Modals

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

Modal Forms

Remember that modals
have no third-person
singular form.

Modal Forms

Jane helps people
singular form.

Modal Forms

Jane helps people
singular form. Jane can help you.

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)

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

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)
could, can)
3) Advice (should, ought to)

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)
could, can)
4) Obligation (must, have to)

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)
could, can)
5)Probability (must)

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)
could, can)
6)Possibility (can, could, might,
may)

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)
could, can)
6)Possibility (can, could, might,
may)
7) Conditional, past habit
(would), desire (would like),
preference (would rather).

Function of modals
1) Ability (can)
could, can)
Although have to is
3) Advice (should, ought to) not a modal
4) Obligation (must, have to) auxiliary, it is
5)Probability (must) included on this list
because it functions
6)Possibility (can, could, might, like a modal and has
may) the same meaning as
7) Conditional, past habit must. Have to
becomes has to in
(would), desire (would like), the third person
preference (would rather).

1. Ability (can)

Example Past form

1. Ability (can)

Example Past form

She can speak English very
well.

1. Ability (can)

Example Past form

I could speak English much
She can speak English very
better when I was in high-
well.
school.

2. Polite requests (may,
would,could,can)
Example Past form

would,could,can)
Example Past form
May I help you? (formal)

would,could,can)
Example Past form
Would you like some tea?

would,could,can)
Example Past form
Could you pass the butter?

would,could,can)
Example Past form
Could you pass the butter?
Can I have some help?
(informal)

3. Advice (should, ought
to)

Example Past form

to)

Example Past form

Alan should see a lawyer.

to)

Example Past form

Alan should see a lawyer.
Karen ought to do her
work.

to)

Example Past form
He should have seen a
Alan should see a lawyer. lawyer before signing the
Karen ought to do her contract.
work.

to)

Example Past form
He should have seen a
Alan should see a lawyer. lawyer before signing the
Karen ought to do her contract.
work. Karen ought to have done
her work sooner.

4. Obligation (must,have
to )

Example Past form

to )

Example Past form

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

to )

Example Past form
Helen had to see a
doctor last night
Helen must (has to) see because because she
a doctor right away. was having difﬁculty
breathing.

5. Probability (must)
Example Past form

Example Past form

Kay must be home now.

Example Past form

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

6. Possibility (can ,could,
might, may)
Example Past form

might, may)
Example Past form
You can shop online.

might, may)
Example Past form

Dan could help you.

might, may)
Example Past form

Dan could help you.

Mary might do the job.

might, may)
Example Past form

Dan could help you.


Ann may help them.

might, may)
Example Past form
You can shop online. I could shop online when I
had my credit card.
Dan could help you.


Ann may help them.

might, may)
Example Past form
had my credit card.
Dan could help you. You could have helped me
but you didn’t.

Ann may help them.

might, may)
Example Past form
had my credit card.
but you didn’t.
Mary might do the job. Mary might have done the
job.
Ann may help them.

might, may)
Example Past form
had my credit card.
but you didn’t.
Mary might do the job. Mary might have done the
job.
Ann may help them. 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 studied the
piano when I was
If I had time, I would help
young I would have
her (expresses a wish)
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

Example Past form

I woud like some coffee.

Example Past form

I would have liked
some coffee but the
I woud like some coffee.
coffee machine was
broken.

7(d). Preference (would
rather)
Example Past form

rather)
Example Past form

I would rather be tall than
short.

rather)
Example Past form

I would rather have
I would rather be tall than been poor and healthy
short. than rich and sick when
I was a child.

Modals

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