Materi 3 Modals Auxiliaries

English Grammar I
Modal Auxiliary Verbs

Unit 8: Modal Auxiliary Verbs
 Modal auxiliary verbs are used with a mai
n verb to show, mood and ideas such as
ability, possibility and permission. The mai
n Modal auxiliary verbs are listed in table
8.1.
 Table 8.1: Modals
can will must shall may
could would ought to should might

 Can: Can is used
1) to express ability:
Ryan can speak French but he cannot spe
ak German.
Superman can do things that ordinary peo
ple can’t.
2) to express request:
Can you help Sue?
Can I offer you something to drink?
3) to express permission:
Can I use your cell phone?
You can’t go out with Victor.
4) to express possible:
If the weather is perfect tomorrow, we can
go on a picnic.
I can be ready by five.
I will be ready five.
＊ Can is used to express a statement that i
s less uncertain than will.
5) be able to: be able to is used to describe
an ability that a person will have in the fut
ure.
My baby will be able to walk in a few mon
ths.
I am busy but I will be able to talk to you i
n ten minutes.
Could: Could is used
1) to express abilities in the past:
Jason could do 50 push-ups in five minut
es when he was young.
Jason could talk when he was four.
2) to express permission:
Could you lend me two grants?
3) to express future possibility: it expresses
more uncertainty than may
I could get an A or B in grammar. It depend
s on the final exam.
4) could with present perfect tense is used to
express something in the past may be rea
l.
You could have been killed in that acciden
t.
 Shall: shall is used to express the simple
future for the first person.
 Shall we meet at the bus stop?
 I shall never forget your help.
 Will: Will is used
1) present to future tense:
Sean will leave tomorrow. She will be ba
ck in a few days.
If it rains, the soccer game will be put off.
2) express willing,
If you won’t go and help him, I will.
I will wash the dishes if you cook.
 Would: Would is used
1) as the past tense of will:
She said she would buy dinner on her way
home.
I believed it would rain so I brought my rai
ncoat.
2) to express polite request:
Would you please take off your coat?
Would you mind turning the radio off?
3) to express actions take place in the past:
I would fish and swim in the river when I l
ived in the countryside.
I used to go swimming in the river when I
lived in the countryside.
4) to express desire
I would like to have one day off.
I’d love to stay for a few more days.
 Should: Should is used
1) to give advice and opinions
You are driving too fast; you should slow
down a little bit.
You have gained a lot of weight. You shou
ld go on a diet.
2) to express expectations:
Are you ready? The taxi should be here s
oon.
Twenty dollars is enough. It shouldn’t cos
t more than that.
3) to suggest a less strong possibility
If you should pass the bakery, can you b
uy some bread?
4) Should with present perfect tense means
something in the past should not be don
e.
The baby is crying. You shouldn’t have ta
lked so loudly.
Mom is angry. You shouldn’t have come
back so late.
 Must &Have to: must/have to are used to
1) express something is necessary and esse
ntial
You must pay by cash.
You have to drive on the right in France.
2) Students have to wear uniform.
must not is used to express something is
not permitted or allowed.
You mustn’t smoke, eat and drink in the m
useum.
You must not drink and drive.
3) not have to is used to express something t
hat is not to be done necessarily.
We don’t have to get up early on Saturda
y.
She doesn’t have to live in the hotel. She
can live with us.
 May: May is used to
1) express possibility in the present or in the f
uture.
It may rain.
Elizabeth may know his telephone numbe
r.
2) for permission:
May I come in?
You may come if you want.
3) to express wish or hope.
May you a long life!
 Might: Might is used
1) to express possibility in the present or in th
e future.
Ashley might be in the library. I am not sur
e.
George might come as well.
He may come.
He might come. (the chance that he comes
is less likely than may)
2) might with present perfect tense means s
peculation about the past.
Edward is late. He might have missed his
bus or he might have overslept.
 8.1 Difference between the modal verb
s.
1) The modals used to express future possibi
lity are: may, might, could and can. Could
and might express more uncertainty than
may.
I may take a vacation in Bali Island.
You could be right. I am not sure.
There are only few jobs available, so she
might not find one.
2) The modals used to express request are:
can, could, will and would. However, coul
d and would are more polite.
Could you give me a raise? Yes, I can.
Can you close the window? Sure I can.
＊ Be sure to use “can” and “will” for an affir
mative short answer even if the question
starts with would and could.
3) The modals used to express permission a
re: can, could and may. May is used in for
mal situation.
Where may I park my car? You can park
right in front of the store.
Could I borrow your MP3? Yes, you ma
y.
You may not park in the handicapped par
king space.
＊ Use may and can in short answers.
could cannot be used to give and refuse p
ermission.
4) The modals used to give advice are: coul
d, might, should, must, have to, had better,
and ought to.
You could meet me tonight or tomorrow m
orning.
You had better tell us the truth.
Your son ought to see a doctor.
You should not wear sandals and shorts to
work.
＊ had better is stronger than should, ought
to,
could and might are used when there are
more than one choice.
5) The modals used to express preference ar
e: prefer, would prefer, would rather and
would like.
I would prefer to have Japanese food for
dinner.
I would prefer to spend the night at home
rather than drive out.
I would rather go by bus.
I would rather go out than stay home toni
ght.
I would like to have some tea.
 8.1-2 Exercise: Use an appropriate mo
dal verb to compete each sentence
1. Owen _______( not) do his homework be
cause tomorrow is Saturday.
2. Drivers ________ stop at a stop sign.
3. ________ you make a copy for me?
4. We _______ leave now or we will be late.
5. A: _______ I use your laptop computer?
B: Of course you _______.
6. I _______ rather cook tonight.
7. _____ I go to the restroom, Miss Chang?
8. ______ you prefer chicken or steak for di
nner?
9. I __________ catch the bus this mornin
g. My father drove me to school.
10. _________ you answer the phone?
11. When I was young, I ________ speak bet
ter English than now.
12. You look pale. You ______ go to a doctor.
13. You have been driving for ten hours. You
_________ be exhausted.
14. We __________ rent a car. My father will
lend us his.

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English Grammar I

Modal Auxiliary Verbs

can will must shall may

could would ought to should might

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