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Eng Lec 5B

This document discusses modals and semi-modals in English grammar. It defines nine central modal verbs in English including can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would, and shall. It explains their distinctive characteristics such as not taking inflections and preceding negatives. It also discusses semi-modals like have to, ought to, be going to, and used to. Examples are provided to illustrate the uses and meanings of different modals like can, could, may, and must. The document concludes by noting other lexical verbs and adjectives that have meanings similar to modal verbs.

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Ahmad Usman Javed
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17 views13 pages

Eng Lec 5B

This document discusses modals and semi-modals in English grammar. It defines nine central modal verbs in English including can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would, and shall. It explains their distinctive characteristics such as not taking inflections and preceding negatives. It also discusses semi-modals like have to, ought to, be going to, and used to. Examples are provided to illustrate the uses and meanings of different modals like can, could, may, and must. The document concludes by noting other lexical verbs and adjectives that have meanings similar to modal verbs.

Uploaded by

Ahmad Usman Javed
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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English

Grammar
Topics

 An overview of Tenses

2
Modals and Semi Modals

There are nine central modal verbs in English:

can, could, may, might, must, should, will, would,


and shall

Modals have several distinctive characteristics:

They act as an auxiliary verb in verb phrases


(e.g. I can go)

3
Modals and Semi Modals

They do not take inflections to show agreement or


tense (e.g. I can go, He/she/ it can go)

That is, the form does not vary (e.g. not *He cans
go)

They precede the negative particle in negation


(e.g. I cannot go)

They precede the subject in yes-no questions


(e.g. Can you go?).

4
Modals and Semi Modals

They express stance meanings, related to


possibility, necessity, obligation, etc.

In most dialects of English, only a single modal can


be used in a verb phrase

However, certain regional dialects (such as


southern) allow some combinations of modals (e.g.
might could or might should)

5
Modals
Use of Can Illustration

To indicate ability I can swim.


I cannot (can’t) swim.

To express opportunity Fahad said that I can stay at his


house tonight.
Fahad said that I cannot stay at his
house tonight.

To express permission Can I borrow your pen please?


Can I not borrow your pen? (Can’t I
borrow your pen?).
6
Modals
Use of Can Illustration

To express permission Could I borrow your pen?


would be a more likely way of
asking the question. Could in
this sense is more tentative than
can.
May I borrow your pen? would be
a better choice. May is more
polite, and is what an educated
person would say.

7
Modals
Use of Can Illustration

To refer to possibility Anybody can be successful as


long as they work hard.
It cannot take longer than an hour
to do that.
Anybody could be successful…..
would be a more likely way of
making this statement.
Could is used to indicate a
conditional relationship. In other
words, to say that being
successful is conditional on hard
work.

8
Modals and Semi Modals

Semi-modals (also called 'periphrastic modals' or


'quasi-modals') are multiword constructions that
function like modal verbs
(had) better, have to, (have) got to, ought to, be
supposed to, be going to, used to

In orthographic representations of the spoken


language, better, gotta, and gonna often occur as
the reduced forms of had better, have got to, and be
going to

9
Modals and Semi Modals

Semi-modals express meanings that can usually be


paraphrased with a central modal verb

For example:
I have to read it again. (CONV)
<paraphrase: I must read it again.>

Mosquitoes aren't supposed to be inside here.


(conv) <paraphrase: Mosquitoes should not be
inside here.>

10
Modals and Semi Modals

In addition, some semi-modals are fixed


expressions, which cannot be inflected for tense
or person

However, some of the semi-modals, like have to


and be going to, can be marked for tense and
person:

past tense:
He had to call the police. (conv)
third-person agreement:
Maybe she has to grow up a bit more. (conv)
11
Modals and Semi Modals

There are also some lexical verbs and adjectives


that have meanings similar to modal

these verbs and adjectives express their core lexical


meanings of desire, obligation, possibility, etc.

Examples are: need to, dare to, want to, be able to,
be obliged to, be likely to, be willing to, etc

12
THANK YOU
13

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