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Modals and Semi modals

A modal is a type of auxiliary (helping) verb that is used to express: ability, possibility, permission or obligation. Modal phrases (or semi-modals) are used to express the same things as modals, but are a combination of auxiliary verbs and the preposition to.

Modals

Semi Modals

Modal verbs are used to modify the meaning of lexical verbs to express notions such as ability, permission, possibility, necessity, obligation, advice, suggestion, or prediction.

Modal verbs are also called modal auxiliaries, and they are different from lexical verbs.

modals do not have non-finite forms (infinitive, present and past participle)

modals do not carry an 's in the 3rd person singular.

Apart from modal verbs, there are some other verbs or verb phrases that are known as semi-modals. They are called semi-modals because their function and meaning is similar to that of modals, but their form is different

English semi-modals are: BE GOING TO, BE ABLE TO, USED TO, OUGHT TO, HAVE TO, NEED TO

most of them carry the 's in the 3rd person singular.

they sometimes need auxiliaries to form the negative and interrogative forms

some of them change form from present to past or future

Will/ Would. Will is used to show a wish, prediction, request, demand, order, assumption, promise, etc.

Can. Can is used to show permission, possibility, and ability.

Could. Could is used to represent a suggestion, request, permission, future possibility and ability in the past.

May. ...

Might. ...

Must. ...

Should.