Modal auxiliary verbs are used to moderate the main verb, that is to enhance or restrict the verb to a certain

context. The most common modal auxiliaries in English are: can could may should might will must would

Notice the usage of modals in the following sentences: I pay my taxes. I can pay my taxes. I might pay my taxes. I will pay my taxes. I should pay my taxes. I could pay my taxes. I would pay my taxes. I must pay my taxes. General declaration of fact. Paying taxes is something I normally do. Expresses ability. I have the means (funds) to pay. Expresses possibility, but not certainty. Maybe I will pay; maybe I won't. Expresses future intent. I resolve to do it at some later time. Expresses mild obligation. It is required, and I expect to comply. Expresses possibility. If I have nothing else to do with the money, I might pay taxes. (In this case), expresses reservation. If I had the money (but I don't). . . Expresses strong obligation. I am required and have to comply.

Modals are followed by only the base form of the verb and are not used alone unless there is a clear connection to a main verb. He must to finish his homework. He must finish his homework. Jack could heard the bell. WRONG RIGHT WRONG

Jack could hear the bell. Penny will going to the movie. Penny will go to the movie.

RIGHT WRONG RIGHT

There are many ways to make requests in English. The most common involves using the imperative and modals. See the examples below: Using the Imperative The imperative is the simple form of the verb. The subject of an imperative sentence is understood as "you" although it is usually not spoken. Open the door. Will you help me? Pick up your toys. Please help me. (You) open the door. Yes, I will (help you). (You) pick up your toys. (You) please help me.

The imperative is often used by persons of authority when speaking to subordinates, e.g. parent to child. Using Modals To show respect and politeness, most people use modal expressions when making requests. For example: Will you...? Would you...? Would you please...? Could you (please)...? Could you possibly...? Would you kindly...? Will you open the door for me? Would you open the door for me? Would you please open the door (for me)? Could you (please)...? Could you (please) open the door? Could you possibly open the door? Would you kindly open the door?

Would you mind (Ving )...? Would you be so kind as to...?

Would you mind opening the door? Would you be so kind as to open the door?

Common Problems with Modals 1. Using "to" unnecessarily: Incorrect They going to meet us at the theater. He should to eat his dinner. I had better to go now. Correct They are going to meet us at the theater. He should eat his dinner. I had better go now.

You must not to use that pencil. You must not use that pencil. 2. Using anything but the base form after a modal: John could heard the bell. John could hear the bell. Penny will going to the movie. 3. Using double modals: You should ought to speak English. She might can help me. 4. Omitting "be" in certain modal expressions: They going to meet us at the theater. Jack supposed to take his medicine. 5. Using wrong word order in questions: How I can help you? Where I should go for the meeting? Penny will go to the movie. You ought to speak English. /should speak She might be able to help me. They are going to meet us at the theater.

Jack is supposed to take his medicine. How can I help you? Where should I go for the meeting?

Degrees of Certainty Will / Might

Will / Might: expressing degrees of certainty

will may might

Polar bears will perish. (100% certain)

could it is possible that

They might not survive in the arctic. (< 50% certainty)

Intent Future & Past Will / Would

Will / Would: expressing intent or refusal

I will win this singing contest! I thought that I would win that contest. The judges won't vote for me. They refuse. The judges wouldn't vote for me. They refused.

will / would intent won't / wouldn't refusal

Be going / prediction Will

Be going / Will : expressing intent vs.

I am going to text Brad the news. I will call Jill tomorrow to see how she is. We are going to go to the movies. We are going to come home.

will be going [to + verb]

Scheduled Activities Present & Future Scheduled Scheduled Events: indicating planned Calendar On Thursday, I assist the

Events

acitivites and events

Activities

present stating reocurring or habitial activities present continous stating near future personal plans future stating predictions, information, estimations or calculations

librarian at the Public Library. (routine) I am working at the preschool on Wednesday. (near future, personal plan) I will get there around noon. (scheduled/ estimated)

Preference and Request

Would: stating preference, request, habit or excuse

Would you like some coffee? Would you rather have tea or coffee? On Sundays, we would visit our relatives I would have stopped smoking, but it was too difficult. I would rather have found an easy way out, but I didn't.

Would

would you rather have X or Y (preference) would you like (preference) would (used to) would you(request) would have(make an excuse) would rather have (past preference)

Expectation
Should & Should have: expressing expectation, convention or advice

Should

The movie should be available next week. The movie will be available next week. (expectation) Should we wear black pants to work? (convention)

should (expectation) will (expectation) are supposed to (social

convention) ought to (option or advice) should have (expectation not met) would have (excuse)

Are we supposed to wear black pants to work?(convention) You should try ordering your movies online.(suggestion) She ought not to talk on her cell phone when she's with you. (advice)

Options & Advice Could / Should

Could / Should: offering options and advice

You could try using a hammer. (option, another choice) You should be careful. (advice)

could should

Degrees of Advisability Students should be honest about downloading copyrighted music. Should/ Must
Should/ Must: expressing advisability and necessity

They must not download copyrighted music. They have to respect artists' rights to earn fair profits. The Recording Industry doesn't have to price their CDs so high.

advisability advice necessity not required

Conclusions & Inferences

Must have

Must have: making guesses, inferences and conclusions

She's sad. She might miss her family or she might be disappointed. Also, she is alone. She has nothing but a half-empty glass. She must be depressed.

might might have must must have

Ability I can lift a car.

Can/ Could: expressing physical, mental and potential ability

I can change a tire. Driving drunk can cause a fatal accident. I was able to pass my driving test. (single event)

Can/ could

physical ability mental ability potential manage to

Permission
May/ Can: requesting permission and offering suggestions

May / Can

permission request invitation / suggestion

You may leave early. You can leave early. informal May I see your arm? Shall we dance? Let's dance Would you like to dance ?

Mixed Time Frames

Modals Agreement: in mixed time frames

Modal Agreement

so that which that because

Apple said that it would introduce more functionality with the newer software.

Future Perfect: making predictions

Future Perfect

present statement of intent future perfect statement of prediction

By 5 o'clock, we will have finished our meeting.

Also see "by the time"

Review
Modal Review: meanings in present and past tense

I can drive there. (ability) I could drive there. (permission / ability / potential)

Modal Review

Do these modals mean the same in present and past tense? I will cut the hedge.

will would would have can could could have may might might have must had to - must I would have cut the have

Shall we go in there? (invitation) Should we go in there? (warning)

and more

hedge. You must eat this. (necessity) You must have eaten this. (conclusion)

Modal Practice: Means the Same!

Modal Practice

possibility expectation advice permission necessity conclusion

He ____ be crazy to do that. may might could can must

Modal Quiz

Modal Quiz: autocorrecting quiz

Finding an apartment in San Francisco ____ be very difficult.

Modals in Context: identify modals and tense use in the context of an article

Modals in Context

identifying modals in a paragraph identifying tense use

It might put Napster out of business, and if you're a devoted Napster user, this is certainly sad news. But Metallica's actions could bring the controversy closer to home. The fact that Metallica was able to obtain the screen names of these users should concern those who post and download files on Napster.

Related Pages

Should / Could have: considering options and advice in the past

Could/Should have

If ...then past + participle could have, might have, should have

Passengers could have taken other smaller trans-atlantic ships. The captain could have chosen a more southern trans-atlantic route. The owners should have supplied enough lifeboats for everyone .

Past Unreal Situations 2: analyzing an accident

PastUnreal2

If ...then past + participle could have, might have, should have

If the night watchmen had had binoculars, they would have been able to spot the iceberg earlier. The captain could have steered directly into the iceberg causing less damage. The Titanic should have had more lifeboats.

Predicting that something will be completed before another event or time

By the Time

by the time vs. when

By the time I leave work, the sun will be setting. (ongoing) By the time I leave work, the sun will have set. (completed)

Located in Adverb Summary

Omitting if: giving advice in hypothetical situations

Omitting-If

omitting if

were I you had I been you should you

Modals - English Grammar

1) can
Use ability to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to I can speak English. be able to) permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) request offer suggestion possibility Can I go to the cinema? Can you wait a moment, please? I can lend you my car till tomorrow. Can we visit Grandma at the weekend? It can get very hot in Arizona. Examples

2) could
Use Examples

ability to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be I could speak English. able to) permission to do sth. in the past (substitute form: to be allowed to) polite question * polite request * polite offer * polite suggestion * I could go to the cinema. Could I go to the cinema, please? Could you wait a moment, please? I could lend you my car till tomorrow. Could we visit Grandma at the weekend?

possibility *

It could get very hot in Montana.

3) may
Use possibility permission to do sth. in the present (substitute form: to be allowed to) polite suggestion It may rain today. May I go to the cinema? May I help you? Examples

4) might
Use Examples

possibility (less possible than may) * It might rain today. hesitant offer * Might I help you?

5) must
Use force, necessity possibility advice, recommendation Examples I must go to the supermarket today. You must be tired. You must see the new film with Brad Pitt.

6) must not/may not

Use prohibition Examples You mustn't work on dad's computer. You may not work on dad's computer.

7) need not
Use not necessary Examples I needn't go to the supermarket, we're going to the restaurant tonight.

8) ought to
Use advice obligation Examples You ought to drive carefully in bad weather. You ought to switch off the light when you leave the room.

9) shall
instead of will in the 1st person
Use suggestion Examples Shall I carry your bag?

10) should
Use advice obligation Examples You should drive carefully in bad weather. You should switch off the light when you leave the room.

11) will
Use wish, request, demand, order (less polite than would) prediction, assumption promise spontaneous decision habits Examples Will you please shut the door? I think it will rain on Friday. I will stop smoking. Can somebody drive me to the station? - I will. She's strange, she'll sit for hours without talking.

12) would
Use wish, request (more polite than will) habits in the past Examples Would you shut the door, please? Sometimes he would bring me some flowers.

* no past forms - future forms