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Modal Auxiliary Part-1

 Modal Auxiliary




What is a Modal Auxiliary? 

Modal auxiliaries are auxiliary verbs that lend different shades of meaning to the main verb to which they are attached. 

Modal help to express the mood or attitude of the speaker and convey ideas about the possibility, probability, obligation, advisability, and permission. 

The single-word modal auxiliaries are: Can, May, Must, Shall, Will, Could, Might, Should, Would. 


Now let's have a look at each modal in detail. 


1) Can 

The modal 'can' is used to show ability. It can also be used to suggest a possibility or give an option. It is used to ask or give permission. Also, it can be used to show impossibility. 

 



It can be written in present and past form. Let's have a look at the examples: 


Example: 

1) To show ability - 

a) I can run 10 miles. (Present tense) 

b) I could not run 10 miles when I was young. (Past tense) 

('Can' is written as 'Could' in the past tense.) 


2) To suggest a possibility - 

a) Students can pre-enroll in classes. 

This sentence is in the Present tense.


3) To ask for or to give permission - 

a) Can you call me? (To ask for)

b) You can leave now. (To give permission) 


4) To show the impossibility. 

a) I cannot be Jim standing there. He went away for the weekend. (Present Tense) 


Now let's have a look at the next modal auxiliary. 


2) Could 

The modal 'could' can be used to show the past ability. It can also be used to ask a polite question. 

It can also be used to show possibility and impossibility. Also, to suggest a possibility/opportunity or give an option. 




The modal "could" is written in Present tense and Past tense. 


Example: 

1) To show past ability. 

a) I could run 10 miles when I was young. (Past tense)


2) To ask a polite question 

a) Could I call you? (Present tense) 


3) To show a possibility 

a) Todd could leave on Sunday. (Present tense) 

b) Todd could have left on Sunday. (Past tense) 


4) To show the impossibility 

a) He could not be here at the party. He is out of town. (Present tense) 

b) He could not have been at the party last night. He was out of town. (Past tense) 


5) To suggest a possibility/opportunity or give an option. 

a) You could try going this way. (Present tense) 

b) You could have tried going that way. (Past tense)

 

Now let's learn about the next modal in detail. 


3) May 

The modal "may" is used to ask or give permission or to show any possibility. 




Now let's have a look at the examples. 


Example: 

1) To ask for or to give permission (formal) 

a) May I call? (Present tense) 


2) To show a possibility 

a) The instructor may come to the class late today. (Present tense) 

b) The instructor may have come to the class late yesterday. (Past tense) 


We will continue the same topic in the next blog.




 


 

 




 

 






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