Modal Auxiliary Verbs

 

Definition

The modal auxiliary verbs are mainly used to help the ordinary verbs to express modality. In other words, they are used to show to which degree what we are speaking and writing about is possible, probable, permitted, prohibited, certain, etc.

Here is a list of the modal auxiliary verbs:

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

The usage of the modal auxiliary verb (can)

The modal verb (can) is used to introduce:

• Ability
• Permission
• Possibly
• Request
• Offer

Using can for ability

Can is used to introduce an ability, for instance, when someone is able to do something either physically or mentally.

Example

1. John can climb up this three.
2. She can solve the mathematical equation.

Using can for permission

Can is used to show a permission; for example, when somebody is permitted to do something.

Example

1. Anna can use my grammar book to prepare for the exam.
2. Alex can play with his friends since he has finished his homework.

Using can for possibility 

Can is used to express a possibility; for example, when someone is describing an action which is possible.

1. Emma can test her students today.
2. Jon can get lung cancer since he smokes a lot.

Using can for request

Can is used to introduce a direct request; for instance, when someone requires something from another. However, the usage of can in this context seems informal in which there are other appropriate modal verbs that can be used such like could, and would.

Example

1. Can you (please) help me to get up?
2. Could/would you (please) help me to get up?

Using can for offer

Can is used to show an offer; for example, when somebody offers something to another. In this context, using can seems more polite in introducing an offer than a request.

Example

1. Can she help you to learn how to use internet properly?
2. Can we have a lunch together in this restaurant?

Notes:

It is possible to use be able to instead of can with all tenses , and with the infinitive. For example:

1. I will be able to send you one hundred dollars per month.
2. She would like to be able to act properly with her opponent.

It is also possible to use could instead of can in the past, present, or future tense. For instance, to introduce:

• Ability

Yesterday, I could finish my training early.

• Permission

Anna could invite her friends to her birthday party. ( Using could is more polite than can to introduce permission)

• Request

Could you hand me that book of grammar? (using could is also more polite than can to introduce request)

• Suggestion

 You could buy the blue t-shirt.

We use could have + the past participle of the main verbs for the past tense. For example:

His situation seemed bad, but it could have been worse.

The usage of the modal auxiliary verb (may)

The modal verb (may) can be used to introduce:

• Permission
• Possibility
• Offer

Using may for permission

May is also used for permission; for instance, when someone is permitted to do something.

Example

1. She may use my phone to call her mother.
2. They may leave the training after half an hour.

Using may for possibility

May is used to express a possibility, for example, when somebody introduces uncertainty about the occurrence of something.

Example

1. I'm afraid that my boss may punish me to come late.
2. I think, it is cloudy. It may start raining soon.

Using may for offer

May is more formal and polite than can in introducing an offer. It is used; for instance, when offering something to someone.

Example

1. May Paul come to give you additional hours in mathematics?
2. May he help you parking your car?

Note:

Might is used: 

• To introduce a very weak possibility about the occurrence of something

Our school's basketball team might qualify to the national tournament.

• To add more politeness than may while introducing permission

Might I use your laptop for my university research?

• In conditional sentence

If it rains heavily, we might stop the training.

The usage of the modal auxiliary verb (will)

The modal verb (will) can be used:

• To form the future tenses
• To introduce willingness, request, offer, or command
• In conditional sentences

Using will to form the future tenses

Will is used to create:

1. Future simple tense
2. Future continuous tense
3. Future perfect tense
4. Future perfect continuous tense

Example

1. Paul will start teaching English in kenya.
2. The teacher will have finished his lecture by 11 o'clock.

Using will for willingness

Will can used for willingness; for example, when somebody is able to do something in close time in the future.

Example

1. She seems very tired, I will take her to the bed.
2. My daughter is very sad, I'll play a comical scene to her.

Using will for request

Will is used to introduce a request; for instance, when somebody requests something from another.

Example

1. Will Alex bring his research papers with him tomorrow?
2. Will Anna and Emma join us for dinner?

Using will for command

Will is used to introduce an order; for example, when someone issues a command for another in order to do something.

Example

1. You will get home at 9 pm, do you understand me?
2. You will finish your duty by 4pm!

Using will in conditional sentences

Will is used in the main clause of the first conditional to show a result depending on the probable action introduced by the main verb in the if-clause. 

Example

1. If you pull the fail of that cat, it will scratch you.
2. If you wait just 10 minutes, you will meet Rihanna.

Notes:

Shall is also used instead of will:

• To form future tenses
• To introduce a request
• To issue a command
• In conditional sentences

Shall is only used with the first person singular or plural.

Shall is considered more polite and formal than will.

The usage of the modal auxiliary verb (would)

The modal verb (would) is used:

• To create the future tense in the past
• To form a request
• To express a desire
• To show hypothetical situations
• In conditional sentences

Using would to form the future tense in the past

Would can be used; for example, to describe a future possibility starting in the past.

Example

1. I thought Emma would arrive at 3 pm.
2. Anna thought that the fighter would win in the second round.

Using would for request

Would is used for a request, for instance, when somebody requires something from another.

Example

1. Would you help me to find English department?
2. Would you please open the door?

Using would for desire

Would is used to introduce a desire when expressing or inquiring about someone's desire to do something. In this case, the verb like is used with the modal auxiliary verb would.

Example

1. I would like to buy an ice cream.
2. Would you like to attend his party?

Using would for hypothetical situations

Would can be used to introduce situations that we imagine but are not real.

1. It would be good to buy a new house , but I can't afford it.
2. It would be very amazing to live in a big palace.

Using would in conditional sentences

Would can be used in second or third conditional that respectively describe improbable action or an action which didn't happen.

Example

1. If the employers didn't their job, the boss would punish them.
2. If she'd had a master degree, she would have applied for this job.

The usage of the modal auxiliary verb (must)

We use the modal verb (must) to indroduce:

• Necessity
• Prohibition

Using must for necessity

Must can be used to express a necessity of doing something. For example, when someone thinks that doing something is very important from his/her point of view.

Example

1. You must revise your English lessons as you are going to take a very important exam the next week.
2. Anna must consult a doctor. She looks very tired.

Note:

It is preferable to use have to instead of must when introducing a situation that indicating a fact but not speaker's point of view. For example:

1. I have to take my uniform once I go to the school.
2. Today, I have to study from 8 to 12 am.

Using must for prohibition

Must is used for prohibition; for instance, to tell someone not doing something. In this case, it means that he or she doesn't have the choice.

Example

1. John must not tell anyone about the team's secret.
2. Emma must not display misinformation if she want to keep her credibility as journalist.

The usage of the modal auxiliary verb (should) 

We use the modal verb (should) to introduce:

• Expectation
• Advice

Using should for expectation

Should can be used to express an expected result, mainly when the modal verb should is used with the verb be.

Example

1. Olivia should be at the airport at 10 pm.
2. She thinks these types of stories should be useful to teach kids English.

Using should for advice

Should can be used to introduce an advice; for example, when someone shows that doing or not doing something is advisable, is a good idea or a right thing.

Example

1. You shouldn't play so much games that isn't good for you.
2. You shouldn't eat too much fast food.
3. Hannah and Olivia should improve their writing skills in order to write academically. 

Notes:

• To form questions using modal verbs, we use the following structure:

Modal verb+subject+main verb+ the rest of the clause. For example:

1. Would you like to join our football team?

• To create the negative form using modal verbs, we use the following structure:

Modal verb+not+subject+main verb+the rest of the clause. For instance:

1. you shouldn't stay up too late to be ready for another task tomorrow.

• Either the modal auxiliary verbs and their main verbs don't take the suffix (-s) while they are used with the third person singular. For example:

1. He cans help you. (Incorrect)
2. He can helps you. (Incorrect)
3. He can help you. (Correct)

• The auxiliary modal verbs aren't followed by the infinitive form of the verbs. For instance:

1. You must to be very quiet when we get in the library. (Incorrect)
2. You must be quiet when we get in the library. (Correct)

Exercises

Exercise (1)

Which of the following is a modal auxiliary verb?

1. Be 
2. Do
3. Must

The modal auxiliary verb can is used to introduce:

1. Ability
2. Prohibition
3. Advice

To introduce a polite request, we use:

1. Can 
2. Could
3. Must

To introduce a necessity to do something, we use:

1. Must
2. Have to
3. Both of the above

Exercise (2)

Complete the blanks with the appropriate modal auxiliary verbs :

can, should, may, shall, mustn't

1. You ....................................... read this book. It gives important information about improving the communication skills.
2. I ....................................... help you to write an essay?
3. Hannah doesn't like anyone to know about her secret. You ....................................... tell anyone.
4. Anna ....................................... visit you the next week.
5. Alex ....................................... run for thirty minutes.

Answer key

Exercise (1)

3

1

2

3

Exercise (2)

Should

May

Mustn't

Shall

Can