MODALS

Modals are auxiliary verbs that

provides specific meaning to the main
point of the sentence. They can also be
defined as a verb that is combined with
any verb to indicate a mood or tense.
Modal verbs are always
combined with other verbs
to show complete meaning.
1.They are both single word modals and phrasal modals:
>Single Word Modal
Examples; Can, could, may, shall, should, will,
would
>Phrasal Modal
Examples; Be able to, be going to, be supposed to,
had better, have to, have got to, ought to, used
to.
2. All single word modals above are followed
by the SINGULAR FORM (BASE) of verbs:

Examples;
-My niece can play the electric guitar
-I might see the principal
-They would leave immediately
3. Most of the phrasal modal include “TO”:
•Be able to
•Be going to
•Be supposed to
•Have to
•Have got to
•Ought to
•Used to
Examples:

-If allowed to leave early, they WOULD BE

ABLE to catch the first trip out of the city.

-We HAVE TO SUBMIT the proposal soon.

4. The phrasal modal “HAD BETTER” does not
include “TO”. Used the simple form of a verb
after “HAD AFTER”. In most cases, though, the
contraction is used.

Example:
-He’d better leave now.
5. All of the modal show meaning. When they are used
with a verb, they show someone’s feeling or attitude
toward the action or situation of the verb show.

6. Ever modal verb has more than use and/or meaning.

Example:
-I can draw your face in 5 minutes
-You can use the car anytime you want.
MODAL FUNCTION
To show ability
To suggest a possibility
CAN
or give an option
To ask permission
To show impossibility
MODAL FUNCTION
To show past ability.
To ask a polite question.
COULD To show possibility.
To show impossibility.
To suggest a
possibility/opportunity or give an
option.
MODAL FUNCTION
To ask for or give
permission (formal)
MAY
To show possibility.
MODAL FUNCTION

MIGHT To show possibility.

MODAL FUNCTION
To show advisability.

SHOULD To show obligation.

To show expectation.
 MODAL FUNCTION
To show advisability.

OUGHT TO To show obligation.

To show expectation.
 MODAL FUNCTION

HAD BETTER To show advisability

MODAL FUNCTION
To show probability or to
make a logical
assumption.
MUST To show necessity.
To show prohibition.
MODAL FUNCTION
To show necessity.
HAVE TO To show the lack of
necessity.
MODAL FUNCTION
To indicate future time.

To make a promise or
WILL
show willingness.
To state a general truth.
To ask a polite question.
MODAL FUNCTION
To ask polite question.
To indicate a repeated
WOULD
action in the past.
To indicate future time in
the sentence in the past.
 MODAL FUNCTION

WOULD RATHER To show preference

 MODAL FUNCTION

WOULD LIKE To express a desire

 MODALS CAN ALSO BE USED TO
EXPRESS DEGREES OF
POSSIBILITIES:
Ma
Ca y/ Sh M
nn mig ou us
ht
ot not ld t
-Unlikely -Highly likely
 •To express IMPOSSIBILITY or near impossibility, use
cannot.
•To express LOW POSSIBILITY, use may/may not,
might/might not, or could/could not.
•To express MODERATE POSSIBILITY, use should/should
not.
•To express HIGH POSSIBILITY PROBABILITY, use must.
•To express CERTAINTY or HUMAN INTENTIONS, use
will/will not. In the past context, use would/would not.
THE END
Part 3 of 4