MODALS IN ENGLISH GRAMMAR

 

AN INTRODUCTION TO MODALS

Modals express ability, permission, obligation, prohibition, supposition and so on.They(can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to, used to, need, dare ) take bare infinitives along with them in sentence construction. 

Each modal has many different shades of meaning according to the sentence. It is determined by context. They never conjugate. 

Using models to express our thoughts in the language is easy, convenient and readable. It reveals the tone of the sentence.

Without modals also we can express our thoughts. 

Look at these two sentences.

You can do this. ( with a modal verb can )

You are capable to do this. ( without  modal )

Though these are similar in meaning the first one is clear and straightforward along with the tone.

Ahead, we are going to see the usage of all the modals in English grammar.

WILL

 

Habitual actions in the future:

During the monsoon, green grass will grow here and there.

Intentions, decisions and promises in 1st person:

I will do it later.

I will give you whatever you want.

Assumptions or probability with 2nd and 3rd persons:

This key will open the door.

They will keep their promise.

Invitations or requests:

Will you lend me your book for an hour?

Refusal of a thing to work:

The word won't fit the sentence.

Certainty of a future situation:

They won't come again before Diwali.

Unreal past conditional sentence:

If my mother had still been here, she would have praised me a lot for my act of kindness.

For the present idea:

Every time I will come back home and turn on the TV.

To criticise peoples characteristic behaviour:

He will leave the gate open in the house when he goes out.

Willingness :

I will help you.

To say how much money is owed:

This will be Thousand Rupees, please.

Orders:

Will you open the door?

WOULD

Polite request:

Would you mind reading this letter for me?

After a wish:

I wish they would finish it early.

With the verbs 'like' ( positive sentences ) and 'care' ( negative and interrogative sentences ):

I would like to speak a few words in front of you.

Would you care to meet our boss?

I would not care about your feelings.

With the adverbs rather and sooner:

I would rather complete my homework than sit idle here.

The woman would sooner die than she is called a bitch.

When things do not happen in their usual way:

The plug wouldn't fit the socket.

Repeated willingness in the past but not for a particular occasion in the past:

Whenever I had to buy eggs, Raju would help me to carry my bag of eggs.

With unreal past conditionals:

 

I would have been happy to invite him to my house, but I didn't have time.

Characteristic behaviour in the past:

During the summer holidays, we would go to our granny's house.

To criticise people"s behaviour in the past:

I don't like Raju's behaviour. He would talk about Rani, behind her back.

To indicate past habits which we don't continue now, with 'would' (formal)  and 'used to' (informal):

I would / used to ask my friends for help to bring things home when I was sick.

With 'would' mention a specific time or set of an occasion, with 'used to' may /may not:

Whenever we went to any temple, we would buy toys. ✔

We would buy toys.✖

Whenever we went to any temple, we used to buy toys. ✔

We used to buy toys. ✔

Expressing future ideas in the past:

I expected that my brother would come early.

With the structure, (wish....would +V1):

 

I wish you would start working without any delay. = Why won't you start working without any delay.

With if-clauses:

I had money, I would buy many books.

To give advice:

If I were you, I would get my shirt ironed.

Informal use (only in speaking):

If I would have come to you, I would have shown you.

Unreal conditional:

If I won the lottery, I would tell you.

What would you do if you consumed poison?

If you had prepared better, you would have got the best score.

 

Polite request or want ( would prefer....rather than):

I would prefer to visit Hyderabad in December rather than in September.

With the structure ( would rather + subject +past tense ):

would rather = prefer.

I would rather you escape the prison now.

SHALL

    

To express a pure future:

I shall need your support on the 12th of this month.

Command:

You shall not come again here.

Promise:

You shall have my help tomorrow.

Threat:

You shall be fined for your behaviour.

Request:

Where shall I meet you?

If clause:

If you pass the ball to me, I shall through you back.

Subordinate clause without shall or will:

I shall inform you when it happens.   ✔

I shall inform you when it will happen. ✖

With all future tenses:

I shall do it.

I shall be doing it.

I shall have done it.

I shall have been doing it.

   SHOULD

To express duty:

People should always follow the rules of the government.

 A duty left undone. ( should + present perfect tense + V3):

You should have gone a little late.

To express determination:

 

We were informed that we should stop the work.

Should as the past equivalent of shall:

They thought that they should reach home fast.

A supposition that may not be true:

If it should cloudy, they will bring umbrellas.

Should replace the word ought to:

You should ( ought to ) go to school regularly.

To express less obligation instead of should :

You are supposed to be there at the exact time.

When things are very essential to do:

Everyone should have a pass to enter the hall.

Unreal conditional:

If I knew his address, I should tell you.

CAN

Ability:

He can write well.

Permission:

She can take a good rest if she feels nervous.

No ability:

We can't help you in this regard.

Polite:

Can you lend me a book?

Offer:

Can I assist you in your work?

Negative possibility:

It can't be possible.

Impossibility:

It cannot be virtuous.

Rules and laws:

Can all the visitors come along with their kids here?

Can replace the word be able to :

Raju can lift weights, though he is thin.

Raju is able to lift weights, though he is thin.

'Can' ( for a general ability ) and 'be able to' ( for a  specific achievement ):

Rani can walk for long distances. She injured her legs in an accident. She has now recovered from her injuries and is able to walk again.

Will be able to ( something is possible in the future ):

When I finish my project, I will be able to get huge money to buy a car.   ✔

When I finish my project, I can get huge money to buy a car. ✖

Can ( when taking a decision to do in the future ):

They can run a shop next month.   ✔

They will be able to run a shop next month. ✖

I understand your situation. (American English)

I can understand your situation. (British English)

COULD     

Request:

Could you help me to complete this task?

Able to do it but didn't do it. With ( could + Present ) Perfect  Present situation:

He could have asked me for my advice.

More polite:

Could you lend me your book?

Would be able to:

I could gain many profits if I know the market trends.

Chance:

It could rain this evening.   ✔

It can rain this evening. ✖

Frequent actions in the past:

I could swim across the stream in under 10 minutes.

For One occasion  in the past:

I managed to swim across the stream yesterday in under 10 minutes.

For one occasion in the past with subordinate clause:

I am so happy that you could win the race.

For one particular action in the past:

Raju was allowed to see a movie yesterday. (positive)   ✔

Raju could see a movie yesterday. ✖

Raju couldn't see a movie yesterday. (negative)    ✔

Raju was not allowed to see a movie yesterday. ✖

Conditional use ( could = would be allowed):

She could take my book if she asked.

To criticise people for their improper behaviour:

You could inform me before you make a decision.

When situations are not in your control:

We lost the order. We couldn't help it.

MAY

Permission:

You may leave now if you have any urgent work.

Possibility:

It may rain in the evening.

They may go home this afternoon.

Request:

May I take your bike?

Improbability:

It may not virtuous.

Wish:

May God bless you!

Positive opinion:

He may meet me tomorrow.

More formal:

Overdose of the medicine may cause nausea.

With the structure (may, might, could + V3 ):

I thought my brother changed his opinion about his marriage, but I may / might/can could have been wrong.

Future possibility:

By the time you reach here, I may / can have finished my assignment.

Something happening now ( may + be + ing ):

Raju is not here. He may be doing his pending work at home.

For strong possibilities with may well:

You may well be unfortunate.

For the present or future, expect around half of the possibility.

I may go to my uncle's house tomorrow /now.

In indirect questions:

Do you think you may get successful with this project?

Maybe with the meaning of perhaps:

Maybe / Perhaps he will arrive soon.

When there is nothing better may as well:

There is no one to attend us. We may as well leave this place.

MIGHT

less positive opinion when compare to may:

He might meet me tomorrow.

For questioning expecting possibility:

Might / May he rejects his wife proposal?

A typical case in the pas ( might + V1):

You didn't do your homework yesterday. While the class was going on, our teacher might ask you about your homework.

Future possibility:

By the time you reach here, I might / can have finished my assignment.

Something happening now with ( may + be + ing ):

Raju is not here. He might be doing his pending work at home.

For strong possibilities with might well:

You might well be unfortunate.

For present or future with expecting  around less than half of the possibility:

I might go to my uncle's house tomorrow /now.

In a direct question:

Might you get successful with this project?

When there is nothing better might as well:

There is no one to attend us. We might as well leave this place.

MUST

Necessity:

They must help those children.

Emphatic determination:

We must collect all the fees by the end of the month.

To introduce questions :

Must I do this?

Must present tense:  

They must go there today.

'Had to' is past tense to must:

Yesterday we had to carry many bags home.

To introduce the speakers own ideas:

I must be confident to pass this interview.

When someone has told the speaker:

 

I have to be on a vacation for my mental illness.

When you are sure of something (must have + V3):

He must have gone home.

To prohibit from something (mustn't ):

You mustn't run across the road.

Past idea:

I lost my bag. I must have forgotten at the railway station.

When you expect something is certain:

Raju must have made a mistake. He is trying to solve it many a time.

must * cannot:

It can't be my father at the door to ring the bell. He comes back home only after five in the evening.

OUGHT TO

To express duty or obligation:

We ought to respect our teachers and elders.

To express a strong probability:

He ought to pass the test.

A duty left undone with( ought to have ):

He ought to have completed his project before the deadline.

Questions and negatives without do:

Ought we to do this right now?

We ought not to worry about this.

In question tags:

They ought to visit their parents, oughtn't they? ✔

                                                      oughtn't they to? ✖

When it is a normal course of action or logical:

The sales ought to improve during the festival holidays.

Notice the use of to with adverbs:

We always ought to respect others feelings while talking to them. ( good )

We ought always to respect others feelings while talking to them. ( better)

A strong request:

You ought to have to fetch the doctor.

NEED

Need ( main verb) gives the meaning of 'requirement' with a transitive verb:

He needs a helper in his work.

Need as a helping verb in a negative sentence:

He need not collect flowers for worship. We have plenty of them.

Need as a main verb:

Everyone needs goals to achieve their target.

Questions and negatives are made with do:

Do I need to go to the office now?

You don't need to work extra hours here. ( for permanent, habitual, general activities)

You don't need/need not to work extra hours here.

( for temporary actions)

need not = not necessary:

You need not help me anymore. I can do this on my own.

DARE

To challenge:

He dared to argue with his elder brother.

For a supposition:

I dare say he will not donate anything.

It doesn't take -'s' form with 3rd person singular;

He dare dares not reveal the secret to his wife.

USED TO 

For a discontinued habit:

I used to read many books when I was a student.

A routine in the past:

He used to smoke.

When we talk about past states that have been changed, we express such ideas with 'used to', but not with 'would'.

My old school used to be in the middle of the village.

For regular and habitual important behaviour:

I used to smoke.   ✔

I would smoke. ✖

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