MODALS
VERBS
( USES WITH
EXAMPLES)
 |
| Modals verbs uses with examples |
1
. A modal is a verb used
with another verb (main verb )to express the mood or attitude of the speaker.
Modals are also called Modal
auxiliaries.
*I
can answer all these questions easily .
In this
sentence ,can express the idea of the speaker’s ability , which is not being
expressed by the main verb (answer) . So can is a modal.
2. Modals
are used to convey the ideas of permission , possibility ,probability ,
ability , suggestion , advice , necessity , obligation , offer etc.
3. The commonly used modals are :-
Can could may might
Will would shall should
4.
Dare need and used to
are known as semi- modals .
5.
Modals have only one
form . They do not change according to the person or number of the subject :
I
can you can he can she can
It can they can
6.
Modals are followed by a
main verb. They cannot stand on their own unless they are used in a question
tag:
* You should live within your means.
( modal)
(main verb)
*We ought to follow the rules.
(modal)
(main verb)
# permission
: may , can , could
*Asking for permission
1 . Ruchi :- Can I borrow you bicycle for a while ?
Mona :- Sure , you can use it as long as you like .
2. Lipi (standing at her seat
in the class ):
May
I ask a question ma’am ?
3. An old man (to a stranger ):
Could
you help me to cross the road ?
*Can
is direct , informal,
friendly . ( used among friends , close relations etc ).
* May is very formal . ( used by people
in a subordinate position)
* Could is less direct and more polite
than can . ( often used for strangers , or people not intimately known )
*Giving
permission
When we
give permission , we use can or may but not could :-
1.
1.
Rajat :- Can I use your telephone ?
Ankit :- Of course , you can .
*Talking about
permission
If
certain things are permitted ( or not permitted) by law, we use can (cannot, can’t ):-
You can cross this road only at a zebra crossing .
You can’t smoke in a cinema hall.
# POSSIBILITY :- MAY , MIGHT,
COULD
*Present and future possibility :may , might, , could
1. We use may,might, or could to talk about
present or future possibility :
–There’s
someone at the door .
–
It may be jasleen .
* What are you doing tomorrow ?
* We
aren’t sure. We might go for an
evening show.
–
Don’t stand on the chair
. It could break.
*May
suggests a good possibility .
*Might suggests a weak possibility.
*Could suggests a still weaker possibility.
2.
May not and might not are possible with this meaning but not could not :-
*Mr Yadav was not well last evening .
He may not be coming to school
today.
*
He might not be interested.
*Posibility in the past : may/might/could+have+past participle
1. We
use may/might/could+have+past participle to suggest a past possibility:-
–Today,manam passed by me without even
saying hello.
–
He might not have seen you.
2.We use
could/might(but not may ) + have +past participle to say that something was
possible in the past but did not happen. Normally , we think it is good it did
not happen:-
–Why
did you go into the forest in the darkness?
–Some wild beast could have attacked you .
(It didn’t).
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