Verb

H.V. M.V.
Primary Modals Finite Non-Finite

• Be- can, could

Is/am/are may, might Transitive Infinitive
Was/were will, would Gerund
Be/been/being shall, should Intransitive Participle
dare, need
• Have – must,
has/have/had used to
• Do - Do/does/did ought to
Modals
 Basic Points
1. Modal + V1

2. Subject (sing/plu) + modal + v1

May vs Might
 May Might

1. Possibility 1. Possibility
2. Permission 2. Used in past tense
Possibility May - suggests a high degree of possibility
Might - suggests a lower degree of possibility

 The weather may be better tomorrow. (50%)

 The weather might be better tomorrow. (30%)

 We may go to the cinema tonight. (50%)

 We might go to the cinema tonight. (30%)
Permission May - to ask for, give and refuse permission. It
is quite formal.

 May I come in, sir?

 Yes, you may.

 May I go home now?

 No, you may not.
Past Sense Might - Although “might” is not the past tense
of “may,” it is still the best word to describe
something that happened in the past.

 He asked if he may borrow the car.

 He asked if he might borrow the car.

 I think I may go to the game.

 I thought I might go to the game.
Can vs Could
Can
1. Ability (Present)

Could
1. Ability (Past)
Can - to define Ability, Capacity (in Present)

 I can answer all the questions.

 She can speak English very well.
 This room can accommodate more than
fifty students.
Could - to define Ability, Capacity (in Past)

 I could swim when I was 5 years old.

 When I was young, I could easily touch
my toes.
 I couldn’t play chess two years ago, but I
can now.
Can
 Can

1. Permission
2. General truth
3. Offers
Permission Can - to give and seek permission

 You can play with your friends after

doing homework.
 You can go on the trip.

 Can I have your number?

 Can I ask a question, please?
 Can we go home now?
Can - to give and seek permission
General Truth Can - to talk about things which we think
are usually, but not always, true:

 Water can extinguish the fire.

 Fireworks can frighten pets.

Offers Can - We use ”can” as a question form to
make offers:

 Can I help you lift that?

 Can we do anything for you?

 Can - We write ”cannot” as one word:
Note -
 The children cannot be left unsupervised
at any time.
 The children can not be left unsupervised
at any time.
Could
 Could

1. Permission (Formal)
2. Possibility (Present/Future)
 Could - to ask for permission. Could is more
Permission formal and polite than can:

 Could I ask you a personal question?

 Could I use your phone?
 Could - We often use could to express
Possibility possibility in the present and the future

 It’s yellow.
(I am certain that it is yellow. It’s a fact.)

 It could be yellow. (present)

(I’m not certain that it is yellow.)
 Could - We often use could to express
Possibility possibility in the present and the future

 The storm will get worse.

(I’m certain that the storm will get worse.)

 The storm could get worse. (future)

(I’m not certain that the storm will get
worse.)
 Can Could

1. Ability (Present) 1. Ability (Past)

2. Permission 2. Permission
3. General truth (Formal)
4. Offers 3. Possibility
(Present/Future)
Will/Shall
1. We use “Will/Shall” to denote future activity

 She will graduate from college next spring.

 They will travel to Europe for their honeymoon.

 I shall call you later to discuss the details.

 We shall not tolerate any form of discrimination.

Note 1 – “Will” is specially used with “I & We” in order to show
- Determination, Promise, Warning or threat, certainty and
willingness

 Despite the difficulties, we will achieve our goals. (Determination)

 Rest assured, I will do my best to resolve the issue. (Promise)

 I will fire you, if you don’t work properly. (Warning)

 We will kill you. (Threat)

 I will definitely attend the meeting tomorrow. (Certainty)

Note 2 – “Shall” is specially used with “he, she, it & they” in
order to show – Command, Promise, Warning, threat &
Determination

 You shall clean your room before going out to play. (Command)

 You shall receive the support you need to achieve your dreams.
(Promise)

 Obey the rules, or they shall face consequences. (Warning)

 He shall be fired. (Threat)

Note 3 – Only “Shall” is used with phrases like
“be grateful, be forced, be obliged, be able, be
unable, be at a loss and be compelled.

 I shall be grateful to you for this act of kindness.

 They shall be obliged to comply with the new

regulations.

 He shall be at a loss when faced with such a

complex problem.
Note 4 – Only “will” is used to show inevitability
and certain Result.

 The sun will rise again tomorrow.

 Meditation will help you keep mentally fit.

 Men will be men.

Should
 Should

1. Past form
2. Duty
Past Form 1. We use “should” as a “past
form” of shall in “Indirect speech”

 I said that I should take a break from

work.

 We said the we should follow the safety

guidelines.
Duty 2. Should shows – Duty, Obligation, Advice, Instruction.

• As citizens, we should vote in the upcoming elections.

(Duty)

• Students should complete their assignments before the

deadline. (Obligation)

• If you want to improve your health, you should exercise

regularly. (Advice)

• Participants should follow the guidelines provided for the

competition. (Instruction)
Would
 Would

1. Past form
2. Polite Request
3. Past Habit
4. Wish/Choice
Past form 1. We use “would” as a “past form”
of will in “Indirect speech”

 He said the he would not sign the

agreement.

 She asked me if they would go to the

party that night.
Polite Request 2. “Would” also express a polite
request in interrogative sentences

 Would it be possible for you to pick me up

from the airport?

 Would you mind helping me carry these

boxes upstairs?
Past Habit 3. We use “Would” to show past
habit

 As a child, she would always play in the

park with her friends.

 Back in the day, we would often go

camping during the holidays.
Wish/Choice 4. We use “would” to show – wish,
choice and liking

 She would prefer to travel by train rather

than by bus.

 She would prefer to wear comfortable

clothes rather than dress up.

 He would prefer to have a quiet evening at

home with a good movie.
Must
 Must

1. Duty
2. Orders
3. Recommendation
 1. “Must” is a strong form of “should”. It denotes –
Duty Duty, Obligation, compulsion, necessity, certainty
and strong possibility

 One must obey one’s teacher. (Duty)

 Employees must comply with the company's policies and

procedures. (obligation)

 To excel in your career, you must constantly strive for

improvement. (Necessity)

 There must be something wrong with the engine.

(Strong possibility)
Orders 2. We use “Must” to give orders.

 All team members must submit their progress

reports by Friday.

 Students must follow the school's dress code at

all times.

 Everything must be in its place before I come

back.
Recommendation
3. We use “Must” to give recommendation.

 You must try the seafood pasta at that

restaurant; it's amazing!

 If you're interested in history, you must visit the

ancient ruins in Rome.
Ought to
1. “Ought to” gives sense of “moral
obligation” and “duty”

 We ought to respect our elders.

 Drivers ought to follow traffic rules.

 People ought to be responsible for their actions.

Used to
1. “Used to” denotes – “habit of Past”

• I used to play Guitar in the College.

• I used to go to school by bicycle.

1. “Used to” denotes – “habit of present”
when used with “be”

• He is used to smoking.

• She is used to eating Idli Dhosa.

Need
Note - Need is used both as a Main verb
and as a Modal verb
Main Verb 1. When need is used as a Main verb:

 He needs my help.

 We need two more players for the team.

 He needed some more time to decide the question.

Note - When need is used as a Main verb,
“Do/does/did” are used to make negative and
interrogative

 He needs my help.
 He doesn’t need my help.

 We need two more players for the team.

 We don’t need two more players for the team.

 He needed some more time to decide the question.

 He didn’t need some more time to decide the question.
Modal Verb 2. When need is used as a Modal verb, It is
common in questions and negatives.

 He need not ask my permission.

 They need not make such a fuss over it.

 You need not mention this to anyone else.

 Need we write this down?

 Find - He needs new shoes.
Main/Modal verb
Need I come again?

You needn’t drive me to the station. I can take the

bus.

Do you need any money?

I need to go there.

I needn’t go there.

I need hardly say that I am very grateful.

Dare
Note - Dare is used both as a Main verb
and as a Modal verb
Main Verb 1. Dare as a main verb means 'to challenge
somebody to do something dangerous, difficult
or embarrassing so that they can show that
they are brave.'

 Take it! I dare you.

 No one dared him to do that prank.

Note – Dare as a main verb can also mean 'to
be brave enough to do something’.

 I didn't dare to say that to her face.

 I don’t dare to mention it to him.

 She didn't dare to go home late.

 Does anyone dare to go there?

Modal Verb 2. When Dare is used as a Modal verb:

 No one dare go there.

 Dare anyone go there?

 Dare I ask how the project’s going?

 I daren’t tell him the truth; he’ll go crazy.

 Negative statement
Comparison  He doesn’t dare to go there. (Main verb)
 No one dares to go there. (Main verb)
 No one dare go there. (Modal verb)

Affirmative question
 Does anyone dare to go there? (Main verb)
 Dare anyone go there? (Modal verb)

Negative question
 Doesn’t he dare to go there? (Main verb)
 Daren’t he go there? (Modal verb)
 Find - 1. I didn’t .....................… the truth.
A. dare to tell
Main/Modal verb B. dare tell
C. dared tell

2. Do you ………………….. what you think?

A. dare say
B. dare to say
C. dares to say

3. I daren’t ………………… what I think.

A. say
B. to say
4. He ………………… out at night.
A. dare not go
B. does not dare to go
C. Either could be used here

5. She ................................... the truth.

A. doesn't dare speak
B. doesn't dare to speak
C. daren't to speak
Miscellaneous
Could have + v3

(हो/कर सकता था)

1. Could have + v3 - means that something was
possible in the past, or you had the ability to do
something in the past, but that you didn't do it.

 I could have stayed up late, but I decided to go to bed

early.

 They could have won the race, but they didn't try hard
enough.

 The boy could have run away from the bullies, but he
decided to confront them.
2. Could have + v3 - means that something wasn't
possible in the past, even if you had wanted to do
it.

 I couldn't have arrived any earlier. There was a

terrible traffic jam (= it was impossible for me
to have arrived any earlier)

 He couldn't have passed the exam, even if he

had studied harder. It's a really, really difficult
exam.
3. Could have + v3 - when we want to make a
guess about something that happened in the past.
In this case, we don't know if what we're saying is
true or not true. We're just talking about our
opinion of what maybe happened.

 Are you out of your mind?! You could have

crashed into that wall!

 Are you crazy? We could have got into an

accident.
Should have + v3
(होना/करना चाहहए था)
Should have + v3 - Should have means that something did
not happen, but we wish it had happened. We use should
have to talk about past mistakes.

 I should have studied harder! (= I didn't study very hard

and so I failed the exam. I'm sorry about this now.)

 I shouldn't have eaten so much cake! (= I did eat a lot of

cake and now I don't feel good.)

 You should have asked my permission before you used

my computer. I’m really angry with you.
Would have + v3
(हो/ कर चुका होता)
1. Would have + v3 - Use would have to imagine a
result (if something had been different in the past):

 If I had had enough money, I would have bought a

car (but I didn't have enough money, so I didn't buy
a car).

 If we had arrived earlier, we would have caught our

flight.

 If I had brought my umbrella, I wouldn’t have got

wet in the rain.
2. Would have + v3 - we can also use would have +
v3 to talk about something you wanted to do but
didn't.

 I would have helped you. I didn't know you

needed help. (= If I had known that you needed
help, I would have helped you.)

 I would have called you, but I didn't know your

number. (= I wanted to call you but I didn't know
your number, so I didn't call you.)
 May/Might have + v3
(शायद कर हिया होगा/हो गया होगा)
May/Might have + v3 - to talk about the possibility
that something happened in the past. It could also
be used to say that something was true in the past.
5

 Tanu hasn’t arrived yet. She may have missed

the train.

 What was that noise? It might have been an

airplane.
Must have + v3

(अवश्य हो चूका होगा)

Must have + v3 - The phrase "must have V3" is used to express a
strong deduction or conclusion about a past event or situation. It
is typically used when you are very certain or convinced that
something happened in the past based on the available evidence
or information.

 The roads are wet, so it must have rained earlier. (In this
example, the speaker is deducing that it rained earlier
because the roads are wet.)

 She must have forgotten about the meeting. (Here, the

speaker is expressing a strong belief that the person forgot
about the meeting based on the current situation.)