Deborah School, Semmit Campus

MODAL AUXILIARY VERBS

Submitted By Tobias Berhanu (Grade
5A)

This is an English assignment on modal auxiliary verbs. This

document presents concepts, uses/functions and examples.

Addis Ababa
4/24/2023
Table of Contents
1. Modal Auxiliary Verbs......................................................................................................................2
2. Basic Grammatical Rules Applying to Modal Verbs......................................................................2
3. Meanings that Modals Give to other Verbs.....................................................................................2
4. Will.....................................................................................................................................................2
5. Shall....................................................................................................................................................3
6. May and Might..................................................................................................................................3
6.1 May...................................................................................................................................................4
6.2 Might.................................................................................................................................................4
7. Would.................................................................................................................................................4
8. Can and Could...................................................................................................................................5
9. Must....................................................................................................................................................5
10. Should.............................................................................................................................................6
11. Ought to..........................................................................................................................................6

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1. Modal Auxiliary Verbs
What are "modal auxiliary verbs"?
The verbs can, could, will, would, should, may, might, must, ought and shall are verbs
which 'help' other verbs to express a meaning: it is important to realise that "modal verbs"
have no meaning by themselves. A modal verb such as would has several varying functions;
it can be used, for example, to help verbs express ideas about the past, the present and the
future. It is, therefore, wrong to believe that "would is the past of will": it is many others.

2. Basic Grammatical Rules Applying to Modal Verbs

Modal verbs are NEVER used with other auxiliary verbs such as do, does, did etc. The
negative is formed by adding "not" after the verb; questions are formed by inversion of the
verb and subject:
a. You should not do that. b. Could you pick me up when I've finished?
Modal verbs NEVER change form: you can never add an "-s" or "-ed", for example. Modal
verbs are NEVER followed by to, with the exception of ought to.

3. Meanings that Modals Give to other Verbs

The meanings are usually connected with ideas of DOUBT, CERTAINTY, POSSIBILITY
and PROBABILITY, OBLIGATION and PERMISSION (or lack of these). You will see
that they are not used to talk about things that definitely exist, or events that definitely
happened. These meanings are sometimes divided into two groups:

DEGREES OF CERTAINTY: certainty; probability; possibility; impossibility

OBLIGATION/FREEDOM TO ACT: permission, lack of permission; ability; obligation.
Let's look at each modal verb separately, and the functions they help to express:

4. Will
Making personal predictions

I don't think the Queen will ever abdicate. I doubt if I'll stay here much longer.

Talking about the present with certainty (making deductions)

I'm sure you will understand that there is nothing the Department can do.
Talking about the future with certainty
I won't be in the office until 11; I've got a meeting.
Talking about the past with certainty

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 I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.

Reassuring someone
Don't worry! You'll settle down quickly, I'm sure.
Making a decision
I'm very tired. I think I'll stay at home tonight.
Making a semi-formal request
Will you open the window, please? It's very hot in here. Sign this, will you?
Offering to do something
You stay there! I'll fetch the drinks.
Insistence; habitual behaviour
I'm not surprised you don't know what to do! You will keep talking in class.
Damn! My car won't start. I'll have to call the garage.
Making a promise or a threat
You can count on me! I'll be there at 8 o'clock sharp.
If you don't finish your dinner off, you'll go straight to bed!

5. Shall
Shall is a form of will, used mostly in the first person. Its use, however, is decreasing, and in
any case in spoken English it would be contracted to "-ll" and be indistinguishable from
will. The only time you do need to use it is in questions, when:

Making offers
Shall I fetch you another glass of wine?
Making suggestions
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?

6. May and Might

May and might sometimes have virtually the same meaning; they are used to talk about
possibilities in the past, present or future. ("Could" is also sometimes used).

May is sometimes a little bit "more sure" (50% chance); whereas might expresses more doubt
(maybe only a 30% chance). May and might are used, then, for:

Talking about the present or future with uncertainty

I may go shopping tonight, I haven't decided yet.
Talking about the past with uncertainty
I'm surprised he failed. I suppose he might have been ill on the day of the exam.
They can also sometimes be used for talking about permission, but usually only in formal
situations. Instead of saying May I open a window? we would say Is it all right/OK

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 if I open a window? or Can I open a window? for example. You might, however, see:

Students may not borrow equipment without written permission

6.1 May
Talking about things that can happen in certain situations

If the monitors are used in poorly lit places, some users may experience headaches.
Each nurse may be responsible for up to twenty patients.
With a similar meaning to although

The experiment may have been a success, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
(= Although it was a success, there is still ...)

6.2 Might
Saying that something was possible, but did not actually happen

You saw me standing at the bus stop! You might have stopped and given me a lift!
7. Would

As the past of will, for example in indirect speech

The next meeting will be in a month's time becomes

He said the next meeting would be in a month's time.
Polite requests and offers (a 'softer' form of will)

Would you like another cup of tea? Would you give me a ring after lunch? I'd like the
roast duck, please.
In conditionals, to indicate 'distance from reality': imagined, unreal, impossible situations

If I ruled the world, every day would be the first day of Spring.
It would have been better if you'd word processed your assignment.
After 'wish', to show regret or irritation over someone (or something's) refusal or insistence
on doing something (present or future)

I wish you wouldn't keep interrupting me. I wish it would snow.

(This is a complicated area! Check in a good grammar book for full details!)

Talking about past habits (similar meaning to ‘used to’)

When I was small, we would always visit relatives on Christmas Day.

Future in the past

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 The assassination would become one of the key events of the century.

8. Can and Could

Talking about ability

Can you speak Mandarin? (present)

She could play the piano when she was five. (past)
Making requests

Can you give me a ring at about 10?

Could you speak up a bit please? (slightly more formal, polite or 'softer')
Asking permission

Can I ask you a question?

Could I ask you a personal question? (more formal, polite or indirect)
Reported speech

Could is used as the past of can.

He asked me if I could pick him up after work.

General possibility

You can drive when you're 17. (present)

Women couldn't vote until just after the First World War.
Choice and opportunities

If you want some help with your writing, you can come to classes, or you can get some
1:1 help.
We could go to Stratford tomorrow, but the forecast's not brilliant. (less definite)
Future probability

Could (NOT can) is sometimes used in the same way as might or may, often indicating
something less definite.

When I leave university I might travel around a bit, I might do an MA or I suppose

I could even get a job.
Present possibility

I think you could be right you know. (NOT can)

That can't be the right answer, it just doesn't make sense.

Past possibility

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 If I'd known the lecture had been cancelled, I could have stayed in bed longer.
9. Must

Examples here refer to British English; there is some variation in American English.

Necessity and obligation

Must is often used to indicate 'personal' obligation; what you think you yourself or other
people/things must do. If the obligation comes from outside (eg a rule or law), then have to is
often (but not always) preferred:

I really must get some exercise.

People must try to be more tolerant of each other.
You musn't look - promise?
If you own a car, you have to pay an annual road tax.
Strong advice and invitations
You must come and see me next time you're in town.
Saying you think something is certain

This must be the place - there's a white car parked outside. You must be mad.
The negative is expressed by can't:

You're going to sell your guitar! You can't be serious!

10. Should

Giving advice
You shouldn't have ordered that chocolate dessert - you're not going to finish it.

Obligation: weak form of must

The university should provide more sports facilities. The equipment should be
inspected regularly.

Deduction

The letter should get to you tomorrow - I posted it first class.

Things which didn't or may/may not have happened

I should have renewed my TV license last month, but I forgot. You shouldn't have spent
so much time on that first question.

11. Ought to

Ought to usually has the same meaning as should, particularly in affirmative statements in the
present:
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 You should/ought to get your hair cut.
Should is much more common (and easier to say!), so if you're not sure, use should.