Wednesday 29 January 2020

Modal Auxiliary



Modal Auxiliaries (Modals)

 Points to remember :

·        Modals are special verbs used as helping verbs.
·        They are used with main/principal verb as helping verbs (Modals + V1)
·        They don’t change form according to tenses, persons of pronouns and number and   gender of noun.
·        For past reference there are different modal auxiliaries.
·        They express various moods and attitudes.

S. No.
Modals
Expressions / Moods / Attitudes
1.
Can
Ability, capacity
2.
Could
Less possibility, request, suggestion
3.
Will
 strong possibility, assurance, determination
4.
Shall
Polite offer of help, wish
5.
Would
Formal and polite request, want, desire
6.
Should
Duty, obligation, advice
7.
May
Permission, less possibility
8.
Might
Least possibility, probability
9.
Must
Necessity, strong obligation
10.
Used to
Habitual action
11.
Need
Urgency, necessity
12.
Dare
Show courage
13.
Prefer
Choose option
14.
Ought to
Obligation with desirability
15.
Have to
compulsion


Compound Modal Auxiliaries – could have, would have, should have, will have, shall have, must have express similar moods in perfect tense.

Examples :

1. Can        (Ability, capacity)
I can do it. (ability)
He can solve this sum in a minute. (ability)
Can you lift this heavy bag? (capacity)

2. Could     (Less possibility, request, suggestion)
She could have been little more polite? (suggestion)
You could help your friend. (possibility)
Could you pass me the dish? (request)

3. Will        (Certainty, strong possibility, assurance, determination)
They will visit a hilly station in summer. (certainty)
I will score above 90% marks in the examinations. (assurance)
It will rain next week. (strong possibility)

4. Would    (Formal and polite request, want, desire)
I would like to have coffee. (formal and polite form of want)
He would never ask for help.  (strong possibility)
Would you please answer my querry . (formal and polite request)

5. Shall       (Polite offer of help, wish)
When shall we see you again? (wish)
Shall I do it for you? (polite offer of help)

6. Should   (duty, obligation, advice)
We should obey our teachers. (obligation)
You should never tell lies. (advice)

7. May        (Permission, less possibility)
You may sit wherever you want. (giving permission)
May I go now? (seeking permission)
It may rain today. (possibility)

8. Might     (Least possibility, probability)
I might come for dinner tonight. (least possibility)
He might be at home now. (probability)

9. Must       (Necessity, strong obligation)
We must follow traffic rules. (strong obligation)
You must practise hard for the examinations. (necessity)

10. Used to (Habitual action)
I used to walk a mile to go to school. (habitual action)
I used to play marbles when I was a child. (habitual action)

11. Need     (Urgency, necessity)
We need to perform our duties sincerely. (Urgency)
You need to work hard to pass the test. (necessity)

12. Dare     (Show courage)
How dare you contradict me? (Show courage)
He doesn’t dare speak to me. (Show courage)

13. Ought to        (Obligation with desirability)
We ought to love our neighbour. (Obligation with desirability)
We ought to help the needy. (Obligation with desirability)

14. Have to (compulsion)
You have to complete this work before you leave. (compulsion)
I have to reach home by 9 p.m.  (compulsion)

15. Prefer   (Choose option)
I prefer to live in plains. (Choose option)
I prefer coffee to tea. (Choose option)

Exercises :

Fill in the blanks appropriately.
a. I _____________ swim when I was young.
b. ___________ we go to some other place?
c. Arjun _______ eat with us tonight.
d. __________ you like to have a sandwich?
e. People _______ exercise regularly.
f. ______ you wait till I come?
g. He _______ come tomorrow.
h. You ________ take complete bedrest.
i. Rohan _________ improve his spelling.
j. We ________ help the poor.

Answers :
a. Used to    b. Shall       c. may         d. would     e. should     f. will         
g. may         h. must        i. needs to    j. ought to

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