ENGLISH MODALS

MEETING 3

DEPNI LELIANI SITUMORANG

STIKES WIDYA NUSANTARA PALU
 ENGLISH MODAL
• The modal auxiliaries in English are: can,
could, had better, may might, must, ought to,
shall, should, will, would.
• Modal auxiliaries generally express a speaker’s
attitudes, or moods. For example, modal can
express that a speaker feels something is
necessary, advisable, permissible, possible, or
probable, and in addition, they can convey the
strength of these attitudes.
 Modals do not take a final –s, even
the subject is he, she, it
• He cans do it (incorrect)
• He can do it (correct)
• Rini may buys the book (incorrect)
• Rini may buy the book (correct)
• Joko will cleans the floor (incorrect)
• Joko will clean the floor (correct)
 Modals are followed immediately by
the simple form of verb
• He can to do it (incorrect)
• He can do it (correct)
• I will to go (incorrect)
• I will go (correct)
• They must to study (incorrect)
• They must go (correct)
• The only exception is ought, which is followed by
an infinitive (to + the simple form of a verb)
• She ought to go to the meeting
 Permintaan sopan dengan “I” sebagai
subject
MAY I (a) May I (please) borrow your pen?
COULD I (b) Could I borrow your pen (please)
CAN I (c) Can I borrow your pen?
TYPICAL RESPONSES: certainly, yes, certainly, of
course, yes, of course, sure
May I and could I are used to
request permission. They are
equally polite.
Note: in a polite request,
could has a present or future
meaning, not a past meaning.
Can I is used informally to
request permission, especially
if the speaker is talking to
someone s/he knows fairly
well.
Can I is usually not considered
as polite as may I or could I.
Often the response to a polite
request consists of an action, a
nod or shake of the head, or
simple “ uh-huh”.
 Permintaan sopan dengan “you”
sebagai subject
WOULD YOU (a)Would you pass the salt (please) The meaning of would you
WILL YOU (b) Will you (please) pass the salt? and will you in a polite request
is the same. Would you is
more common and is often
considered more polite. The
degree of politeness, however,
is often determined by the
speaker’s tone of voice.
COULD YOU (c) Could you pass the salt? Basically, could you and would
you have the same meaning.
Could you and would you are
equally polite.
CAN YOU (d) Can you pass the salt) Can you is often used
informally. It usually sounds
less polite than could you or
would you
TYPICAL RESPONSES: yes, I’d (would) be happy to. Yes, I’d be glad to, certainly, sure.
 Permintaan sopan dengan would you
mind
Asking permittion: Notice that would you mind if___ is
(a) Would you mind if I closed the followed by the simple past.
window The meaning of the sentence is” is it all
right if I close the window? Will it cause
you any trouble or discomfort if I close
the window?
Typical response: no, not at all, no, of course not, no, that would be fine.
Asking someone else to do something: Notice that would you mind ____ is
(b) Would you mind closing the window? followed by – ing (gerund)
The meaning of the sentence is “I don’t
want to cause you any trouble, but would
you please close the window? Would that
cause you any incovenience?
Typical response: no, I’d be happy to., not at all. I’d be glad to.
 Mengekspresikan kebutuhan: must,
have to, have got to
Must and have to both express necessity
In everyday statements of necessity, have
to is used more commonly than must.
Must is usually stronger than have to and
can indicate urgency or stress importance
Have got to also expresses the idea of
necessity. Have got to is informal and is
used primarily in spoken English. Have to
is used in both formal and informal
English
Usual pronunciation of got to is” gotta”.
Sometimes have is dropped in speech. “ I
gotta do it”
(a) All applicants must take an entrance
test
(b) All applicants have to take an
entrance exam
(a) I am looking for Sue. I have to talk to
her about our lunch tomorrow.
(b) Where is Sue? I must talk to her right
away. I have an urgent message for
her.
(c) I have got to go now. I have a class in
ten.
(d) I have to go now. I have a class in ten.
(e) I have got to go/ I’ve gotta go/ I gotta
go
 Tidak adanya keharusan dan larangan: have to
and must dalam bentuk negatif
LACK OF NECESSITY: Do not have to=lack of necessity
(a) Tomorrow is a holiday. We don’t have
to go to class.
(b) I can hear you. you don’t have to
shout.
PROHIBITION: Must not=prohibition (DO NOT DO THIS)
(a) You must not look in the closet. Your
birthday present is hidden there.
(b) You must not tell anyone my secret.
Do you promise?
 Anjuran: should, ought to, had better
(a) You should study harder
(b) Drivers should obey the speed limit
(c) You shouldn’t leave your keys in the
car
(a) You ought to study harder
(b) Drivers ought to obey the speed limit
(a) You had better see the doctor
(b) We had better listen to the news
(c) You had better not come late
Should expresses advisability
Ought to and should have the same
meaning. Ought to is sometimes
pronounced “otta” in informal speaking.
In a meaning, had better is close to
should/ought to , but had better is
stronger. Often had better implies a
warning or a threat of possible bad
consequence.