Can and could are both used to talk about ability and possibility, to ask for and give

permission, and to make requests and offers.

Dare

Modal auxiliary verbs are common in a few present-tense uses. For instance, British

people quite often use darent to say that somebody is afraid to do something at the

moment of speaking. Ex: I darent look.; How dare you? (sometimes used as an

indignant exclamation.)

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May /Might

Might does not normally have a past meaning. It is used in the same way as many, to

talk about the present and future. The difference is that might usually refers to

situations which are less probable or less definite. Might also replaces may in past

indirect speech. Might has a contracted negative mightnt. maynt is very unusual. Mayand might are used mainly to talk about possibility (specially the changes of so mething

happening), and to ask and give permission (specially in a more formal style).

Must

Must is used mostly to express the conclusion that something is certain and to talk

about necessity and obligation. Ex: You must be Annas sister you look just like her.

; You really must get your hair cut.

Need

Modal forms of need normally refer to immediate necessity. They are often used to

ask for or give permission usually permission not to do something.

Present tense forms of need are used when making decisions about the future. Ex:

Need I come in tomorrow?

The expression Will need to can be used to talk about future obligation and give

advice for the future. It can make orders and instructions sound less direct. Ex: Well

need to repair the roof next year.

Ought

Ought is the only modal verb that is used with the infinitive with to. Ex: You ought to

see a dentist.

Ought to has the meaning of obligation or deduction. Ex: What time ought I to

arrive?; The weather ought to improve after the wee kend.

In negative clauses, not comes before to. Ex: You ought not to go. / You oughtnt

to go.

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Shall / Should

Both shall and should have the meaning of moral obligation. However, shall has a

meaning of complete certainty and should refers to a probability or possibility. Ex: I

shall be away tomorrow.; she should be here soon.

Will / would

Will can express certainty or confidence about present or future situations. Ex: As Im

sure you will understand, we cannot wait any longer for our order. Will can also

express a firm intention, a promise or a threat. Ex: I really will stop smoking.

We use will you to tell people what to do. Ex: will you send me the bill, please?

Would is used in polite requests and offers; it often acts as a softer form of will. Ex:

would you open the window please? Would is also used to express the idea of futurein the past to talk about a past action that had not yet happened at the time we are

talking about. Ex: In Berlin, he first met the woman whom he would one day marry.