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Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express mood or attitude towards an action or situation and add meaning to the main verb. Common modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, should, and ought to. Can expresses ability or permission. Could represents past ability or possibility or is used politely. May and might suggest possibility or permission, with might indicating lower probability. Must expresses strong necessity or obligation. Should suggests advice, recommendation, or obligation. Ought to is similar to should for giving advice or expressing obligations. Modal verbs are used in questions and negatives by adding the base verb form after them. They are used to express ability and permission, necessity and obligation, and possibility and probability.

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140 views8 pages

Modal Verbs

Modal verbs express mood or attitude towards an action or situation and add meaning to the main verb. Common modal verbs are can, could, may, might, must, should, and ought to. Can expresses ability or permission. Could represents past ability or possibility or is used politely. May and might suggest possibility or permission, with might indicating lower probability. Must expresses strong necessity or obligation. Should suggests advice, recommendation, or obligation. Ought to is similar to should for giving advice or expressing obligations. Modal verbs are used in questions and negatives by adding the base verb form after them. They are used to express ability and permission, necessity and obligation, and possibility and probability.

Uploaded by

saffiyyas
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Modal Verbs

Introduction:
Modal verbs are a category of auxiliary verbs that express the mood or attitude of the speaker
towards the action or situation being described. They add meaning to the main verb and indicate
possibility, necessity, ability, permission, and more. In this lesson, we will explore the various modal
verbs in English and understand their different uses and meanings.

I. Common Modal Verbs:


1. Can:
- Expresses ability or capability.
- Example: I can swim.
- Indicates permission.
- Example: Can I borrow your pen?

2. Could:
- Represents past ability or possibility.
- Example: When I was younger, I could run faster.
- Used to make polite requests.
- Example: Could you please pass me the salt?

3. May:
- Suggests possibility or permission.
- Example: It may rain later.
- Used to ask for permission.
- Example: May I use your phone?

4. Might:
- Indicates a lower level of possibility or probability than "may."
- Example: She might come to the party.
- Used to make suggestions or offer alternative possibilities.
- Example: We might go to the movies instead.

5. Must:
- Expresses strong necessity or obligation.
- Example: You must finish your homework before going out.
- Used to make deductions or draw conclusions.
- Example: He must be tired after working all day.

6. Should:
- Suggests advice, recommendation, or obligation.
- Example: You should eat more fruits and vegetables.
- Used to express expectations or probabilities.
- Example: They should arrive soon.

7. Ought to:
- Similar to "should" and used for giving advice or expressing obligations.
- Example: She ought to apologize for her behavior.
- Indicates expectations or moral obligations.
- Example: People ought to respect each other's opinions.
II. Modal Verbs in Questions and Negatives:
- Modal verbs are commonly used in questions and negatives by adding the base form of the main
verb after the modal verb.
- Examples:
- Can you swim? (Question)
- I cannot come to the party. (Negative)

III. Modal Verbs for Ability and Permission:


- Can / Could / May / Might
- Examples:
- I can speak three languages.
- Could I use your computer?
- May I ask you a question?
- She might be able to help you.

IV. Modal Verbs for Necessity and Obligation:


- Must / Should / Ought to
- Examples:
- You must submit the report by tomorrow.
- Should I call a doctor?
- We ought to respect our elders.

V. Modal Verbs for Possibility and Probability:


- May / Might / Could
- Examples:
- It may rain tomorrow.
- He might arrive late.
- Could you pass me the salt, please?

Conclusion:
Modal verbs play a crucial role in expressing various meanings and attitudes in English. By
understanding their usage and meanings, you can enhance your communication skills and convey
your intentions effectively—practice using modal verbs in different contexts to become more
proficient in their application.

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