MODAL AUXILIARIES

 

What is an Auxiliary verb?  
When there are two verbs in a sentence, the first verb is known as an auxiliary verb. An auxiliary verb is a helping verb. It appears before the main verb. 
e.g. Principal may come any time. 
       may - auxiliary verb, 
       come - main verb. 

Rules for MODAL AUXILIARY :
a) It can only function as auxiliary verbs. 
b) It doesn't change according to the subject. 
Types of modal auxiliaries: can, could, may, might, will, would, shall, should, must, ought to. 
It is raining heavily.         (is - Auxiliary Verb) . 
Sameer do play football. (do - Auxiliary Verb) 
Rahul  has gone away.     (has - Auxiliary Verb) 

SOME BASIC FUNCTIONS OF MODAL AUXILIARIES : 

can	ability
can't	inability
could	past ability
may	Possibility
Might	remote possibility
will	Determination
Would	past habitual action
shall	future
Should	advice
must	compulsion
ought to	obligation
Need	Necessity
need not	absence of necessity
dare not	absence of courage

             

Polite Request	COULD, WILL, WOULD
Suggestion	COULD, SHALL, SHOULD
Permission	CAN, COULD, MAY
Obligation	SHOULD, OUGHT to, MUST
Probability	SHOULD, OUGHT
Past Habit	WOULD, USED TO

OTHER FUNCTIONS OF MODAL AUXILIARIES: 

Today it may rain.	modal Auxiliary - may – possibility
May you live longer.	modal Auxiliary - may – wish)
May I sit here?	modal Auxiliary - may – permission)
May I help you to read this lesson.	modal Auxiliary - may – Offer help)

I might come first in school.	( modal Auxiliary - might – possibility)
We must respect our elders.	( modal Auxiliary - must – Obligation )
We must win the match.	( modal Auxiliary - must – Compulsion )
I must tell the truth.	( modal Auxiliary - must – Obligation )

He ought to bring his bat today.

( modal Auxiliary - ought – Probability )

I can come first in class.	( modal Auxiliary - can – ability)
Can you give me that pencil.	( modal Auxiliary - can – Permission)

I can’t eat all chocolates.

( modal Auxiliary – can’t – Inability)

We could see these small things.	( modal Auxiliary - could – suggestion)
Could I sit here?	( modal Auxiliary - could – permission)
Could you give me your pencil.	( modal Auxiliary - could – Polite Request)

He used to  come here regularly.

( modal Auxiliary – used to – past habit)

You dare not take my book.

( modal Auxiliary – dare not – threat)

 

You need not say answer.

( modal Auxiliary – need not – Absence Necessity )

Will you come here?	( modal Auxiliary - will – request)
Will you get out?	( modal Auxiliary - will – order)
I will not stay here.	( modal Auxiliary - will – Willingness)

Would you come here?

( modal Auxiliary - would – request)

You shall not see television without my permission.

( modal Auxiliary - shall – Prohibition)

Shall we come here to play?	( modal Auxiliary - shall – Suggestion)
He shall be punished for robbery.	( modal Auxiliary - shall – Threat)

You should do exercise everyday.	( modal Auxiliary - should – Suggestion )
You should save the water.	( modal Auxiliary - should – Obligation )

They used to come here everyday.

( modal Auxiliary - used to – Past Habit )

Pick out the modal auxiliary and state its function:

1) This blind man could see now.
Ans. could - indicates ability

2) Anil could study well in his school days.
Ans. could - past ability

3) He can do it.
Ans. can - indicates ability

4) Could you have come earlier?
Ans. could - indicates possibility

5) We must listen to your elders.
Ans. must - indicates obligation

6) We must learn grammar.
Ans. must - indicates compulsion

7) All three of them used to sit and discuss the community's problems.
Ans. used to - past habit

8) You must be hungry.
Ans. must - possibility

Use modal auxiliaries in the given sentences :

1) Now _____ I go out to play.
Ans. May / can

2) _____ you show us.
Ans. Will

3) They _____ receive the award for hard work.
Ans. Should.

4) You ___ take my book, but you _____ not give it to anyone.
Ans. Can, must

5) She ................ be right. 
Ans. Might

6) She said she ................ make tea.
Ans. could

7) We ……………  to respect our elders. 
Ans. Ought ((obligation)

8) She ____________ rather fight than keeping silence.
Ans. would

9) We ............... go there. 
Ans.  Must

10) It ____________ rain. 
Ans. May (possibility)

11) The villagers ............... offer food and water to the visitors in their own houses. 
Ans. Would

12) You _______ wear my jeans. 
Ans. Could

13) You _______ fall into the river if you are not careful.
Ans Might - possibility.

14) All citizens ______ to vote in every election.
Ans. Ought (moral obligation)

15) ______ you tell them where to go?
Ans. Can

16) The teacher _______ call out the name of student.
Ans. Might - possibility

17) You _______ have faith your religion.
Ans. should - duty / obligation

18) ______- I see your parents ?  
Ans. Can 

19) _________ I go and play outside. 
Ans May (permission)

20) _______ you lend me pen?
Ans Would

21) You _________ to take good care of your elderly parents.
Ans. ought

22) _______ she speak to her?
Ans. Should

23) You _______ to help the poor.
Ans. Ought

24) They _______ do their work.
Ans. Will

25) ________ you like to go to garden?
Ans. Would

26) ______ I say something.
Ans. Shall

27) ________ you like to take mango?
Ans. Would

28) I _______ go there.
Ans.  must

29) You ______ wear the helmet.
Ans. Should

30) He ______ like to buy a house.
Ans. Would

31) He _____ solve the problem.
Ans. Can

32) I ____ not write the paper.
 Ans. Could

Use appropriate modal auxiliary.

1) It is advisable for you to read daily.
Ans. You should read daily.

2) It is necessary for you to clean this room.
Ans. You must clean this room.

3) He study at night time so that he _______ come first in class. ( may / should / would)
Ans. He study at night time so that he may come first in class. 

4) You _____ sit here if you like. ( can / must / should)
Ans. You can sit here if you like.

5) Perhaps he ______ go to Dubai tomorrow. (possibility)
Ans. Perhaps he may go to Dubai tomorrow. 

6) He ______ write when he was four. ( past ability)
Ans. He could write when he was four.

7) He may go to the stadium tomorrow. ( Replace the modal auxiliary with another showing possibility)
Ans. He might go to the stadium tomorrow.

Rewrite the sentence without the modal auxiliary.

1. Then we cannot come in.
Ans. Then we won't be able to come in.