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Modal Verbs

The document discusses modal verbs in English. Modal verbs are special verbs that behave irregularly and provide additional information about the function of other verbs. They cannot change form and are always followed by an infinitive without 'to'. Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, and must.

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25 views

Modal Verbs

The document discusses modal verbs in English. Modal verbs are special verbs that behave irregularly and provide additional information about the function of other verbs. They cannot change form and are always followed by an infinitive without 'to'. Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, and must.

Uploaded by

bilzeriandan76
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Modal verbs

Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries)
are special verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from
normal verbs like "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about
the function of the main verb that follows it. They have a great variety
of communicative functions.
Characteristics of modal verbs:

 They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
 They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.g. the bare
infinitive.)
 They are used to indicate the modality that allow speakers to express
certainty, possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability

List of modal verbs:

can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must


The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like
modal auxiliaries.
Usage:

1. Permission
2. Ability
3. Obligation
4. Prohibition
5. Lack of necessity
6. Advice
7. Possibility
8. Probability
Modal Verb Expressing Example

Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.
must logical conclusion / Certainty He must be very tired. He's been working all
day long.

must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

ability I can swim.

can permission Can I use your phone, please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.

could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility It could rain tomorrow!

permission May I use your phone, please?


may
possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

polite permission Might I suggest an idea?


might
possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.

lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of


need not
obligation tomatoes in the fridge.

50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a


terrible headache.
should/ought
advice You should / ought to revise your lessons
to
logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's been
working all day long.

had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons.

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