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Modal Verbs in English
Definition and Meaning
A modal verb is an auxiliary verb that is used to express possibility, ability, permission, request, obligation, etc.
Two Types of Modal Verbs
1. Principal Modals
2. Semi-modals
1. Principal Modals are the modal auxiliary verbs that have the following characteristics.
1. They don't accept inflection–they don't end in s/es.
2. They can't be used as infinitives like “*To can” or “*To shall”. They can't be used as participles like “*Canning” or “*Canned”.
3. They use bare infinitives ( infinitives without “To”). Such as “Go” as in “I can go.”
All Principal Modals:
Can, Could, Will, Would, Shall, Should, May, Might, And Must.
2. Semi-modals are the modal verbs that express some modality like Obligation, Habit, etc., But they don't possess all the features or characteristics that the principal modal verbs do.
Semi-modals are as follows:
Need, Dare, Ought to, Used to, Have to, Had better, etc.
Uses of Principal Modal Verbs
1. Uses of Can
(a) For possibility
Ex: It can rain today.
(b) For ability
Ex: I can speak French and English as well.
(c) For offer
Ex: Can I help you, my friend?
(d) For request
Ex: Can you give me your pen please?
(e) For permission
Ex: Can I go to the market with you?
2. Uses of Could
(a) For ability in past
Ex: I could speak English when I was a child.
(b) For polite request
Ex: Could you give me your pen please?
(c) For permission
Ex: Could I use your phone please?
(d) For Possibility
Ex: He could go by car.
3. Uses of Will
(a) For promise
Ex:-I will go to your house tomorrow.
(b) For offer
Ex: I will give you the book you want.
(c) For request
Ex: Will you please come here?
(d) For order
Ex: You will do as I say.
4. Uses of Would
(a) For polite question
Ex: Would you please mind opening the door?
(b) For possibility
Ex: The car would break down on the way.
(c) For wish
Ex: I wish I would write a book.
(d) For offer
Ex: Would you like some tea?
5. Uses of Shall
(a) For advice
Ex: What shall I learn, German or English? (Learn more about German)
(b) For suggestion
Ex: Shall I go with her?
(c) For offer
Ex: Shall I carry your luggage?
6. Uses of Should
(a) For advice
Ex: You should show him the right direction.
(b) For suggestion
Ex: We should stop working now. We're getting late.
(c) For possibility
Ex: There should be a good deal of audience in the auditorium, because Sabina, a renowned melodious singer, is singing today.
7. Uses of May
(a) For possibility
Ex: It may rain today.
(b) For permission
Ex: You may go now.
(c) For blessings
Ex: May God bless you and your family members.
8. Uses of Might
(a) For possibility
Ex: I might go tomorrow.
(b) For permission (Polite Question)
Ex: Might I ask you a question?
(c) For Request (Formal)
Ex: Might I get something to eat here?
9. Uses of Must
(a) For obligation
Ex: She must do it.
(b) For Strict recommendation
Ex: You must watch that movie.
(c) For prohibition
Ex: You mustn't do that.
Uses of Semi-modal Verbs
1. Use of Need not
Meaning: Not necessary
Ex: You need not go.
Ex: He need not do that.
Note:- Do not confuse the above-mentioned semi-modal with “Need to”. ‘Need’ in “He needs to go.” is an ordinary verb and can use s-inflection after it.
2. Use of Dare
Meaning: For challenge
Ex: Dare he fight with me?
Ex: He dare not fight with me.
Note:- ‘Dare’ in “He dares to fight with me.” is an ordinary verb and can use s-inflection after it.
3. Use of Ought to
Meaning: It's ideal to do something
Ex: You ought to take a bath everyday. (It's ideal that you take a bath everyday.)
4. Use of Used to
Meaning: something that happened frequently in the past.
Ex I used to learn Spanish when I was a child.
5. Use of Have to
Meaning: For obligation
Ex: I have to go to the market.
6. Use of Had better
Meaning:- For strong advice
Ex: You had better go now. (You're strongly advised to go now, otherwise something bad will happen.)
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