Skip to main content

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.




 


 

 




 

 






Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Modal Auxiliaries Part-3

 Modal Auxiliaries  In this blog as well, we will continue the same topic.  So let's start.  1) Must  The modal "must" is used to show probability or make a logical assumption. It is also used to show necessity or prohibition.    Example:  1) To show probability or make a logical assumption  a) Janice must be out this evening. She is not answering the call. (Present tense)  b) Janice must have been out last evening. She was not answering the call. (Past tense)  2) To show the necessity  a) I must call my parent tonight. (Present tense)  3) To show prohibition  a) You must not talk on the phone while driving. (Past tense)  Now let's have a look at the modal.  2) Have/Has to  The modal "have/has to" is used to show necessity or the lack of necessity. It is also used to indicate the future time.    Example:  1) To show the necessity  a) Mike has to make up for the class he missed. (P...
Post a Comment
Read more

Infinitives Part-3

 Infinitives In the previous blog, we learned about Infinitives. In this blog as well, we are going to continue the same topic and look at a few more examples.  Let's have a look at a few more examples in detail.  1) 
Post a Comment
Read more

Article Writing Part-2

Article Writing In the previous blog, we learned about Article Writing. In this blog, we are going to understand the topic more deeply.  Q) Write an article on how global warming is affecting the environment.  Global Warming - A major issue  Global warming is just a word for many people, but actually, it is a major concern for the entire world. For the people who know what global warming is and also all about its consequences, they are surely trying to reduce global warming. Let's have a look at what global warming actually is and how it is impacting the environment.  Global warming is the process where the Earth's ozone layer is destroyed. The Earth's ozone layer protects us from the harmful ultraviolet radiation of the sun. Global warming destroys this layer, which is risking the lives of all the living organisms on the Earth. Global warming is destructed due to the harmful radiation from mobile phones, TVs, and laptops.  Global warming is causing the destruct...
Post a Comment
Read more