Modal Auxiliaries are those helping verbs which help to express the mode or manner in which the action is done.
The modals are different from other Auxiliaries 'have', be' and 'do' in three ways.
(i) There are s-forms, ing-forms, ed-forms or en-forms.
Example:
do-does-did;
have-having-had;
be, being, been
But, Not may — mays — maying or mayed
(ii) Modals take only the base form of Principal verbs after them.
I can do the work alone.
He may not come here today.
You must abide by the rules.
(iii) Modals modify the meaning of the main verbs.
Does he play football?
Modals | Functions | Examples |
Will | Asking | Will you go to school? |
Would | Requesting | Would you give me a pen? |
Shall | Asking | Shall I do the work? |
Should | Suggestion | You should work hard. |
Can | Ability | He can drive a car. |
Could | Ability | He could do the sum. |
Could | Requesting | Could you help me to do the sum? |
May | Possibility | He may come here today. |
May | Permission | May I come in? |
May | Prayer | May you live long. |
Might | Possibility | His statement might be true. |
Might | Suggestion | You might go there. |
Must | Certainty | It must be good. |
Must | Obligation | You must do this. |
Mustn't | Prohibition | You must not (mustn't) run in the sun. |
Needn't | Negation | I need not (needn't) want a book now. |
Dare | Bold Assertion | I dare say, you are a fool. |
Daren't (Dare not) | Afraid to do | I dare not (daren't) follow you.
He dare not (daren't) do it. |
Ought (to) | Moral obligation | We ought to love our neighbours. |
Ought (to) | Suggestion | You ought to go to a doctor. |
Used (to) | Habit | He used to walk early in the morning. |
