Modal Verbs

Classes of verbs
• There are two classes of verbs in English:
1. The auxiliary verbs ( auxiliaries): to be, to have, to
do; can, could, may, might, must, ought , shall,
should, will, would; to need and to dare.
2. All other verbs, which we may call ordinary verbs:
to tech, to read …
Difference between auxiliaries and ordinary
verbs
• Ordinary verbs cannot be used- To start a sentence, in
contraction and to form tenses. For example-
• Tech I English? X
• I teachn’t English. X
ØI am teaching English.
ØI was teaching English.
ØI will be teaching Human Values in the next semester.
Difference between modals and ordinary
verbs
• Modals have no infinitives or participles and therefore
cannot be used in the continuous tenses. For example,
ØContinuous form of run is running.
ØContinuous form of can is ???
• All modal verbs except ought are followed by the bare
infinitive.
Difference between auxiliaries and modals
• to be, to have, to do (auxiliaries) ; can, could, may, might, must, ought
, shall, should, will, would; to need and to dare.(modals)
• Auxiliaries are governed by number, e.g.
He is running. We are running. (Different forms in singular and plural)
He can run. We can run. (Same form in singular and plural)
• Tenses cannot be determined on the form of modals, for e.g.
He might read my book. ( Present or Past any definite answer??)
Definition of modals
• Modals or modal auxiliaries are verbs which are used
before ordinary verbs to express permission,
possibility, ability, obligation, suggestion, request and
so on. They indicate the attitude, intention and mood
of the speaker.
Modals that express ability
1. Can- indicates ability to do something.
2. Could- suggests ability in the past.
3. Be able to- indicates ability to do something.
Difference- In the present tense we can use either can or be
able to.
In the past tense could is used to express general ability. But
when we discuss someone’s performance in a specific situation,
we use was able to or managed to ( not could).
Examples of could and be able to
• Magician Harry Houdini could escape from locked
underwater boxes.
(A past ability)
• There was a fire in the cinema. Fortunately everyone
was able to/ managed to escape.
(A specific performance in the past.)
Fill in the blanks with either could or was
able to/managed to.
1. Since the exam was difficult, only a few students _____to pass it.
2. Mozart ---- compose little pieces of music even when he was 5.
3. We ---- reach to the top of the hill before it got dark yesterday.
4. I looked very carefully and I ... see a figure in the distance.
5. They didn't have any tomatoes in the first shop I went to,
but I ........................ get some in the next shop.
6. My grandmother loved music. She ........................... play
the piano very well.
Modal verbs that express obligation, advice
and suggestion.
1. Should- used to make a suggestion or to give an advice.
You should exercise regularly. ( advice)
We should eat healthy food. ( suggestion)
2. Must – suggests strong obligation.
We must pay our taxes.
3. Ought to – conveys a sense of moral duty.
We ought to take care of our parents.
Fill in the blanks with should, must or ought
to.
1. You _____ read newspapers daily to improve your
vocabulary. (suggestion)
2. You _____ to finish your work by today.
3. Having a playground in every locality is a _____
(necessity)
4. You _____ submit the form before May.
5. You _____ do something for the underprivileged.
(moral duty)
Modal verbs that express permission.
• May- suggests permission which is formal in nature and polite.
May I come in?
• Can- suggests permission which is less formal than ‘may’, ‘can’ is
informal.
Can I borrow your book?
• Could- suggests permission in the past. When used in seeking
permission, could is more polite than may
He informed that I could use the laptop.
Could you give me some money?
Fill in the blanks with may, can or could.
1. You _____ take my pen dear brother.
(informal)
2. _____ I have some snacks, mother? (informal)
3. Sir, _____ I come in? (formal)
4. _____ I use your telephone? (very polite)
5. _____ I pay the ticket fare? (informal)
Modal verbs that express possibility.
• May- indicates a good possibility. A possibility stronger than ‘might’.
He may get the job.
• Might- indicates a weak possibility.
He might not listen to our complaints.
• Can- indicates general and occasional possibility.
I can go whenever I want to.
• Could- it is used when there is a very weak possibility.
He could help you, but I am not sure.
Fill in the blanks with may, might, can or
could.
1. It _____ rain tomorrow. (weak possibility)
2. Soha _____ be in her room right now. (good possibility)
3. If you call him, he _____ attend the function. (a very
weak possibility)
4. They _____ be waiting for us at the station. (weak
possibility)
5. I _____ come to meet your grandfather tomorrow.
(general possibility)
Modals that express prohibitions.
• Must not- Indicates that something should not be done
because it is a rule.
You must not talk on the phone while driving.
• Ought not to- Indicates that something should not be done
because it is a duty.
You ought not to talk in the class.
Fill in the blanks with must not or ought not
to.
1. You _____ tell lies to your elders. (duty)
2. We _____ disobey our parents. (duty)
3. We _____ use our mobile phones inside a hospital. (rule)
4. Students _____ leave the classroom before the bell rings.
(rule)
5. It is our moral duty to save the environment. So we _____
cut trees.
Today we studied about-
Ø twoclasses of verbs in English.
Ødifference between auxiliaries and ordinary
verbs.
Ødifference between modals and ordinary verbs.
Ødifference between auxiliaries and modals.
Øuses of different modal verbs.