3 Modals

Introduction
Modals are auxiliaries (helping verbs). They are also used as main verbs.
They form their negative by putting not after them and interrogatives by putting them before
the subject.
They are: will, shall, can, may, would, should, could, might, must, ought (to) need, dare and
used to. Modals are never used alone. They are used with the principal verb that follows them.
Together with the principal verb, they express the mode or manner of the action denoted by the
principal verb. They express ideas like ability or capacity, probability or possibility,
permission, command, compulsion, duty, obligation etc.
Modals generally indicate present or future time.
You should go and see him now. (Present)
You could go and see him tomorrow. (Future)
The past can, however, be expressed by should/could have.
You should have gone and seen him yesterday.
Types of Modals
Functions Modals used Usage
Permission Can Can I use your pen?
(asking and giving) You can wait in my office.
Could Could I borrow your car?
In the 1920's you could drive without taking a test.
May May I see the letter?
You may telephone from here.
Ability Can I can play two instruments – the violin and the
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piano.
I cannot (can't) even sing.
Could Veena could play the violin when she was only ten.
In those days I had a car so, I could travel very easily.
Willingness/Intention Will I will wait for you if you like.
Would I would like to help you.
I would never leave you in the lurch.

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Request Will Will you sit here?
Would Would you mind sitting here? (polite request)
Could Could I borrow your book? (polite request)
Possibility/ May I may come tomorrow.
Probability It may rain today.
Might He might come tonight. (less probability)
Will He will be home by now.
Determination Will I will not allow you to come in.
We will fight to the finish.
Shall He shall have the best education.
They shall defend their honour.
Suggestion Shall Shall we play cards?
Shall we meet in the afternoon?
Obligation/Duty Must You must do as you are told.
You must not touch my books
(Prohibition)
I mustn't neglect my parents. We ought to help needy.
Ought to We ought to obey our parents.
We ought to respect our neighbours.
Should We should obey our parents.
You are not well. You should see a doctor.
Necessity or Must It is getting dark. I must leave.
Compulsion You must not drop these glasses. They will break.
Need (not) You needn't wash those glasses. They are clean.
(mostly in the
negative to show
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absence of necessity)
Have to I have to practise for two hours daily.
You don't have to finish the report today.
Probability Should My shirt should be ready by now.
Suggestion Must There must be a mistake somewhere.
Determination Must We must cross the river to attack the enemy.
I must reach the playground in time.
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Important:
(i) ‘Will’ is never used with I and We (First Person) in the Interrogative.
(ii) ‘Shall’ is never used with you (Second person) and he, she, it, they etc. (Third person) in the
Interrogative.
(iii) ‘May’ or ‘Might’ can be used to say that something is possible or quite likely for the present
or the future.
(iv) We can also use ‘Could’ to say that something is possible. It means only a small possibility.
(v) Will/Must show almost certainty (not quite sure)
‘Must’ is much common in such cases.
(vi) Should and Ought to are used in the same way as must and will except that they indicate
strong probability.
It is 10 o'clock, so Anita should/ought to be at home.
(vii) Have can be used with should and ought to as in the case of will and must to show strong
probability.
(viii) Note the difference:
You must study for four hours daily. (speaker's authority)
You ought to study for four hours daily. (advice)
I ought to study for four hours daily. (matter of conscience)
I have to study for four hours daily. (compulsion)

1. Modals are the auxiliary verbs that are used to express the moods, manners or modes of the
speaker or an action. They are used to express ability, permission, obligation, possibility, etc.
2. The main modal verbs in English are: can, could, may, might, must, ought to, shall, will and
would.
3. A modal verb does not change according to the number or person of the subject.
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4. Modal verbs are not used by adding - s, - ing, - ed etc. in the way that ordinary verbs do.
5. Modal verbs are always followed by another verb, and the second verb is always in the
infinitive (base) form without ‘to’. There are only two exceptions in this rule as ‘ought to’
and 'used to' is used with ‘to’.
6. Modal auxiliary verbs do not have infinitives or participles. For example, using ‘mayed or
maying’ is wrong.
7. Each modal has specific mood to convey.
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