.
Serious English
Search this site:

Lesson 10 - Modal Verbs

Introduction

Whether modals , modal verbs , modal auxiliaries or modal auxiliary verbs , they are all the same : 

The modal verbs and the primary verbs ( be , do and have ) are called auxiliary verbs .

The difference between these two groups of verbs is that we can use modal verbs as auxiliary verbs only . In other words, we cannot use modal verbs on their own in a sentence , as they are not complete by themselves. We have to use them with other verbs, which must be in the simple present tense.

Section List
1. CAN and COULD
2. MAY and MIGHT
3. WILL and WOULD
4. SHALL and SHOULD
5. MUST
6. Semi-modal verbs / HAD BETTER
7. OUGHT TO and USED TO
8. DARE and NEED

There are 11 modal verbs :

Semi-modal verbs act as both modal verbs and main verbs.

Semi-modal verbs can function as modal verbs as well as main verbs .

Each of the modal verbs is used with another verb to express ideas such as ability, necessity, obligation, permission, possibility, wish, etc ., that are not expressed by the main verb. Each modal verb can express more than one of these ideas.

Characteristics of modal verbs

The following are characteristics of modal verbs:

  1. When used with singular or plural subject or noun, the modal verbs do not change their forms : ( She will  arrive later. /� They will  arrive later.)
  2. Modal verbs have no –s form such as when they follow the third person singular subject. ( Not : She� wills t alk to us later. /� Not : He� shoulds  get some rest.)
  3. Modal verbs do not have present participle form ( Not : modal verb + ing).
  4. Modal verbs do not have past participle form ( Not : modal verb + ed).�
  5. Modal verbs do not have infinitive form . They are followed by the infinitive of a simple verb without� to  ( Not : He� can to  drive a tractor.) There are exceptions:� ought to  (You� ought to  be able to read the road sign from here.) and� used to  (We� used to  cross that river by ferry.)
  6. Modal verbs cannot be used with another modal verb . (Not: We� can must  get it done today.)
  7. Modal verbs cannot be used on their own in a sentence. They must be followed by other verbs. ( No : The repair� would  one hour. /� Yes : The repair� would take  one hour.)
  8. Modal verbs can however be used on their own when the main verb is understood. (He� could  be sleeping. Yes, he� could . / She� may  be angry. Yes, she� may .)
  9. When a modal verb is part of a verb phrase in a sentence, it comes first after the subject and (1) is followed by a main verb in the base form (Subject + modal + basic verb + ... ): She can play the flute. Or (2) is followed by an auxiliary verb ( be , do , have ): He could be watching television at this time.

Modal verbs always come before the main verb . Both the modal verbs and main verbs are in bold.

Examples:

  • They� can argue  endlessly about money.    
  • The volcano� could erupt at  any time.
  • She� may get  married again next year..
  • We� might reach  there before it gets dark.
  • He� will give  us a lift to the circus.
  • I would hate to tell her the truth.

Modal verbs in question

Modal verbs always come before the other verbs, but to form a question, the moral verbs are placed before the subject.

Examples:

  • Will everyone join with me in singing the national anthem?
  • Must you always drink coffee to keep you awake?

Modal verbs in yes-no question

In yes-no questions, modal verbs appear before the subject. In reply to the questions, the� modal verb + � not  can be in shortened form.

Can and Can't

Examples:

  • Will  you help me take out the garbage? No, I� won't ..
  • Would  you pass that over, please? No, I� wouldn't. .
  • Should  I lend him the money? No, you� shouldn't .

Modal verbs are used in question tags.Tag question is about turning a statement into a question. For example, “He is a funny guy” becomes a question by using the tag "isn't he": He is a funny guy, isn’t he?

Examples:

  • You would like some ice cream, wouldn’t you?
  • It shouldn’t be kept as a pet, should it?

Modal verb and contraction

Modal verbs are placed before the word not or its contraction –n’t (could – couldn’t) in negative sentences. The only modal verb that does not have contraction is may. �

Examples:

  • We could not read his handwriting. / We couldn't read his handwriting.
  • She should not argue with her grandmother. / She shouldn't argue with her grandmother.
  • You must not simply do what you like around here. There are rules to follow.
  • He ought not to be so rude to her. / He oughtn't to be so rude to her.
  • You may not see her. Her father doesn’t allow it. / Not : You mayn’t see her.

Modal verb and emphasis

When emphasis is intended, the moral verb is used in full.

Examples:

  • We shall not let them do this to us.
  • Not : We shan’t let them do this to us.

Modal verb and wh-question

Wh-questions begin with  

  • what, when, where, who, whom, which, whose, why and how .

All these wh-question words can be placed before the modal verbs to form wh-questions .

Examples:

  • What can you do to help us?
  • When may I get the refund?
  • Where should we start looking for the missing puppy?
  • Who could pass me the salt?
  • Whom might I speak to?
  • Which will growl if we get too close to it?
  • Whose would you say this is?
  • Why must you be so stubborn?
  • How shall we address the Queen?

Modal verb and adverb

When there's an adverb in a sentence, the modal verb comes before the adverb.

Examples:

  • I� can just  imagine your sister as a police officer..
  • Our team� could yet  win – you never know.
  • He� will soon  be as tall as his father.
  • She� would always  turn her face away when she saw me.
  • You� might still  prove him wrong.
  • I� shall never  forget to bring this along every time.
  • You� should only  say sorry when you mean it.