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    Modal Verbs PDF

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    benjamindomadorx
    Modal verbs are special verbs that provide additional information about the function of the main verb that follows. They never change form and are always followed by an infinitive without "to." Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must. Modal verbs are used to express functions like permission, ability, obligation, prohibition, lack of necessity, advice, possibility, and probability. Examples of modal verbs and their uses are provided.

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    Modal Verbs PDF

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    benjamindomadorx
    158 views3 pages
    Modal verbs are special verbs that provide additional information about the function of the main verb that follows. They never change form and are always followed by an infinitive without "to." Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must. Modal verbs are used to express functions like permission, ability, obligation, prohibition, lack of necessity, advice, possibility, and probability. Examples of modal verbs and their uses are provided.

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    Modal verbs are special verbs that provide additional information about the function of the main verb that follows. They never change form and are always followed by an infinitive without "to." Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must. Modal verbs are used to express functions like permission, ability, obligation, prohibition, lack of necessity, advice, possibility, and probability. Examples of modal verbs and their uses are provided.

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    © All Rights Reserved
    Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd
    Download as pdf or txt
    158 views3 pages

    Modal Verbs PDF

    Uploaded by

    benjamindomadorx
    Modal verbs are special verbs that provide additional information about the function of the main verb that follows. They never change form and are always followed by an infinitive without "to." Common modal verbs include can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must. Modal verbs are used to express functions like permission, ability, obligation, prohibition, lack of necessity, advice, possibility, and probability. Examples of modal verbs and their uses are provided.

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    of 3

    What are modal verbs?

    Modals (also called modal verbs, modal auxiliary verbs, modal auxiliaries) are special
    verbs which behave irregularly in English. They are different from normal verbs like
    "work, play, visit..." They give additional information about the function of the main
    verb that follows it. They have a great variety of communicative functions.

    Here are some characteristics of modal verbs:

    They never change their form. You can't add "s", "ed", "ing"...
    They are always followed by an infinitive without "to" (e.i. the bare
    infinitive.)
    They are used to indicate modality allow speakers to express certainty,
    possibility, willingness, obligation, necessity, ability

    List of modal verbs

    Here is a list of modal verbs:

    can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must

    The verbs or expressions dare, ought to, had better, and need not behave like modal
    auxiliaries to a large extent and my be added to the above list

    Use of modal verbs:

    Modal verbs are used to express functions such as:

    1. Permission
    2. Ability
    3. Obligation
    4. Prohibition
    5. Lack of necessity
    6. Advice
    7. possibility
    8. probability
    Examples of modal verbs

    Here is a list of modals with examples:

    Modal Verb Expressing Example


    Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights
    turn red.
    must
    logical conclusion / He must be very tired. He's been
    Certainty working all day long.
    must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.
    ability I can swim.
    can permission Can I use your phone please?
    possibility Smoking can cause cancer.
    ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.
    could polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?
    possibility It could rain tomorrow!
    permission May I use your phone please?
    may
    possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!
    polite permission Might I suggest an idea?
    might possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next
    year.
    lack of necessity/absence of I need not buy tomatoes. There are
    need not
    obligation plenty of tomatoes in the fridge.
    50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have
    a terrible headache.
    should/ought advice You should / ought to revise your
    to lessons
    logical conclusion He should / ought to be very tired. He's
    been working all day long.
    had better advice You 'd better revise your lessons
    Remember

    Modal verbs are followed by an infinitive without "to", also called the bare infinitive.

    Examples:

    You must stop when the traffic lights turn red.


    You should see to the doctor.
    There are a lot of tomatoes in the fridge. You need not buy any.

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