MODAL AUXILIARY
Modals are can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, should, will, would and need (need can also be a main verb).
2. What to keep in mind
when using modals
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Explanation
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Sample sentences
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Do not use modals
for things which happen definitely.
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The sun rises in the east. - A modal can't be used in this
sentence.
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They have no -s in
the 3rd person singular.
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He can play football.
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Questions are formed without do/does/did.
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Can he speak Spanish?
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It follows a main verb in
its infinitive.
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They must read the book.
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There are no past forms (except could and would).
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He was allowed to watch the film.
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When you use the past participle you tell about things
which did not happen in the past.
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You should have told me.
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Table
1.0
3. Long and contracted
forms of modals
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Affirmative
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Negative
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Long forms
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Contracted forms
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Long forms
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Contracted forms
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can
|
--
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cannot
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can't
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|
could
|
--
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could not
|
couldn't
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|
may
|
--
|
may not
|
--
|
|
might
|
--
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might not
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--
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|
ought to
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--
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ought not to
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oughtn't to
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need
|
--
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need not
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needn't
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shall
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'll
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shall not
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shan't
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|
should
|
'd
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should not
|
shouldn't
|
|
will
|
'll
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will not
|
won't
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|
would
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'd
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would not
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wouldn't
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Table 1.1
The main Modal auxiliary verbs are listed
in table
1.2.
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can
|
will
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must
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shall
|
may
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could
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would
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ought to
|
should
|
might
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The common patterns of modal auxiliary are:
ACTIVE: [ S + Modal + V1 + O ]
NEGATIVE: [ S + Modal + not + V1 + O ]
INTERROGATIVE: [ Modal + S + V1 + O + ? ]
NEGATIVE-INTERROGATIVE: [ Modal + not + S + V1 + O + ? ]
A.
Can: Can is used
1)
to express ability:
Roy can speak English but he cannot speak German.
Superman can do things that ordinary people can’t.
2)
to express request:
Can
you help Ircham?
Can
I offer you something to drink?
3)
to
express permission:
Can
I use your cell phone?
You
can’t go out with Roy.
4)
to
express possible:
If
the weather is perfect tomorrow, we can go on a picnic.
I can be ready by five.
I will be ready five.
＊ Can is used to
express a statement that is less uncertain than will.
5)
be able to: be able to is used to describe an ability that a person will have in the future.
My baby will be able to walk in a few
months.
I am busy but I will be able to talk to
you in five minutes.
B.
Could: Could is used
1)
to express
abilities in the past:
Park
Seo Joon could do 50 push-ups in five minutes when he was young.
Siwon
could talk when he was four.
2)
to express
permission:
Could
you lend me your shoes?
3)
to express
future possibility:
it expresses more uncertainty than may.
I could get an A or B in grammar. It
depends on the final exam.
4) Could with
present perfect tense is used to express something in the
past may be real.
You could have been killed in that accident.
I could have won his heart.
C.
Shall: shall
is used to express the simple future for the first person.
Shall
we meet at the bus stop?
I
shall never forget your help.
D.
Will: Will
is used
1)
present to
future tense:
Ircham will leave tomorrow. He will be back
in a few days.
If it rains, the soccer game will be put
off.
2)
express willing:
If you won’t go and help him, I will.
I will wash the dishes if you cook.
E.
Would: Would is used
1)
as the past
tense of will:
She said she would buy dinner on her way
home.
I believed it would rain so I brought my
raincoat.
2)
to express
polite request:
Would
you please take off your coat?
Would you mind turning the radio off?
3)
to express
actions take place in the past:
I would fish and swim in the river when I
lived in the countryside.
I used to go swimming in the river when I
lived in the countryside.
4)
to express
desire:
I would like to have one day off.
I’d love to stay for a few more days.
F.
Should: Should
is used
1)
to give advice
and opinions:
You
are driving too fast; you should slow down a little bit.
You
have gained a lot of weight. You should go on a diet.
2)
to express
expectations:
Are
you ready? The taxi should be here soon.
Twenty
dollars is enough. It shouldn’t cost more than that.
3)
to suggest a
less strong possibility:
If you should pass the bakery, can you buy
some bread?
4)
Should with
present perfect tense means something in the past should not be done.
The
baby is crying. You shouldn’t have talked so loudly.
Mom
is angry. You shouldn’t have come back so late.
G. Must & Have
to: must/have to are used to
1)
express
something is necessary and essential:
You must pay by cash.
You have to drive on the right in France.
2)
Students have to
wear uniform must not is used to express something is not permitted or allowed.
You
mustn’t smoke, eat and drink in the museum.
You must not drink and drive.
3) not have to is
used to express something that is not to be done necessarily.
We don’t have to get up early on Saturday.
She doesn’t have to live in the hotel. She
can live with us.
H. May: May is used to
1)
express possibility
in the present or in the future.
It
may rain.
Dorothy may know his telephone number.
2)
for permission:
May I come in?
You may come if you want.
3)
to express wish
or hope.
May you a long life!
I.
Might: Might
is used
1)
to express possibility
in the present or in the future.
Ashley
might be in the library. I am not sure.
George
might come as well.
He
may come.
He
might come. (the chance that he comes is less likely than may)
2)
might with
present perfect tense means speculation about the past.
Edward is late. He might have missed his
bus or he might have
overslept.
DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE MODAL VERBS
1)
The
modals used to express future possibility are: may, might, could and can. Could and might express more uncertainty
than may.
I
may take a vacation in Bali Island.
You
could be right. I am not sure.
There
are only few jobs available, so she might not find one.
2) The
modals used to express request are: can, could, will and would. However, could and would are more polite.
Could
you give me a raise? Yes, I can.
Can
you close the window? Sure I can.
＊ Be sure to use
“can” and “will” for an affirmative short answer even if the question starts
with would and could.
3)
The
modals used to express permission are: can, could and may. May is used in formal situation.
Where
may I park my car? You can park right in
front of the store.
Could
I borrow your MP3? Yes, you may.
You
may not park in the handicapped parking space.
＊ Use may and can
in short answers. could cannot be used to give and refuse permission.
4)
The modals used to give advice are: could,
might, should, must, have to, had better, and ought to.
You
could meet me tonight or tomorrow morning.
You
had better tell us the truth.
Your
son ought to see a doctor.
You
should not wear sandals and shorts to work.
＊ had better is
stronger than should, ought to, could and might are used when there are more
than one choice.
5) The modals used to express preference are:
prefer, would prefer, would rather and would like.
I would prefer to have Japanese food for dinner.
I would prefer to spend the night at home rather than drive out.
I would rather go by bus.
I would rather go out than stay home
tonight.
I would like to have some tea.
Exercise:
Use an appropriate modal verb to complete each sentence
1.
Rooney
_______( not) do his homework because tomorrow is Saturday.
2.
Drivers
________ stop at a stop sign.
3.
________
you make a copy for me?
4.
We
_______ leave now or we will be late.
5.
A:
_______ I use your computer? B: Of course, you _______.
6.
I
_______ rather cook tonight.
7.
_____
I go to the restroom, Miss Chang?
8.
______
you prefer chicken or steak for dinner?
9.
I
__________ catch the bus this morning. My father drove me to school.
10. _________
you answer the phone?
11. When
I was young, I ________ speak better English than now.
12. You
look pale. You ______ go to a doctor.
13. You
have been driving for ten hours. You _________ be exhausted.
14. We
__________ rent a car. My father will lend us his.
Answer:
1.
Must
not
2.
Should
3.
Can
4.
Must
5.
Can,
can
6.
Will
7.
May
8.
Would
9.
Would
not
10. Can
11. Could
12. Should
13. Must
14. Shouldn’t
References:
aflweb.csu.edu.tw/wSite/public/Attachment/f1379159247751.ppt
www.chino.k12.ca.us/cms/lib8/CA01902308/.../Auxilary%20Verbs.ppt
