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Modal verbs. Usage. Modal verbs express a variety of moods or attitudes of the speaker towards the meaning expressed by the main verb in a clause. Auxiliary verbs.
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Usage • Modal verbs express a variety of moods or attitudes of the speaker towards the meaning expressed by the main verb in a clause
Auxiliary verbs • All the auxiliary verbs except be, do and have are called modals. Unlike other auxiliary verbs modals only exist in their helping form; they cannot act alone as the main verb in a sentence.
Be, have and do • Be, do, and have differ from the other auxiliaries in that they can also serve as ordinary verbs in a given sentence.
Modal verbs • Can/could • May/might • Will/would • Must • Shall/should • Ought to
Marginal modals • Need • Dare • Used to
Although modal auxiliaries are classified as verbs, they alone never function as complete verbs, except in response to a question: • Can you come later? Yes, I can.
Modals and other verbs • Modal verbs are always used with other verbs whose meaning they modify in some way • One modal cannot be followed immediately by another in English
Inflection • Modals are not inflected, i.e. they do not have –s or –ed forms • There are no participles or infinitives for the modals • Therefore they are often called defective verbs or anomalous verbs, i.e. notregular but deviating from the rule
Can/could • Indicates freedom to act which may be the result of ability, permission or the opportunities that circumstances provide • Ability: I can speak French. • Permission: You can go now. • Possibility: He could be anywhere. • General characteristic: He can be difficult at times.
May/might • Permission: You may enter now. • Possibility or probability: That gun may be loaded. • Uncertainty: How old may she be? • Wishes and hopes: May you both be happy!
Must/have to • Obligation: You must complete this by noon. • Necessity: It must be done. • Deduction (logical necessity): This must be a mistake. • Advisability: You must see that movie. • Certainty: If you gamble, you must lose eventually. • Must not – prohibition
Ought to/should • Obligation or duty: I ought to/ should do this. • Logicalnecessity: He ought to be here by now. • Advisability: Tea should be drunk while it is hot. • Putativeshould: It is unthinkable that he should resign. • How should I know that?
Shall • Decision or determination (on the part of the speaker): You shall have it. • Intention: We shall let you know our decision. • Legalshall: Everyone shall be equal before the law.
Will • Determination: I will have my own way. • Persistanthabit: I will leave that door open. • Characteristichabit: He will go all day without eating. • Promise: You will get your money back. • An order: You will wait here till I return. • Willingness: He will help you with that. • Predictability: That will be the postman.
Would • Determination in the past: I would not be bullied. • Persistant habit in the past • Characteristic habit in the past • Promise in the past
Degrees of probability • Might • May • Could • Can • Should • Ought to • Would • Will • Must • Uncertain • Certain
Can’t or must? • 1. Why is that man looking around like that? He _____________ be lost. • 2. That woman _____________ be a doctor! She looks far too young. • 3. John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He _____________ study • enough. • 4. The food is really good at that restaurant. They _____________ have a great • chef. • 5. Who’s that at the door? It _____________ be Susie – she’ll still be at work • now. • 6. This _____________ be John’s house. This house has a red door, and it’s • number 24, just like he said.
Answer key • 1. Why is that man looking around like that? He must be lost. • 2. That woman can’t be a doctor! She looks far too young. • 3. John always fails the tests, even though he’s clever. He can’t study enough. • 4. The food is really good at that restaurant. They must have a great chef. • 5. Who’s that at the door? It can’t be Susie – she’ll still be at work now. • 6. This must be John’s house. This house has a red door, and it’s number 24, just • like he said.
Replace the part of the sentences that have been spaced out with the appropriate modal and lexical verb: • John is capable of typing very fast. • I know how to answer this question now. • I was never able to understand a word she said. • It is possible that whatyou say is true. • I had a habit of hitting the wrong key on the keyboard. • I advise you to read this book. • It is obligatory for us to write a report. • Is it advisable for us to wait? • It is not compulsory for us to attend. • You are prohibited from smoking here.
Answer key • John can type very fast. • I can answer this question now. • I could never understand a word she said. • What you say may be true. • I used to hit/would keep hitting the wrong key on the keyboard. • You should read this book. • We have to write a report. • Should we wait? • We don’t have to attend. • You must not smoke here.
