Correct Use of 'Modals' in English Grammar, Writing Skills and Spoken English - www.sudantutorials.com
MODALS
Modals or Auxiliaries are verbs which are
Used before ordinary verbs and
Express permission, possibility, certainty and necessity.
Exp. Can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must and ought. Need and dare can also be used (sometimes) as modal verbs.
Can, Could, May, Might
1. Can usually expresses ability or capacity; as
- I can swim across the river.
- He can work this sum.
- Can you lift this box.
2. Can and May are used to express permission.
- You can/may go now.
- Can/May I borrow your umbrella?
3. May is used to express possibility in affirmative sentences. Can is used in the interrogative and negative sentences.
- It may rain tomorrow.
- He may be at home.
- Can this be true?
- It cannot be true.
* Compare ‘It can not be true” with ‘It may not be true’. ‘Cannot’ denotes impossibility while ‘may not’ denotes improbability.
4. In very formal English, May is used to express wish, as
- May you live happily and long!
- May success attend you!
5. Could and Might are used as the past equivalent of can and may, as
- I could swim across the river when I was young. (Ability)
- He said I might/could go. (Permission)
- I thought he might be at home. (Possibility)
- She wondered whether it could be true. (Possibility)
6. Could, as in the first example above expresses ability to do an act, but not a performance of an act. We should use was/were able to for ability + action in the past.
- When the boat was upset, we were able to swim to the bank. (not: we could swim to the bank)
* In Negative Sentences, either could or was/were able to may be used.
- I could not (or was not able to) solve the puzzle. It was too difficult.
7. In present time, could and might are used in following forms also:-
- Could I borrow your bicycle? (Polite request)
- It might rain tomorrow.
- Could you pass me the salt? (Polite request)
- Could I speak to Mr. Rohit? (Polite request)
Shall, Should, Will, Would
Shall - I/We
Will - He/She/It/Noun(S & P)/This/That/You/They/These/Those
8. Shall is used with the Ist Person (I, my, me, we, our, ours) and will is used with all persons.
9. Today I/We Shall is less common than I/We will.
- I shall/will be twenty five next Sunday.
- We will need the money on 15th Aug.
When shall we see you again?
Tomorrow will be Sunday.
You will see that I am right.
10. In present day English, however, there is a growing tendency to use will in all persons.
11. As per rules, Shall is used in the IInd (You, your, yours) and IIIrd persons (He, his, him, she, her, hers, they, their, them) to express a command, promise or threat, as
He shall not enter my house again. (Command)
You shall have a holiday tomorrow. (Promise)
You shall be punished for this. (Threat)
* These uses of shall are old fashioned and are generally avoided in the modern spoken English.
13. Shall is used in the IInd (You, your, yours) and IIIrd persons (He, his, him, she, her, hers, they, their, them) to ask after the will of the person addressed; as
Shall I open the window? (i.e. Do you wish me to open it?)
Which pen shall I buy? (i.e. What is your suggestion?)
14. Will is used to express:-
(a) Volition; as
I will (I am willing to) carry your books.
I will try to do better next time.
I will succeed or die in the attempt.
(b) Characteristic Habit; as
He will talk about nothing but films.
Assumption or Probability; as
This will be the book you want, I suppose.
That will be the postman, I think.
(d) ‘Will you?’ indicate an invitation or a request; as
Will you have a tea?
Will you lend me your scooter?
15. Should and Would are used as the Past Equivalent of Shall and Will; as
I expected that I should get a first class.
He said he would be twenty five next birthday.
She would sit for hours listening to the wireless. (Past habit)
16. Should is used in all persons to express duty or obligation; as
We should obey the laws.
We should keep our promise.
Children should obey their parents.
17. In clauses of condition, should is used to express a supposition that may not be true.
If it should rain, they will not come.
If he should see me here, he will be annoyed.
18. Should and would are also used as in the examples below; as
I would like you to help her. (should/would like is a polite form of want)
Would you lend me your scooter, please? (‘Would you?’ is more polite than ‘Will you?’)
You should have been more careful.
He should be in the library now. (Expresses probability)
I wish you would not chatter so much. (Would after wish expresses a strong desire)
Must, Ought to
19. Must is used to express necessity or obligation.
You must improve your spellings.
We must get up early.
20. Must is often used when the obligation comes from the speaker. When the obligation comes from somewhere else, have to is often used.
21. Must is used for fixed determination also.
I must go there.
I must finish my syllabus by end of this month.
22. Ought to expresses moral obligation or desirability; as
We ought to love our neighbours.
We ought to help others.
You ought to know better.
23. Ought to may also express strong probability; as
Nina ought to win.
The film ought to be a great success.
Used, Need, Dare
24. The auxiliary used (to) expresses a discontinued habit/action.
There used to be a house.
I used to live there when I was a young boy.
I used to fly kites when I was young.
25. The auxiliary need denotes necessity/obligation.
We need not go there.
Need I write to him?
I need hardly take his help.
Do you need to go now?
I don’t need to meet him.
One needs to be careful.
26. The auxiliary dare is used in following cases:-
He dare not take such a step.
How dare you contradict me?
He dared not to do it.
He doesn’t dare speak to me.
Practice
Chose the correct alternative:-
1. I don’t think I (shall, should, can) be able to go.
2. He (shall, will, dare) not play unless he is compelled.
3. You (should, would, ought to) be punctual.
4. I wish you (should, would, must) tell me earlier.
5. (Shall, will, would) I assist you?
6. (Shall, should, would) you please help me with this?
7. You (ought, should, must) to pay your debts.
8. He said I (can, might, should) use this telephone at any time.
9. If you (shall, should, would) see him, give him my regard.
10. He (need, dare, would) not ask for money.
11. I (needn’t to see, needn’t have seen, didn’t need to see) him, so I sent a letter.
12. (Shall, might, could) show me the way to the station.
13. To save my life, I ran fast and (would, could, was able to) reach safely.
14. I (would, used, ought) to be an atheist but now I believe in God.
15. You (needn’t, mustn’t, won’t) light a match, the room is full of gas.
16. The Prime Minister (would, need, is to) make a statement tomorrow.
17. You (couldn’t wait, didn’t need to wait, need not have waited) for me; I could have found out the way all right.
18. I was afraid that if I asked him again he (can, may, might) refuse.
19. She (shall, will, dare) sit outside her garden gate for hours at a time looking at the passing traffic.
20. (Should, would, shall) you like another cup of tea?
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