MODAL AUXILIARY

MODAL AUXILIARY

There are eleven modal verbs in English. They are used to add meaning to a main verb, for example to indicate how certain or possible something is, or how frequently something happens, or whether a course of action is recommended or allowed. Modal auxiliary verbs are used with a main verb to show, mood and ideas such as ability, possibility and permission.

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

Explanation	Sample sentences
Do not use modals for things which happen definitely.	The sun rises in the east. - A modal can't be used in this sentence.
They have no -s in the 3rd person singular.	He can play football.
Questions are formed without do/does/did.	Can he speak Spanish?
It follows a main verb in its infinitive.	They must read the book.
There are no past forms (except could and would).	He was allowed to watch the film.
When you use the past participle you tell about things which did not happen in the past.	You should have told me.

Table 1.0

3. Long and contracted forms of modals

Affirmative		Negative
Long forms	Contracted forms	Long forms	Contracted forms
can	--	cannot	can't
could	--	could not	couldn't
may	--	may not	--
might	--	might not	--
ought to	--	ought not to	oughtn't to
need	--	need not	needn't
shall	'll	shall not	shan't
should	'd	should not	shouldn't
will	'll	will not	won't
would	'd	would not	wouldn't

Table 1.1

    

    The main Modal auxiliary verbs are listed in table 1.2.

can	will	must	shall	may
could	would	ought to	should	might

          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:

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar_list/hilfsverben.htm

http://www.englisch-hilfen.de/en/grammar_list/hilfsverben.htm

aflweb.csu.edu.tw/wSite/public/Attachment/f1379159247751.ppt

www.chino.k12.ca.us/cms/lib8/CA01902308/.../Auxilary%20Verbs.ppt