MODAL AUXILIARIES
What are Modal Auxiliaries?
Modal Auxiliaries are helping verbs which are used to indicate modality (likelihood, ability, permission, certainty and obligation). They give information about the tense and function of the main verb in the sentence. They exist only in relation to the main verbs, without which, they make little sense in the sentence.
Characteristics of Modal Auxiliaries:
How are Modals Used?
In affirmative sentences, the modal auxiliary is placed between the subject and the main verb.
- They must call the authorities.
- The students ought to bring their own materials.
In negative sentences, the modal auxiliary is placed between the subject and the negative adverb.
- You should not procrastinate.
- It may not rain today.
Rules of Modal Auxiliaries:
- They do not agree in number with the subject except for the modals ‘need’ and ‘dare’.
| She needs to go. She can go. |
| They need to go. They can go |
- With the exception of ‘ought’, ‘need’ and ‘dare’, the modal auxiliaries are followed by infinitive forms of verbs without the preposition ‘to’.
| She needs to listen. Do you dare to dream? |
| I can help. Rishab ought to study. |
The modal auxiliary ‘ought’ + ‘to’ is used to duty, necessity, fitness, and moral obligation. The modal auxiliary ‘need’ + ‘to’ is used to show requirement. The verb ‘dare’ when followed by ‘to’ becomes a modal auxiliary and is used to show a challenge. |
- They have no non-finite forms (‘-en’, ‘-ed’ or ‘-ing’ forms).
- All tense forms are not represented by the modal auxiliary.
Types of Modal Auxiliaries:
There are three types of modal auxiliaries:
1. Single concept modals – having just one meaning.
2. Double concept modals – having two meanings.
3. Past modals – modals in the past tense.
| Single Concept Modals | Double Concept Modals | Past Modals |
| Will | May | Would have |
| Might | Must | Could have |
| Should | Would | Might have |
| Ought to | Shall | Should have |
| Had better | Can | May have |
| Could | Must have |
Single Concept Modals:
| Modal | Meaning | Usage |
| Will | Future | I will buy a new car. |
| Might | Diminished possibility (more unlikely than likely) | It might rain today. |
| Should | Advice, Suggestion | Ranjit should practise daily. |
| Ought to | Obligation | You ought to help in times of need. |
| Had better | Advice, warning | He had better leave if he wanted to catch the 5 pm bus. |
Double Concept Modals:
| Modal | Meaning | Usage |
| May | Permission Increased possibility (more likely than unlikely) | May I borrow your car? |
| Must | Compulsion | You must complete the work |
| Assumption | Mahesh is absent today. He must be sick. | |
| Would | Past habit (used to) | Mother would send her children to school. |
| Future possibility | They would visit us someday | |
| Shall |
| shall call you tonight. Shall I help you? |
| Polite expression | Shall I take leave? | |
| Could | Past ability | Tushar could eat 10 rotis at a time |
| Present probability (unsure) | It could move if we all pushed hard. | |
| Can | Present ability | Gavin can help you with your homework. |
| Permission | Can I try one of these? |
Past Modals:
- These modals help to refer to actions which took place in the past.
- The structure of such sentences is as follows:
MODAL + HAVE + PAST PARTICIPLE
- You should have asked for help.
- They ought to have informed us.
| Modal | Meaning | Usage |
| Must have | Assumption | He must have forgotten about us |
| May/might have | Guessing/speculating | Raj may have bought these oranges |
| Could have | Possibility (likely not to have been fulfilled) | Yash could have apprised us of the matter. |
| Would have | Possibility | The guests would have left. |
| Should have/ ought to have | Hypothetical situation which may have been ideal | He ought to have helped you. |
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