Modal Forms

Modal Forms

Modal FormsModal auxiliaries are a special class of words that indicate things such as ability (can) and obligation

(must)

Modal FormsModal auxiliaries are a special class of words that indicate things such as ability (can) and obligation

(must)

Remember that modals have no third-person

singular form.

Modal FormsModal auxiliaries are a special class of words that indicate things such as ability (can) and obligation

(must)

Remember that modals have no third-person

singular form.

Modal FormsModal auxiliaries are a special class of words that indicate things such as ability (can) and obligation

(must)

Remember that modals have no third-person

singular form.

Jane helps people

Modal FormsModal auxiliaries are a special class of words that indicate things such as ability (can) and obligation

(must)

Remember that modals have no third-person

singular form.

Jane helps people

Jane can help you.

Function of modals

Function of modals1) Ability (can)

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)3) Advice (should, ought to)

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)3) Advice (should, ought to)4) Obligation/necessity (must, have to)

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)3) Advice (should, ought to)4) Obligation/necessity (must, have to)5)Probability (must)

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)3) Advice (should, ought to)4) Obligation/necessity (must, have to)5)Probability (must)6)Possibility (can, could, might, may)

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)3) Advice (should, ought to)4) Obligation/necessity (must, have to)5)Probability (must)6)Possibility (can, could, might, may)7) Conditional, past habit (would), desire (would like), preference (would rather).

Function of modals1) Ability (can)2) Polite requests (may, would, could, can)3) Advice (should, ought to)4) Obligation/necessity (must, have to)5)Probability (must)6)Possibility (can, could, might, may)7) Conditional, past habit (would), desire (would like), preference (would rather).

Although have to is not a modal

auxiliary, it is included on this list because it functions like a modal and has the same meaning as

must. Have to becomes has to in the third person

1. Ability (can)

Example Past form

1. Ability (can)

Example Past form

She can speak English very well.

1. Ability (can)

Example Past form

She can speak English very well.

I could speak English much better when I was in high-

school.

2. Polite requests (may, would,could,can)

Example Past form

2. Polite requests (may, would,could,can)

Example Past form

May I help you? (formal)

2. Polite requests (may, would,could,can)

Example Past form

May I help you? (formal)Would you like some tea?

2. Polite requests (may, would,could,can)

Example Past form

May I help you? (formal)Would you like some tea?

Could you pass the butter?

2. Polite requests (may, would,could,can)

Example Past form

May I help you? (formal)Would you like some tea?

Could you pass the butter?Can I have some help?

(informal)

3. Advice (should, ought to)

Example Past form

3. Advice (should, ought to)

Example Past form

Alan should see a lawyer.

3. Advice (should, ought to)

Example Past form

Alan should see a lawyer.Karen ought to do her

work.

3. Advice (should, ought to)

Example Past form

Alan should see a lawyer.Karen ought to do her

work.

He should have seen a lawyer before signing the

contract.

3. Advice (should, ought to)

Example Past form

Alan should see a lawyer.Karen ought to do her

work.

He should have seen a lawyer before signing the

contract.Karen ought to have done

her work sooner.

4. Obligation (must,have to )

Example Past form

4. Obligation (must,have to )

Example Past form

Helen must (has to) see a doctor right away.

4. Obligation (must,have to )

Example Past form

Helen must (has to) see a doctor right away.

Helen had to see a doctor last night

because she was having difficulty breathing.

5. Probability (must)Example Past form

5. Probability (must)Example Past form

Kay must be home now.

5. Probability (must)Example Past form

Kay must be home now.She must have been very beautiful when she was

young.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

Ann may help them.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

Ann may help them.

I could shop online when I had my credit card.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

Ann may help them.

I could shop online when I had my credit card.

You could have helped me but you didn’t.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

Ann may help them.

I could shop online when I had my credit card.

You could have helped me but you didn’t.

Mary might have done the job.

6. Possibility (can ,could, might, may)

Example Past form

You can shop online.

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

Ann may help them.

I could shop online when I had my credit card.

You could have helped me but you didn’t.

Mary might have done the job.

Ann may have told him the secret.

7(a). Conditional Example Past form

7(a). Conditional Example Past form

If I had time, I would help her (expresses a wish)

7(a). Conditional Example Past form

If I had time, I would help her (expresses a wish)

If I had studied the piano when I was

young I would have become a concert

pianist by now.

7 (b). Past habit (would)Example Past form

7 (b). Past habit (would)Example Past form

As a youth, I would spend hours at my best friend’s

house. (expresses a habit)

7(c). Desire (would like)Example Past form

7(c). Desire (would like)Example Past form

I would like some coffee.

7(c). Desire (would like)Example Past form

I would like some coffee.

I would have liked some coffee but the coffee machine was

broken.

7(d). Preference (would rather)

Example Past form

7(d). Preference (would rather)

Example Past form

I would rather be tall than short.

7(d). Preference (would rather)

Example Past form

I would rather be tall than short.

I would rather have been poor and healthy

than rich and sick when I was a child.