Modal Verbs are like secret weapon in English language, it’s like sauce to add flavor to sentences. Modal verbs is very important in English language.
What are modal verb?
Modal verbs are called auxiliary verbs that express possibility, necessity, permission or ability. Modal verbs helps to convey the speaker’s attitude towards the action of the main verb. Basically, modal verbs don’t change the form based on the subject.
For Instance : “I can ” / “you can” / “he can” without altering the verb can
Common Modal Verbs :
- Can : Ability or possibility
- Could : Past Ability or Polite request
- May : Permission or Possibility
- Might : Slight Possibility
- Must : Necessity or Strong recommendation
- Shall : Formal suggestion
- Should : Advice or recommendation
- Will : Future intention or promise
- Would : Polite request or hypothetical situations
Modal verb uses and example
- Expression Ability : Modal verb can express ability. > “Can”
- I can Jump over the wall
- Making Suggestions : “Should” and “Ought”
- You should come earlier today
- Ask Permission : “May” and “can”
- May i borrow your book?
- Expression Possibility : “might” and “may”
- It might cold later, so wear jacket
- Indicating Necessity : “must”
- You must finish the food
modal verbs uses in permission & Possibilty
- Can : Informal
- Can i play cricket with you?
- May : Formal Permission
- May i leave the classroom?
- Might : Tentative permission
- you might want to check with your brothers first
- Might : Slight chances
- He might get some rest after having injured
- May : suggests
- It may rain tomorrow
- Could : Potential outcome
- I could go camping if the weather is nice
Makes suggestions with modal verbs
- Should : used for advice
- She should see a doctor if she is feeling unwell
- Ought to : it is similar to “should” but slightly more formal
- we ought to apologize for our mistake
Function of Modal verbs
- Expression ability : we can play piano together
- Indication necessity : everybody must wear a seatbelt
- Making request : Could you help me with this?
- Offering advice : You should take a break soon
“Might”
You ask Bogart questions about his plans for tomorrow. Sometimes he is sure, but usually he is not sur
- Are you playing basketball tomorrow?
- Are you going out tomorrow evening?
- Are you going to get up early?
- Are you working tomorrow?
- Will you be at home tomorrow morning?
- Are you going to watch television?
- Are you going out in the afternoon?Are you going shopping?
- Yes, in the afternoon
- Possibly.
- Maybe.
- No, I’m not.
- Maybe.
- I might.
- Yes, I am.
- Perhaps, I’m not sure.
Now write about Bogart. Use “might” where necessary. Examples have been done for you
- He’s playing tennis tomorrow afternoon
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Write five things that you might do tomorrow.
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