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Modal Auxiliaries: Auxiliary The Simple Form of A Verb

The document discusses modal auxiliaries - helping verbs that express meanings like ability, permission, possibility, and necessity. It lists common modal auxiliaries like can, could, may, might, should, must, have to, will and would. It provides examples of how each modal auxiliary is used in different contexts, including questions. It also covers the differences between modals like can and may, as well as rules regarding their usage.

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Ilham Saputra
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79 views3 pages

Modal Auxiliaries: Auxiliary The Simple Form of A Verb

The document discusses modal auxiliaries - helping verbs that express meanings like ability, permission, possibility, and necessity. It lists common modal auxiliaries like can, could, may, might, should, must, have to, will and would. It provides examples of how each modal auxiliary is used in different contexts, including questions. It also covers the differences between modals like can and may, as well as rules regarding their usage.

Uploaded by

Ilham Saputra
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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MODAL AUXILIARIES

The verbs in the list below are called modal auxiliaries. They are helping verbs that
express a wide range of meaning (ability, permission, possibility, necessity, etc.).
Most of the modals have more than one meaning. Modals are followed by the simple
form of a verb.
Auxiliary The simple form of a verb
can I can speak English
could He couldn’t come to class
may It may rain tomorrow
might It might rain tomorrow
should Mary should study harder
had better I had better study tonight
must Joe must see a doctor today
will I will be in the class tomorrow
would Would you please close the door?

Auxiliary To + The Simple Form of Verb


have to I have to study tonight.
have got to I have got to study tonight.
ought to Kate ought to study harder.

In questions, the word order changes to modal + subject + main verb.

yes-no questions
Modal subject main verb
Can they come?
Should Mike drive?
wh- questions
wh- word modal subject main verb
When can they come?
How could he know?

 Can and Could


Use can and could to say that someone is able to do something.
Example:
Notes:
She can draw really good pictures.  Could is the simple past tense form
Rina can run faster than Rini. of can.
Can you ride a bike?  The negative form of can may be
written: can’t, cannot, or can not.
 The negative of could: couldn’t or
could not.
Can you help me with my homework?

Can and could are also used to say that someone is allowed to do something.
Example:
My mom says you can come to our house for dinner.
Dad says I can’t walk to school on my own.
You can’t go in their without a ticket.

Can and could are also used for asking for information or help, for offering
something, and for suggesting something.
Example:
Can you tell me it this train goes to Padang?
Could you open the window, please?
I could lend you my pencil.
You could ask your dad to help us.

 May and Might


Use may to ask if you are allowed to do something and to tell someone that
they are allowed to do something.
Example:
May I borrow your car?
John may leave now, but Sally may not.
May Lisa come with us to the movie?

Use may and might to talk things that are possible or likely.
Example:
Take an umbrella. It might rain.
I may not have time to go swimming this afternoon.
We might go to the party later.

 Shall and should


Use shall and should to ask for advice, offer something and suggest
something.
Example:
Should I phone the police?
Shall we go home now?
Shall I help you with that heavy bag?
You should try that new Korean restaurant.

 Had better and Ought to


Use had better and ought to to make strong suggestions and talk about
someone’s duty.
 Ought to is usually not used in the
negative.
 The negative of had better is had
better not, and it often carries a
warning of bad consequences.
Example:
She had better get a good job.
He ought to call the police.
My clothes are dirty. I had better wash them.
You look tired. You ought to go bed early tonight.

 Must, have to and have got to


Use must, have to and have got to to express the idea that something is
necessary. Must means that something is very necessary; there is no other
choice. Must is used much less frequently than have to in everyday speech and
writing. Must is very strong word. The past form of must, have to and have got
to is had to.
Example:
She can’t go to the movie tonight because she has to study.
Rani has got to study tonight.
I must clean my room tomorrow.

Don’t/doesn’t have to expresses the idea that something is not necessary. Must
not expresses prohibition. (DO NOT DO THIS!)
Example:
I finished all of my homework this afternoon. I don’t have to study tonight.
Tomorrow is a holiday. Mary doesn’t have to go to class.
Boys, you must not play with matches!

 Will and Would


Use will and would when you are asking someone to do something.
Example:
Will you please stop making that noise?
Would you pass me that book, please?

Use will and would to offer something or The contraction of will not is won’t
and the contraction of would not is
suggests something.
wouldn’t.
Example:
Will I hold this end of this rope? People use would you, will you,
Would you like another drink? could you, and can you to ask polite
Which cake would you like? question.

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