Modal auxiliaries, or modal verbs, are a type of auxiliary verb that express necessity, possibility, permission, ability, and other related concepts. Here’s a list of common modal auxiliaries, along with explanations and examples for each.
1. Can
- Usage: Ability, permission, possibility.
- Example:
- Ability: "She can speak three languages."
- Permission: "Can I leave early today?"
2. Could
- Usage: Past ability, polite requests, possibility.
- Example:
- Past Ability: "When I was younger, I could run marathons."
- Polite Request: "Could you help me with this?"
3. May
- Usage: Permission, possibility.
- Example:
- Permission: "You may go to the party if you finish your homework."
- Possibility: "It may rain later today."
4. Might
- Usage: Slightly less certain possibility.
- Example: "We might go hiking this weekend if the weather is nice."
5. Must
- Usage: Necessity, strong obligation, deduction.
- Example:
- Necessity: "You must wear a seatbelt while driving."
- Deduction: "She must be at work; her car is here."
6. Shall
- Usage: Formal suggestions, future actions (mostly used with "I" or "we").
- Example:
- Suggestion: "Shall we dance?"
- Future Action: "I shall return by evening."
7. Should
- Usage: Advice, recommendations, expectation.
- Example:
- Advice: "You should see a doctor."
- Expectation: "The train should arrive by 10 AM."
8. Will
- Usage: Future actions, willingness, promise.
- Example:
- Future Action: "I will call you tomorrow."
- Willingness: "I will help you with that."
9. Would
- Usage: Polite requests, hypothetical situations, past habitual actions.
- Example:
- Polite Request: "Would you like some coffee?"
- Hypothetical Situation: "I would travel more if I had the time."
10. Ought to
- Usage: Advice, moral obligation.
- Example: "You ought to apologize for your mistake."
11. Need (less common in certain contexts)
- Usage: Necessity or obligation.
- Example: "You need to submit the report by Friday." (can be used as a main verb)
Summary of Modal Functions:
- Ability: Can, could
- Permission: Can, may, might
- Possibility: May, might, could
- Necessity & Obligation: Must, should, ought to, need
- Future Predictions: Will, shall
- Polite Requests/Suggestions: Would, could, may, shall
Important Points:
- Modals do not change form (no -s in the third person).
- They are followed by the base form of the verb (e.g., "She can go," not "She can goes.").
- They can express different levels of certainty, obligation, and politeness.
Understanding and correctly using modal auxiliaries can enhance your ability to express various nuances in English communication!