Modal Auxiliary

What is meant by an auxiliary modal?

The term ‘auxiliary modal’ is referred to as the modal verbs, also known as modal auxiliaries or modal auxiliary verbs that are used as helping verbs, along with in combination with ordinary verbs. It is the modal verbs that change the meaning of other verbs and thus, make the sentence sound more meaningful. The modal auxiliary verbs are used to change the tense, mood, and voice of the English sentence. The modal verbs may express ability, possibility, permission, prediction, or necessity. 

Examples of the modal auxiliary verbs:

The principal modal auxiliary verbs examples include:

• Am
• Is
• Are
• Was
• Have
• Has
• Had
• Ought
• May
• Might
• Can
• Could
• Shall
• Should
• Will
• Would
• Must
• Do
• Did

What are the functions of the modal auxiliary verbs?

When it comes to modal auxiliaries and their functions, the auxiliary verbs can be used to perform different functions in the English sentence. The modal auxiliary verbs are used as the helping verbs to change the voice, mood, and tense of the English sentence. 

Let us look with the help of examples of how modal auxiliary verbs act to alter the voice, mood, and tense of the sentence. 

Modal auxiliary verbs changing the tense of the sentence

There are a few modal auxiliary verbs that are used to alter the tense of the action being performed by the subject in the sentence. All forms of ‘to be ’verbs, all forms of‘will and all forms of ‘have’ can be used to denote different tenses.

Here mentioned are some points that one needs to remember:

Whenever the form ‘to be’ is used in the sentence, make sure that the gerund (verb + ing) form of the main verb is also used to indicate continuous action.

Whenever using the forms of ‘have’, make sure to use the past participle forms of the main verb. Another thing that is to be remembered is that when auxiliary verbs ‘have’ and ‘been’ are used together in a sentence to indicate perfect continuous tense, make sure to use the gerund (verb+ing) for the main verb along with it. 

Whenever the auxiliary verb ‘will’ is used to indicate a simple future tense, make sure to use the root words with the same and a gerund (verb+ing) with the ‘will be to represent the future continuous tense. Another thing that is to be remembered is that when using auxiliary verbs ‘will’ and ‘have’ in the sentence, use the past participle form of the main verb when it is used to represent the future perfect tense. 

Modal auxiliary verbs changing the voice of the verb

When talking about the modal auxiliaries and their functions, all forms of auxiliary verbs ‘to be’, ‘have’, and ‘will’ can be used to indicate the voice of the verb n the English sentence. Here mentioned are modal auxiliary verbs examples of how these can be used to change the voice of a sentence:

When the ‘to be’ root word is used.

Basketball is played by Harry. (auxiliary verb = is)

Toys are liked by all kids. (auxiliary verb = are)

Any sort of changes in the presentation was refused by the department head. (auxiliary verb = was)

The answer sheets were being checked by the teachers (auxiliary verb = were)

When ‘have’ is used as the root word.

All the classmates have been invited to the birthday party by Harry. (auxiliary verb = have been)

She has been checked by the ophthalmologist. (auxiliary verb = has been)

The children had been sent to the picnic by the school. (auxiliary verb = had been)

When ‘will’ is used as the root word.

The plane will be boarded by him at 10 a.m. today. (auxiliary verb = will be)

The cake will have been delivered by the baker, this time tomorrow. (auxiliary verb = will have been)

Modal auxiliary verbs express the mood of the sentence.

The verb forms of the auxiliary verb ‘do’ can be used to express the mood of the English sentence. Imperative and interrogative are two types of sentences where ‘do’ is mostly used. Here mentioned are some examples:

Do your kids enjoy reading educational books?

Did he complete the assignment that was assigned to him?

Do not forget to bring flowers for her.

Conclusion

The modal auxiliary or modal auxiliary verbs are referred to as the verbs used as helping verbs along with the main verb in the sentence to change its meaning. The modal auxiliary verbs are mainly used to represent or change the mood, tense, and voice of the sentence so that it can sound more meaningful.