Modal Verbs / Auxiliary Modal Verbs

They are used to indicate modality
1. Probability
  1. they can be used when we want to say how sure we are that something happened / is happening / will happen.
    1. This bill can't be right. £200 for two cups of coffee!. / It's snowing, so it must be very cold outside.
2. Ability
  1. they can be used to talk about a skill or ability.
    1. She can speak six languages. My grandfather could play golf very well.
3. Obligation and Advice
  1. they can be used to say when something is necessary or unnecessary, or to give advice
    1. Children must do their homework. We have to wear a uniform at work.
4. Permission
  1. They can be used to ask for and give permission
    1. Can we swim in the lake? May I take your car?
5. Habits
  1. they can be used to talk about habits or things we usually do, or did in the past.
    1. John will always be late!
Can / Could
1. ability, permission, probability
May / Might
1. probability, permission
Shall / Should
1. advice
Will / Would
1. prediction
Must / Ought
1. prohibition, obligation
Grammar
1. They don't use an 's' for the third person singular.
  1. Mike should walk.
2. They make questions by inversión.
  1. modal verb+subject+main verb
  2. Can they come?
3. They are followed directly by the infinitive of another verb (without 'to').
  1. Subject + modal verb + main verb
    1. You must go
  2. Exception: the modal verb "ought" needs the main verb in infinitive mode
    1. She ought to study.
4. You use "not" to make modal verbs negative, even in Simple Present and Simple Past.
  1. They might not come to the party.
5. Many modal verbs cannot be used in the past tenses or the future tenses.
  1. He will can go with us. Not Correct She musted study very hard. Not Correct
Have
1. Obligation
Need
1. Obligation

Next up

Modal Verbs / Auxiliary Modal Verbs

Description

Resource summary

Similar

	Created by Karina Sandoval almost 7 years ago