MODAL VERBS:
Presented by: Riwaz
Pradhanang
8 ‘E’
MODAL VERBS
Introduction to Modal Verbs
What Are Pure Modals?
Pure Modals
What Are Semi-Modals?
Semi-Modals
Uses of Modal Verbs
Modal Verbs by Use
INTRODUCTION TO
MO DAL VE RBS
3
Modal
Verbs
• Auxiliary Role: Modal verbs serve as auxiliary
verbs enhancing main verbs by indicating
modality or mood of the action.
• Expressing Modalities: They express ability,
permission, obligation, possibility, or advice to
modify sentence meaning contextually.
• Categories: Modal verbs split into pure modals,
which are single words, and semi-modals, often
multi-word auxiliaries 4
WHAT ARE
P U RE MO DAL S?
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PURE MODALS
Definition and List: Pure modals are simple verbs like
can, could, may, might, shall, should, will, would, must
that do not change form.
No Third Person ‘s’: They never take an ‘s’ ending in the
third person singular unlike regular verbs in English.
Form Characteristics: Always followed by base verb
form; they lack infinitive or participle variations,
maintaining fixed modal usage.
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PURE MODALS-EXAMPLES IN
USE
• Expressing Ability: 'She can swim'
demonstrates capability to perform an action,
signaling physical or learned skill.
• Indicating Permission: 'You may enter' gives
authorization or consent, often used in formal or
polite contexts.
• Conveying Obligation and Advice: 'You must
wear a seatbelt' shows mandatory requirement;
'You should eat healthy 7
food' suggests
WHAT ARE
SE MI-MO DAL S?
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SEMI-
MODALS
Definition and
Examples: Semi-modals
combine auxiliaries with
words, e.g., have to, need
to, ought to, be able to,
be going to.
Modality Expression:
Like modals, semi-modals
express necessity, ability,
advice, or future intention
within sentence contexts.
Syntactic Differences: 9
SEMI-MODALS –
EXAMPLES IN USE
• Obligation with 'Have to': 'I have to finish my
homework' conveys a requirement driven by
necessity or external rules.
• Advice via 'Ought to': 'You ought to apologize'
suggests morally appropriate behavior or
recommended corrective action.
• Future Intention and Ability: 'She is going to
travel tomorrow' indicates planned future action;
'He is able to solve the problem' shows
10 capability.
USES OF
MO DAL VE RBS
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USES OF MODAL VERBS
• Ability: Expresses capability to perform actions
based on physical skill, knowledge, or opportunity
contextually.
• Permission: Grants or requests authorization to
perform actions with varying levels of formality and
politeness.
• Obligation, Advice, and Possibility: Indicates
necessity or duty, suggests recommended actions,
and conveys likelihood or uncertainty 12
effectively.
MODAL VERBS
USES
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• Ability: Modal verbs 'can' and
'be able to' express physical or
learned capabilities, e.g., 'She
can swim.’
• Permission: 'Can' and 'may'
grant formal or informal
consent, as in 'May I leave?'.
Context determines politeness.
•
Obligation,Advice,Possibilit
y: 'Must' and 'have to'
show obligation; 'should' and
'ought to' advise; 'might' and 14
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