Lesson: Using Modal Verbs and Modal Adverbs

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 may 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
Must Strong obligation You must stop when the traffic lights turn
red.

logical conclusion / He must be very tired. He's been working all

Certainty day long.

Must not prohibition You must not smoke in the hospital.

Can ability I can swim.

permission Can I use your phone please?

possibility Smoking can cause cancer.

Could ability in the past When I was younger I could run fast.

polite permission Excuse me, could I just say something?

possibility It could rain tomorrow!

May permission May I use your phone please?

possibility, probability It may rain tomorrow!

Might polite permission Might I suggest an idea?

possibility, probability I might go on holiday to Australia next year.

Need not lack of I need not buy tomatoes. There are plenty of
necessity/absence of tomatoes in the fridge.
obligation

Should/ought 50 % obligation I should / ought to see a doctor. I have a

to terrible headache.

advice You should / ought to revise your 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.

The Function of Adverbs

You probably remember that adverbs are used to modify verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.
Adverbs can tell you more information about a verb, such as how something is done, or when,
or to what extent. Some examples of adverbs used in sentences are:

 The ducks swam placidly on the lake.

 Later, they nested under the dock.
 They were quite comfortable nesting there.

Modal Adverbs
If one of the key jobs of adverbs is to add to the meaning of verbs, it makes sense that modal
adverbs add additional meaning to modal verbs. Remember that modality has to do with ideas
such as the possibility of something happening. Another way to think of this concept is to ask
yourself: ''How likely is this to occur or to exist?'' Look at these sentences:

 I really might be going to the party on Saturday.

 Surely you can't mean to vote for that candidate!
 It is likely that Matt will get an A in Chemistry.

Here are a few more sentences using modal adverbs to add to the meaning:

 That controversial amendment surely won't pass. Undoubtedly, the huge number of

protests have had an effect on support for the amendment.

Can you recognize the connection between verb and adverb in those sentences? In the first
sentence, the adverb surely modifies the verb will not or won't. In the second
sentence, undoubtedly at the beginning of the sentence actually modifies have had, which
appears later.
The table below contains verbs and adverbs that you can use to express the different degrees of
certainty or modality of your opinions or argument. It also provides you with some examples of
how to structure your sentence to use these words in your writing.
Certainty of Conclusion Modal Verbs/Adverbs Statement of Claim

Strong is, will, can not, must, It is certain that...

undoubtedly, always, never, It seems clear that...
definitely, clearly X is definitely...

Moderate should, would, can, ought to, It appears probable...

tends to, usually, likely, It is usually the case that... In
probably, regularly, majority, the majority of cases...
generally, often, frequently, The results suggest it is likely
rarely that...

Tentative May, might, could, possible, Conceivably,...

conceivable, sometimes, It is possible that...
occasionally, seldomly, Occasionally,...
perhaps, maybe, uncertainly, It may be the case that...
minority

Adapted from: Jordon, R. R. (1990) Academic Writing Course. Edinburgh: Nelson Study Skills
in English and Learning Assistance Centre, University of Sydney (1992) Writing in an Academic
Style.
Here are some examples of modality use in academic writing:
It seems likely that a species leaf structural Low modality - rather than 'it is the case', the
characteristics influence their seasonal water- author is less certain, 'it seems likely it is the
tissue relations because…… case'.

Technology assessment can be an effective More moderate expression of opinion than

tool to analyse the effect of a technology on saying 'is'.
social and environmental issues, yet in
practise it can be used to formalise and
 legitimise previously decided outcomes.

Legal aid, by providing representation and Modality lowered through the use of 'has the
individual legal advice has the potential to potential to' rather than merely 'it mitigates’.
mitigate some of the entrenched inequality in
regards to access to justice.

The large-scale treatment plant is the most The opinion expressed in this sentence is
desirable option to provide for the processing strong, however, it is more moderate than
and treatment of wastewater for a 20 000 saying '…is the only appropriate option…’
person population.

Ultimately, your opinion in academic writing must be based on the evidence you have collected.
The level of modality used to express your opinion must match the level of certainty provided
by your evidence. It might be appropriate to make a high modality claim because evidence, from
multiple sources, backs up your opinion. Therefore, adjust the certainty or modality you use to
present your argument according to the quality and amount of evidence supporting it.