MODALS
Main Modal verbs are:- may, might, can, could, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to,
dare, need & used to.
Features of modals
1.They are used as helping verbs with the main verbs
to express permission, ability, obligation, possibility,
probability, necessity, uncertainty and so on.
2.Modal verbs are never used alone. They always have
a main verb in the sentence.
EX - He can swim across the river.
3.Modals do not change their form (we can't add 's',
'ing' or 'en') according to the tense.
4.Modals are not governed by the number and the
person of the subject.
He can do this work.
I can do this work.
She can do this work.
They can do this work.
5.Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses
or the future tenses.
6.Infinitive 'To' comes only after two Modals - 'Used to'
and 'Ought to'. Infinitive 'To' does not come after other
Modals.
All the modals take V1
1. can
Use Examples
ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to I can speak English.
be able to)
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute Can I go to the cinema?
form: to be allowed to)
request Can you wait a moment,
please?
offer I can lend you my car till
tomorrow.
suggestion Can we visit Grandma at
the weekend?
possibility It can get very hot in
Arizona.
Power
The C.M can transfer a D.M
2. could
Use Examples
ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to I could speak English.
be able to)
permission to do sth. in the past (substitute I could go to the cinema.
form: to be allowed to)
polite question * Could I go to the cinema,
please?
polite request * Could you wait a moment,
please?
polite offer * I could lend you my car till
tomorrow.
polite suggestion * Could we visit Grandma at
the weekend?
possibility * It could get very hot in
Montana.
3. may
Use Examples
possibility It may rain today.
permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be May I go to the
allowed to) cinema?
polite suggestion May I help you?
Wish and curse May God save his
life !
May you die soon.
4. might
Use Examples
possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today.
hesitant offer * Might I help you?
5. must
Use Examples
force, necessity I must go to the supermarket today.
possibility You must be tired.
advice, recommendation You must see the new film with Brad
Pitt.
6. must not/may not
Use Examples
prohibition (must is a little stronger) You mustn't work on dad's computer.
You may not work on dad's
computer.
7. need not
Use Examples
sth. is not I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the
necessary restaurant tonight.
8. ought to
similar to should– ought tosounds a little less subjective
Use Examples
advice You ought to drive carefully in bad weather.
obligation You ought to switch off the light when you leave the
room.
9. shall
Shall is used with the first person to show a general future action.
But shall is used with the second and the third person in the following situation :-
Use Examples
Command, You shall not go out
order without my permission.
Promise You shall be given a
present if you stand
first in the university
examination.
He shall be discharged
Threat
if he does not mend his
way.
Determinat You shall quit the post.
ion He shall apologize.
10. should
Use Examples
advice You should drive carefully in bad weather.
obligation You should switch off the light when you leave the room.
11. will
Use Examples
wish, request, demand, order (less Will you please shut the door?
polite than would)
prediction, assumption I think it will rain on Friday.
promise I will stop smoking.
spontaneous decision Can somebody drive me to the
station? - I will.
habits She's strange, she'll sit for hours
without talking.
12. would
Use Examples
wish, request (more polite than Would you shut the door, please?
will)
habits in the past Sometimes he would bring me some
flowers.
* These are no past forms, they refer to the future.
Fill in the blanks with a modal auxiliary verb.
1. …………………….. you mind posting this letter for me?
Could
Would
Should
2. …………………… you lend me your bicycle?
Shall
Will
May
3. You ……………………….. not come to my door again.
will
shall
would
4. You ……………………….. regret this.
shall
may
can
5. What ……………………….. we do now?
will
shall
can
6. Parents ………………………… teach their children to be honest.
shall
should
would
7. He …………………………. take rest if he is tired.
would
can
shall
8. You ………………………….. have told me before borrowing my car.
would
should
might
9. The students asked if they ………………………. go home early.
would
could
can
10. I ………………………… run faster when I was younger.
would
should
could
11. You …………………………. not light a match. Gas is leaking.
must
should
could
12. I …………………………. smoke before I fell ill.
was used to
used to
Answers
1. Would you mind posting this letter for me?
2. Will you lend me your bicycle?
3. You shall not come to my door again.
4. You shall regret this.
5. What shall we do now?
6. Parents should teach their children to be honest.
7. He can take rest if he is tired.
8. You should have told me before borrowing my car.
9. The students asked if they could go home early.
10. I could run faster when I was younger.
11. You must not light a match. Gas is leaking.
12. I used to smoke before I fell ill.
