MODALS

VERBS
The verbs be (am, is, are, was, were, being and been), ‘do’ (does and did) and ‘have’ (has, have, had)
are Primary Auxiliaries. They help to form tenses, questions, and negatives. They are also used in
changing voices.
The forms of ‘be’, ‘do’ and ‘have’ can be used as Principal Verbs also; as-
Smitha is in her town
I have a lot of work to do.
Do as I tell you.
Mahesh has no friends in this locality.

Modals

Modals express the ‘mode’ or ‘manner’ of the actions indicated by the main verbs.
The verbs can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, have to, need and
ought are called Modal Verbs or Modals.

General Characteristics of Modals:

1. Modals are never used alone. A principal verb is either present or implied.
E.g. I can swim
He will help you.
2. Modals do not change according to the number or person of the subject.
E.g. I can. We can. You can. They can.
3. Modals have no Infinitive, present participle or past participle forms.
4. Modals cannot be used in all the tenses. When a modal does not fall in this pattern, it works as a
Principal Verb.
E.g. She dared to go into the dark forest.
God willed so.
(here ‘dare’ and ‘will’ are used as main verbs)

General Functions of Modals

1. Modals express probability, logical necessity, possibility, future confirmation etc. These are not
conceptions of the mind. Modals are not used to state facts. AA
2. Modals are used in the main clause of the conditional sentences. Since the condition is contrary to
facts, the main statement cannot be actual. Hence a modal is used.
3.
E. g. If you had told me, I could have helped you.
Different Modal Verbs

1. Can/ Could
● Can is used for all persons in the present tense.
● Could is used for all persons in the past tense.
Can is used
● to express permission:
You can go now. ( I give you permission to go)
You cannot touch the flowers. ( I don ‘t permit you to touch the flowers)
● To express ability: E.g. I can swim. ( I know how to swim)
He can speak Sanskrit. (He is able to speak Sanskrit)
● to express possibility: E.g. Anyone can make mistakes.
Accidents can happen to anyone.
● to express request: E.g. Can you take a message, please?
Could must be used to express ability, permission, request and possibility when the main verb is in
the past tense
E.g.- I could swim well when I was younger. (ability)
Could I leave early today? (permission)
Could you wait for a few minutes? (request)
The storm could get worse. (possibility)

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2. MAY / MIGHT
‘May’ is used for all persons of the present and future tense.
‘May’ is used
● to express or to seek permission: ( in a formal way)
You may go (I permit you to go.)
May I come in, Sir? (seeking Permission)
Students may not bring any book or paper in the examination hall. (permission refused )
● to express possibility: E. g. It may rain.
● to express a wish: E.g. May he live long!
● To express purpose: E.g. He works hard so that he may pass.

‘Might’ is used for all persons of the past tense.

● To seek permission:
‘Might I’ can be used instead of “May I’ when asking for permission and “Might I’ is a more polite form. The
use of “Might” shows that the speaker is rather hesitant or doubtful about making the request.
E.g. May I use your phone?
Might I use your phone?
Both express the same idea, but the second sentence is more polite.
● to express possibility:
‘Might’ expresses greater doubt than ‘may’.
‘Might’ suggests remote/distant possibility.
E.g. It might rain.

● to put forward a suggestion: ‘Might’ is often used to put forward a suggestion or offer an advice
which you are a little hesitant about,
E.g. You might try again. ( But I am not certain if you should)
 ● to express speculation (guess) about past actions. ‘Might have’ is used for past tense. E.g. He told me
that she might have finished her work.

● in conditional sentences:
‘May/Might’ can be used instead of ‘shall/will’ and ‘should/would’ in the conditional sentences respectively
to express a possible result;
E.g. If you work hard, you may pass. (possibility)
If she had left early, she might have reached by now.
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3. Will /Shall
Will
With the second and third persons, will is used
● to express simple future:
E.g. She will leave for Ambala tomorrow.
● to express an invitation or request. Here ‘will you‘? is not a question in the ordinary sense.
E.g. Will you care for a cup of tea? (Invitation)
Will you please lend me your pen? (Request)
● to express a command in an informal or impersonal manner expecting it will be surely obeyed.
E. g. All new boys will report for medical check-up.
● to express something that happens again and again and is likely to recur
E.g. The old woman will sit in the park and sing songs.
● to express quantity or capacity. E.g. This jug will hold two litres of water.
● to express prediction. E.g. It will rain.

‘Will’ with the First Person is used

● to express willingness or offer. E.g. I will help you as far as possible.
● to express intention or promise. E.g. I will go home to see my mother. We will come in time.
● to express determination. E.g. I will lay down my life for my country

Shall
With the first person, ‘shall’ is used
● to express simple future. E.g. We shall leave for Delhi tomorrow.
● to express the plan or intention of the speaker E.g. We shall shift to our new house next week.
● to express an offer or suggestion E.g. Shall I shut the window?
● With the second and third persons, ‘shall’ is used to express a command.
E.g. You shall remain here till he comes.
● to express a threat. E.g. She shall be punished for her misdeeds.
● to express a promise. E.g. You shall get leave today.
● To express command or wish of the person addressed if used with the third person.
E.g. Shall I carry your luggage?
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4. Must/have to
Must
● It is used for all persons in the present and the future tenses.
● The negative sentence use must not or mustn’t.
● ‘Must’ have no infinite or past tense.
● It is used to express obligation. E.g.- We must obey our elders.
● It is used to express compulsion. E.g.- You must return by noon.
● It is used for saying that something is probably true as nothing else seems possible.
● E.g.- There must be some problem.
● It is used for prohibition. E.g. You must not use the cell phone while driving.
● It is used to give empathic advice. E.g.- You must have a doctor check-up once a year.

Have to/Has to– it is used to express obligation, compulsion or necessity in the present or future tense.

● It is used to express obligation. E.g.- They have to look after her child.
● It is used for giving advice. E.g. – You have to study hard to score well.
● It is used to indicate something important. E.g.- They will have to clear their doubts to appear for a
presentation.

Had to – It is used for describing something that belongs to the past.

E. g. The enemy had to accept defeat at last.
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5. Would/Should
Would is the past tense of ‘will’.
‘Would’ is used
● to denote the past tense of will/shall in indirect speech E.g. The officer said that he would look
into the matter
● to express a habitual or customary activity in the past. E.g. He would go for a swim in the sea
every morning.
● to make a polite request (with the second person) E.g. Would you spare some time for me?
● to denote courtesy. E.g. Would you stay for dinner?
(Note. Here ‘would you’ is more polite than ‘will you’)
● to express a wish E.g. Would that I were a film star!
● to express a preference. E.g. I would like to ask you something.
● to express improbable or unreal conditions. E.g. If I won a lottery prize, I would
build a hospital

Should
This verb is the past form of shall.
● It is used for obligation or duty. E.g.- You should look after your child.
● It is used to give advice. E.g. – You should take a lawyer’s advice.
● It is used to express purpose. E.g.- He should work hard to win the match.
● It is used to state imaginary results. E.g..- He should get married to an educated doctor.
● It is used for the request. E.g.- I will be thankful if you should grant me leave
For today.
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6. Need
This form of a verb is usually followed by an infinite without ‘to’. It is mainly used in questions and
negatives. E.g.- You need not attend the funeral.
The negative form ‘need not’ is used as needn’t.
Need does not change with the third person singular or the present tense. Example- He need not attend
the meeting.
It is used to express absence. E.g.- You need not send the letter of request.
 It is used to express necessity. – E.g.- Need I have to solve all the questions today?
It is used to express unnecessary action. This rule is applied for need not with the perfect infinitive.
E.g.- You needn’t have to go to the market as it is raining.
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7. Ought
‘Ought’ refers to Present, Past or Future Tense.
‘Ought’ is used
● to express the sense of duty or moral obligation.
E.g. Students ought to prepare well for their examinations. (duty)
You ought to maintain communal harmony. (social obligation)
We ought to love our neighbours. (moral obligation)
She ought to consult some doctor. (advice)
We ought not to use unfair means in the examination. (advice)
Note. The sense of moral obligation springs from within. There is no outside force or compulsion
‘Must’ suggests speaker’s authority and emphatic advice ‘should’ implies what is proper or right
action.
‘Ought to’ is less forceful and has the same meaning as ‘should’
● to express strong probability. E.g. She ought to pass this time.
The past tense of ought is expressed with ought to have + third form of the verb.
E.g. You ought to have attended the meeting.
The driver ought to have applied the brakes.

Complete the following paragraph by filling in the blanks with suitable modals.
If we sit in an incorrect posture, it (a).............................. ( will, would, should)strain our back. As far
as possible this (b) .............................. ( need, might, should) be avoided. If the posture becomes a
part of habit, a low back pain invariably develops. It (c) .................... ( can, can’t, could) cured if we
become conscious of our posture. We (d) ...................... (will, should, may) also take time out to
perform a few exercises. If the exercises are done regularly the backache
(e) ....................... (can, need, has to) certainly be cured. It (f) .............................. ( will, should, must)
also improve blood circulation within the spine.
Self-miracle refers to your need to change your life to what you really (a) .................... (had to, have
to, must, can) create. The simple truth is only you possess the power to improve your condition in
line with everything you (b) ................... (shall, would, may, can) like. To carry out you (c) ...............
(ought to, have to, need to, must) live your dreams to be able to improve your life permanently.
This (d) .............. ( must, will, can, shall) be done immediately if you wish to attain what you have
targeted.