What are "modal auxiliary verbs"?
The verbs can, could, will, would, should, may, might, must, ought and shall are verbs which 'help' other verbs to express a meaning: it is important to realise that these "modal verbs" have no meaning by themselves. A modal verb such as would has several varying functions; it can be used, for example, to help verbs express ideas about the past, the present and the future. It is therefore wrong to simply believe that "would is the past of will": it is many other things.
What to keep in mind when using modals
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Explanation
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Sample sentences
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Do not use modals for
things which happen definitely.
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The sun rises in the east. - A
modal can't be used in this sentence.
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They have no -s in
the 3rd person singular.
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He can play football.
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Questions are formed without do/does/did.
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Can he speak Spanish?
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It follows a main verb in its
infinitive.
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They must read the book.
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There are no past forms (except could and would).
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He was allowed to watch the film.
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When you use the past participle you tell about
things which did not happen in the past.
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You should have told me.
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Long and contracted
forms of modals
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Affirmative
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Negative
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Long forms
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Contracted forms
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Long forms
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Contracted forms
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can
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--
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cannot
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can't
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could
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--
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could not
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couldn't
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may
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--
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may not
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--
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might
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--
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might not
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--
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ought to
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--
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ought not to
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oughtn't to
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need
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--
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need not
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needn't
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shall
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'll
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shall not
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shan't
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should
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'd
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should not
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shouldn't
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will
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'll
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will not
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won't
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would
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'd
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would not
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wouldn't
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Example ;
CAN & COULD
General possibility
You can drive when you're 17.
Women couldn't vote until just after the First World War.
Women couldn't vote until just after the First World War.
MAY
With a similar meaning to although
The experiment may have been a success, but there is still a lot of work to be done.
MIGHT
Saying that something was possible, but did not actually happen
You saw me standing at the bus stop! You might have stopped and given me a lift!
OUGHT TO
Ought to usually has the same meaning as should, particularly in affirmative statements in the present:
You should/ought to get your hair cut.
SHALL
Making suggestions
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
Shall we go to the cinema tonight?
SHOULD
Giving advice
I think you should go for the Alfa rather than the Audi.
You shouldn't be drinking if you're on antibiotics.
You shouldn't have ordered that chocolate dessert - you're not going to finish it.
I think you should go for the Alfa rather than the Audi.
You shouldn't be drinking if you're on antibiotics.
You shouldn't have ordered that chocolate dessert - you're not going to finish it.
WILL
Talking about the past with certainty
I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.
I'm sure you will have noticed that attendance has fallen sharply.
WOULD
In conditionals, to indicate 'distance from reality': imagined, unreal, impossible situations
If I ruled the world, every day would be the first day of Spring.
It would have been better if you'd word processed your assignment.
If I ruled the world, every day would be the first day of Spring.
It would have been better if you'd word processed your assignment.
source :
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