Modal Verbs 2q4n5o

MODAL VERBS Using the modal verbs we may, for example, ask for permission to do something, grant permission to someone, give or receive advice, make or respond to requests and offers, give instructions or orders, express duty or obligation etc. Modal verbs can be used to express different levels of politeness. We can also use them to express different degrees of probability. Modal verbs have two major functions which can be defined as primary (dictionary meaning) and secondary (probability).

Primary functions of modal verbs         

Ability Permission Prohibition Prediction Duty (escapable obligation) Obligation (inescapable) Request; Offer Possibility Absence of obligation

        

CAN MAY (might)/ CAN (could) MUSTN’T / CANNOT WILL / SHALL / MAY SHOULD MUST CAN / WILL CAN / CANNOT NEEDN’T

Secondary functions of modal verbs In their secondary function, the modal verbs (except shall) can be used to express the degree of certainty/uncertainty or probability.

 ALMOST CERTAIN

 VERY UNCERTAIN

        

MUST WILL WOULD OUGHT TO SHOULD CAN COULD MAY MIGHT

Some important grammar aspects  The negative is formed by the addition of not after the modal.  In informal spoken English not is often reduced to n’t.

 Modals in affirmative do not have contracted forms (except for will and would: I’ll, I’d).  In questions, the modal verbs behave like the auxiliar verbs: do, have or be.  Only one modal verb can be used in a single verb phrase.

 Tenses: all modals can refer to the immediate present or the future, therefore ‘present’ is not always a reliable label ( I can call him today / I can call him tomorrow).  There is no progressive form for modals. But we can put the verb that follows the modal into the progressive form.  Verbs that share some characteristics with the modals: be able/ have to / ought to / need

Check out these examples and analyse them.              

I can lift 25 kg. She can speak French. I couldn’t finish the job. You can go now. It can be quite cold in winter. He can’t be at home. He could have left last night. May I borrow your umbrella, please? You must do it. I had to do it. I’ll have to do it. We mustn’t forget our ports. You must have seen him. It must be Anna calling. You needn’t wait for me. The exam can’t have been difficult if he ed without studying. She should be at home by now. Shall I open the window?

Past tense of modals  When the sentence refers to the primary meaning (can: ability/permission, must: obligation) the past form is expressed mainly by :  Can: could / was(were) able or was(were) allowed  Must: had to / was(were) obliged to

 When the sentence refers to the secondary meaning (can: possibility/probability (or sth that could have happened but didn’t happen), must: certainty) the past form is mainly expressed by:  Can: could + have + past participle  Must: must + have + past participle