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Modals

In this article, we will have a look at how beautifully a sentence can be modified with the help of modal verbs. Modal verbs thus help emphasise a particular meaning. Going further, we will look at what modal verbs are, how they can be used and what all types of Modal verbs are.

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Modals, also called modal verbs/auxiliary verbs/modal auxiliaries, are special verbs in English showing certain expressions and indicate modality. They are auxiliary verbs and thus are used in conjunction with the main verbs. Modal verbs show possibility, intent, ability or necessity for any action. Since they are used to highlight certain expressions and conditions, using them along with the main verb can bring about a change to the meaning of the main verb. They are used to give additional information about the function of the main verb following it.

As iterated above, modal verbs are supplementary verbs used to explain the function of the main verb a bit more in the context of the sentence to modify its meaning as per our needs. Modals are of various types and are used to show various expressions. Some of the commonly used ones are listed below:

RULES TO USING MODAL VERBS-

Just like any other element of a sentence, using modal verbs also comes with a set of rules one has to follow every time they wish to include a modal verb in their sentence. The rules are:

Modal verbs always come before the main verb (except for questions).
With modal verbs, the infinitive form of the main verb is used with “to”.
Modal verbs don’t change their form, one does not add “s”, “ed”, or “ing” at the end of modal verbs.

USE OF MODAL VERBS-

Modal verbs are used to indicate the possibility, likelihood, ability, ask for permission, request, suggestion, advice, command, obligation, necessity, or habit.

The table below shows what modal verb to use where:

MODAL VERB	USE	EXAMPLE
CAN	Ability to do something in the present	I can talk in German.
	Permission to do something in the present	Can I go to the stage?
	Request	Can you wait for a moment, please?
	Offer	I can drop you there.
	Suggestion	Can we visit Lodhi Garden this time, please?
	Possibility	It can get very hot here.
COULD	Ability to do something in the past	I could speak German.
	Permission to do something in the past	I could go to the station
	PoliteRequest	Could I go to play, please?
	PoliteOffer	Could you wait a moment please?
	PoliteSuggestion	I could help you with the homework.
	Polite possibility	Could we visit Delhi this weekend?
SHALL	suggestion	Shall I help?
SHOULD	advise	You should not drive while you are drunk.
SHOULD	obligation	You should not waste the water.
WOULD	Wish/Request	Would you help me out, please?
WOULD	Habits in the past	Sometimes, he would talk to me for hours.
WILL	wish/request/demand/order	Will you please shut the door?
	prediction/assumption	I think it will not happen.
	promise	I will stop drinking.
	Spontaneous decision	Can somebody do it?- I will do that.
MAY	Possibility	It may rain today.
	Permission to do something in the present	May I go to play football?
	Polite suggestion	May I help you out?
MIGHT	Possibility (less possible than may)	It might get bad today.
MIGHT	Hesitant offer	Might I help you?
NEED NOT	Something that is not necessary	I need not go to that place, I would order it.
MUST	force	I must complete this today.
	necessity	You must be tired.
	advice/recommendation	You must go and watch it.
OUGHT TO	advise	You ought to work it out fast.
OUGHT TO	obligation	You ought to get this done by today evening.

EXERCISES:

————– I come with you?

Can
Will
Would

There was a time when I ———— stay up very late.

Would
Could
Can

I ———- get you a shawl from there.

Will
Would
Should

She needs money, so she ——– her house.

Might
May
Will

CONCLUSION:

Using modal verbs can enhance the quality of the sentence and change the meaning of the sentence slightly to make better sense. Modal verbs are used in different situations to modify the main verbs to suit the context. Their perfect usage comes with practice.