Modals (Auxiliary Verbs)
There are many Modals (Auxiliary Verb) used in english grammar. If you learn these verbs properly, you can make your english writing strong and effective.
Modals Auxiliary Verbs
Can, Could, May, Might, Will, Would, Shall,
Should, Must, Ought To, Have To, Has To, Had To, Need, Dare etc. are used as
modals or modal auxiliary verbs in English Grammar.
Uses of modals for different purposes:
Can
·
To show Ability in
present and future.
·
Possibility in
present and future and Informal Question.
Example:
1. I can swim in a river full of water.
2. He can pass in this examination.
3. Can I use your pen, my friend?
Could
·
Ability in past,
Possibility in past
·
Formal and Polite
Request
Example:
1. He could climb on tall tree.
2. Indian cricket team could have won the match.
3. Could you please pass the salt?
May
·
Asking and Giving
“Permission” in present and future
·
possibility with highest positive degree)
Example:
1. Their performance shows that they may win the match.
2. May I come in sir?
3. You may go home now.
Might
·
Possibility with
degree of dissatisfaction.
Example:
1. Why did you drive so carelessly? You might have run
into the lamp-post.
Shall
·
Pure future
·
Express command,
promise or threat
Example:
1. Tomorrow will be Sunday.
2. He shall not enter my house again.
3. Yu shall have a holiday tomorrow.
4. You shall be punished for this.
Will
·
Invitation or request
·
Assumption or
probability
Example:
1. Will you have tea?
2. That will be the postman, I think.
Should
·
Duty or obligation
·
Supposition
Example:
1. We should obey the law.
2. If it should rain, they will not come.
Would
·
Desire or strong
desire
Example:
1. Would you dance with us?
2. I wish you would not chatter so much.
Must
·
Necessity or
obligation(present and future)
·
Logically certainty
Example:
1. We must get up early.
2. Living in such crowded condition must be difficult.
Have to
·
Obligation or duty
Example:
1. You have to visit your parents.
2. Yesterday we had to get up early.
Ought to
·
Moral obligation or
desirability
·
Probability
Example:
1. We ought to help him.
2. Prices ought to come down soon.
Used to
·
Discontinued habit
Example:
1. I used to live there when I was a boy.
Need
·
Necessity or
obligation
Example:
1. He need not go.
2. I don’t need to meet him.
Dare
·
Be brave enough
(Negative and Interrogative)
Example:
1. He dare not take such step.
2. How dare you contact me?
Structure:
1. Subject-Modal-Verb1-Object.
2. Subject-Modal-Have-Verb3-Object
Questions for U:
Q-1
Fill the blanks with appropriate
modal (can, could, may, might) verb.
1. ___ you live long!
2. ___ you read when you were five?
3. My father ___ speak and write five languages.
4. You ___ write on both sides of the paper.
5. We thought it ___ rain.
6. He said he ___ always come when called.
7. ___ you ride your bicycle up to that hill?
8. I ran fast so that I ___ catch the train.
9. He tried to solve the sum but he ___ not.
10.
Do not put off till
tomorrow what you ___ do today.
Answers:
1. May, 2. Could, 3. Can, 4.may, 5.might, 6. Could, 7. Can, 8.might,
9.could, 10.can.
Q-2
Fill the blanks with appropriate form of shall,
will, should and would.
1. ___ you do me a favour?
2. When ___ I see you again?
3. ___ we go to the pictures today?
4. His daughter ___ be sixteen next month.
5. The wound ___ not heal in spite of all the treatment he
had.
6. ___ that I were rich!
7. Had you worked hard, you ___ have passed the
examination.
8. As you sow, so ___ you reap.
9. Those who live in glass houses ___ not throw stones at
others.
10.
If you ___ see him,
give him my regards.
Answers:
1. Will, 2. Shall, 3. Shall, 4. Will, 5. Would, 6. Would, 7. Would, 8. Shall, 9. Should, 10. Should
Q-3
Fill in the blanks with appropriate forms of
must, need, dare, ought to, used to and have to.
1. The door ___ painting.
2. I ___ smoking
but I gave it up last year.
3. You ___ come and have dinner with me.
4. He has lost your book and he ___ not tell you.
5. You ___ have written to him yesterday.
6. ___ he wait any longer?
7. He ___ pay you the loan he owes you.
8. ___ you speak rudely to your father?
9. I ___ be a clerk, but now I am an officer.
10.
What cannot be cured
___ be endured.
Answer:
Needs, 2. Used to, 3. Must,
4. Dare, 5. Ought to, 6. Need, 7. Ought to, 8. Dare, 9. Used to, 10. Must.
YouTube : Sintec Bikash
Translation: Modals (Odia To English)
