The Modal Auxiliaries

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MODALS AUXILIARIES

The modal auxiliaries have a number of different meanings. Thcy are generally used to indicate something

which is potential or uncertain. Remember that a modal is an auxik y, and thus is NEVER used with do,does,ordid.The modals include

!RE"ENT TEN"E !#"T TEN"E

will

can

may

shall

must $have to%

would $used to%

could

might

should $ought to% $had better%

$had to%

Note &ords in parentheses $ % indicate semi'modals. These have similar meanings to the modals, but are

not grammatically the same.

NE(#T)*N *+ *-#"

To make a modal negative, add the particlenotafter the modal.

/ohn would like to leave. /ohn would not like to leave.

01E"T)*N" &)T2 *-#"

To make a 3uestion, place the modal at the beginning of the "entence.

&ould /ohn like to leave4Note # modal is always directly followed by the simple form $verb word%. This is the infinitive withoutto.

)N+)N)T)VE ")!E +*R

to be

to go

to have

5e

go

have

This means that after a modal there can NEVER be 6verb + ing], (verb + s), past tense, or infinitive.

There are two ways that a modal can occur

$7% modal 8 simple form of the verbwould be could go will have

$9% modal 8 have 8 6verb in past participle:would have been could have gone will have had

Note The wordhave,of course, must always be in the simple form after a modal; it can never be has orhad.

WILLWillindicates future certainty.

/ohn will begin the


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aria will leave in /anuary.

WOULD

5esides its use in conditional sentences,wouldcan also mean a past time habit.&hen -avid was young, he would swim once a day.

USED TO

)n this usage, the expressionused tomeans the same aswould. Used tois always in this form; it canNEVER beuse to.#lso, there are two grammar rules forused to.Notice the difference in meaning aswell as in grammar.

sub. 2e used to $dance% every night, but now he studies.

. #dam is used to $sleep% late on weekends.F. Ghieko is used to $eat% #merican food now.

7?. "he finally got used to $eat% our food.


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WOULD RATHER

Would rathermeans the same asprefer,except that the grammar is different.Would rathermustbe followed by a verb, butprefermay or may not be followed by a verb.

/ohn would rather drink Goca'Gola than orange


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2enry would rather that his girlfriend worked in the same department as he does.

$2is girlfriend doesnotwork in the same department.%

/ane would rather that it were winter now. $)t isnotwinter now.%The following rule applies towould ratherwhen there are two sub. The photographer would rather that we $stand% closer together than we are standing.

. Garmen would rather $cook; negative% for the entire family.


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F. "he would rather that you $arrive; negative% last night.

7?. /ohn would rather $sleep% than worked last night

WOULD LIKE

This expression is often used in invitations; it can also meanwant.N*TE )t is N*T G*RREGT to say H-o you like . . 4H to invite somebody to do something.

sub


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aria should go on diet

Iou should see a doctor about this problem.

K Expectation; used to indicate something that the speaker expects to happen.

)t should rain tomorrow. $) expect it to rain tomorrow.%

y check should arrive next week. $) expect it to arrive next week.%N*TE The expressionshad better, ought to,andbe supposed to generally mean the same asshouldin either of the two definitions.

had better

should

sub


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# pharmacist has to keep a record of the prescriptions that are filled.

+or a past time obligation, it is necessary to use had to. ustG#NN*T be used to mean a pastobligation.

(eorge had to call his insurance agent yesterday.rs. Oinsey had to pass an examination before she could practice law.

MODALS + PERFECTIVE

Iou have already seen these in the section on conditionals; however, it is also possible to use other modals

in this form. The modal 8 perfective isusuall usedto indicate past time.

modal+ have +6verb in past participle:============..

N*TE Remember that a modal isalwasfollowed by the simple form of the verb. Thus,have canneverbehasorhad.

56U1789:;


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logical conclusion in the past.

The grass is wet. )t must have rained last night.

$)tprobabl rainedlast night.%Tony@s lights are out. 2e must have gone to sleep.

$2eprobabl wentto sleep.%/ane did very well on the exam' "he must have studied.

$"heprobabl studied.)"andra failed the test. "he must not have studied.

$"heprobabl did not stud.)CONDITIONAL SENTENCES

The modals Will, Would, Can, Could often appear in conditional sentences. 1sually conditional sentencescontain the word if. There are two types of conditionals the real $factual and habitual%

and the unreal $contrary to fact or hypothetical%. The real, or Hfuture possibleH as it is sometimes called, is

used when the speaker expresses an action or situation which usually occurs, or will occur if the

circumstances in the main clause are met.

2ypothetical situation )f ) am not planning anything for this evening, when someone asks me if ) want to

go to the movie, ) say

)f ) have the time, ) will go. # 5

$ ) will go unless ) don@t have time.% P )f # is true, then 5 is true.

)f my headache disappears, we can play tennis.

$) will play tennis unless ) have a headache.%

2owever, the unreal condition expresses a situation $past, present or future% that would take place or

would have taken place if the circumstances expressed were or had been different now or in the past.

2ypothetical situation )f ) don@t have time to go to the movie, but ) actually want to go, ) say

)f ) had the time, ) would go.

$) know ) don@t have time, and therefore, ) can@t go to the movies.%

This sentence is contrary to fact because )cannot go.

)f today were "aturday, we could go to the beach.

$Today is not "aturday, so we can@t go to the beach.%

The if clause can come first or last in the sentence with no change in meaning. Notice that when the if

clause comes first, it followed by a comma.

)f we didn@t have to study, we could go out tonight.

*R&e could go out tonight if we didn@t have to study

$5oth sentences mean we can@t go out tonight because we have to study.%

Note The wordifis generally not followed directly by the modal; the modal appears in the other part ofthe sentence unless there are two modals in one sentence.


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if +sub


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REAL CONDITIONS (POSSIBLY TRUE)

+1T1RE T)E

will

if 8 sub


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)f ) had the time, ) would go to the beach with you this weekend.

(: dont havethe time.% $)@mnot goingto the beach with you.%

2e would tell you about it if he were here.

$2ewont tellyou about it.% $2e@snot here.)

)f he didn@t speak so 3uickly, you could understand him.

$2e spea&svery 3uickly.% $Ioucant understandhim.%

!#"T T)E

would

if 8 sub


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as if

sub


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+1T1RE &)"2

could8 verb

sub. ) wish they Q$stop% making so much noise so that ) could concentrate.

. "he would call you immediately if she $need% help.

F. 2ad they arrived at the sale early, they $find% a better selection.7?. &e hope that you $en


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7A. )f she wins the priMe, it will be because she $write% very well.

7B. ike wished that the editors $permit% him to copy some of their material.7C. /oel wished that he $spend% his vacation on the (ulf Goast next year.

7D. ) $accept% if they invite me to the party.

7>. )f your mother $buy% that car for you, will you be happy4

7. )f he $decide% earlier, he could have left on the afternoon flight.7F. 2ad we known your address, we $write% you a letter.

9?. )f the roofer doesn@t come soon, the rain $leak% inside.

97. 5ecause Rose did so poorly on the exam, she wishes that she $study% harder last night.99. y dog always wakes me up if he $hear% strange noises.

9A. )f you $see% ary today, please ask her to call me.

9B. )f he $get% the raise, it will be because he does a good

The Modal Auxiliaries

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