Modals are auxiliary verbs used to form the tenses, moods, voices,
etc. of other verbs.
They are helping verbs that cannot be used on their own but to be
used along with other main verbs mainly to express attitudes.
• Modals are never used alone.
Examples :-
a) I can upon the harmonium.
b) I can play upon the harmonium.
So, modals have a principal verb with them.
• Modals don’t change according to the number of person of the subject.
Examples :-
a) I can play.
b) He can play.
c) They can play.
• They express permission, necessity, or possibility to do something.
Examples :-
a) They may go.
b) You must go.
c) I might go.
d) She would go if she could
‘Will’
1) With second and third person as subjects, will is used to express Simple Future.
He will leave for Mumbai tomorrow.
You will agree that Shimla is a cold place.
2) Will with the first person as a subject is used :-
• To express willingness or offer :
I will help you as far as possible
• To express intention or promise :
We will come in time.
• To express threat :
I will beat you.
• To express resolution :
I will do or die.
• To express determination :
I will lay down my life for the sake of my motherland.
‘Would’ • To denote the past tense of will :
She said that she would go.
• To express a habitual activity in the past :
He would go for a swim in the sea.
• To make a polite request :
Would you open the door, please ?
• To express a wish :
Would that I were a king !
• To express a preference :
I would rather die than beg.
• To express improbable or unreal condition :
If I won a lottery prize, I would build a theatre.
‘Shall’
1) With second and third person as subjects, shall is used to express Simple Future.
We shall leave for Mumbai tomorrow.
2) Shall with the first person as a subject is used :-
• To express a command :
He shall report for duty tomorrow.
• To express a threat :
You shall die for it.
• To express a promise :
You shall get leave today.
‘Should’
• To denote the past tense of shall :
I said that I should go.
• To express duty or advice :
We should respect our elders.
• To express purpose :
He worked hard so that he should pass the examination.
• To express probability :
Should they play well, they will win.
• To show an assumption or inference :
They should be here by now.
‘May’
• To seek permission :
May I use your pen.
• To express possibility :
He would go for a swim in the sea.
• To express a wish :
May he live long !
• To ask a polite offer :
May I help you sir ?
‘Might’
• To express permission :
He said that I might borrow his cycle.
• To express possibility :
He thought that I might like it.
• To express guess :
That might be Rohit.
‘Can’
• To express permission :
You can go now.
• To express ability :
I can swim.
• To express possibility :
Anyone can make mistakes.
‘Could’
• To express permission :
We could go out whenever we wanted.
• To express ability :
I could swim well when I was younger.
• To express possibility :
If we had the money, we could buy that house.
• To express polite request :
Could you lend me some money ?
‘Must’
• To denote compulsion :
A servant must obey his master.
• To denote certainty or strong belief:
All must die sooner or later.
• To denote determination:
I must see you again before I leave for Agra.
• To express duty or a very strong obligation:
We must obey the laws of our country.
• To denote possibility or inference :
He must be at least thirty years old.
‘Ought to’
• To denote the sense of duty or moral obligation :
Students ought to prepare their lessons well.
• To denote strong probability :
She ought to pass this time.
‘Need’
• To express necessity or obligation :
He need not buy a motorcycle.
‘Dare’
• To venture or have courage :
I dare not touch the wire.
• To challenge or defy :
I dare you to face me.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals choosing from ‘have to’ ‘has to’ or ‘had to’.
(a) Prachi …………….. work hard as one week is left for her CA Final Examination.
(b) We …………….. borrow money as there was lack of funds.
(c) All the children of class tenth will …………….. go to the principal’s office to collect
their mark sheets.
(d) Nowadays the women have dual responsibilities as they …………….. work at home
and office as well.
(e) The government …………….. give up as Anna Hazare was determined to fight
corruption in his own way.
(f) Rakesh …………….. work hard to clear his exams this time.
(g) Kartik …………….. help his mother as all their servants were on leave.
(h) Garima …………….. go to the market to buy the grocery as the guests are arriving
now.
(i) The masons …………….. complete the construction today.
(j) Prema cannot accompany them as she …………….. wind up with her work.
Fill in the blanks with appropriate modals.
Ram (a) …………….. keep his word as he (b) …………….. repay all his
loan. He (c) …………….. be seventeen next week. I am certain that you
(d) see that how successfully he has …………….. accomplished his
mission. (e) …………….. he live long ! You (f) …………….. not worry. Your
money is safe.
Chapter Completed !!
Thanks For Watching
